A SKIPTON dispensing optician is celebrating after one of its opticians was confirmed as the youngest in the country.

19 year old Eleanor Hill, who works at Benjamin Opticians, was contacted by the General Optical Council to confirm she was the youngest in the country to qualify.

And for Eleanor, who started working at the opticians as a Saturday job when she was just 15 years old, it came as something of a surprise.

Benjamin Opticians practice owner, Liz Ellis, said: “Elly joined us at 15 as a Saturday girl, cleaning frames and sweeping up. We quickly noticed there was something special about her – she was enthusiastic and very keen to learn, so we enrolled her on the foundation course to become a dispensing optician. She’s worked doubly hard, combining her studies with in-practice training, and shows a maturity and professionalism way beyond her years.”

After joining the opticians, Eleanor enrolled on a foundation course with the Association of British Opticians, based in Kent, to become a dispensing optician.

“I used to come to Benjamins with my mum to have her contact lens check. David Benjamin, who has since retired, could see I was interested and used to let me look through the slit lamp," she said.

“When I was 15 I completed work experience there and Liz then offered me a Saturday job, which I loved. Since she told me they were expanding and needed a new dispensing optician, I’ve never looked back.”

She added that after all the hard work, she was happy to qualify.

“It’s been a tough three years and exams are always a challenge. Lots of good things have happened. Mostly, I’ve come out of it with secure job that I love. I’ve had loads of support from the team – Liz and Kate have really taken me under their wings.”

Jo Underwood, principal of ABDO College, said Eleanor had been a model student. "She has worked hard and consistently, always been attentive in class and supported her colleagues along the way. Eleanor did her employer and us as her teachers very proud."