Meet the team
Allegro Optical’s experienced team
At Allegro Optical we are all passionate about what we do.
We have the experience, knowledge, skill and care, to hopefully give you the best experience you’ve ever had when visiting an optician!
Sheryl
Joint Managing Director & Dispensing Optician
Sheryl Doe is a dispensing optician with over 16 years’ experience in the optical profession and has experience in many different optical disciplines. She has worked in Europe and the UK in some of the most demanding areas of eye-care.
A keen musician while at school Sheryl played the Cello and Double bass, however, she currently plays cornet in a local brass band. With a lifelong love of music, Sheryl has developed a unique understanding of the challenges that some musicians face with deteriorating eyesight.
With a keen interest in Ophthalmic lens design Sheryl has developed a unique algorithm to help in this area and has had papers published on the subject of Ophthalmic Dispensing and is seen as an industry leader in her specialist field. She has also found that her unique approach to vision correction works well for teachers, lecturers and those that present regularly.
She is also the recipient of the Dispensing Optician of the Year at the Opticians Awards in 2019.
Sheryl is registered with:-
- General Optical Council (GOC)
- Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO)
- Association of Independent Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (AIO)
- National Health Service (NHS)
- The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
Sheryl is also qualified in wax removal via microsuction and otoscopy.
Stephen
Joint Managing Director
Stephen has been playing brass instruments since 9 years of age; he was a member of both the National Youth Orchestra and the European Youth Orchestras in his early years and joined the army as a military bandsman in 1975.
Having recorded extensively and appeared on Radio and Television from the age of 17 Stephen has an enormous passion for Music, and particularly Brass Band music. He has also conducted and adjudicated at most of the major brass music contests in the UK and abroad. Stephen is also a prolific arranger and composer.
In addition, Stephen has been in financial services since 1982. He has held senior management positions as well as directorships. He has worked for some world class companies such as Antony Gibbs, Rothschild’s, and Schroders Investment Managers, Equitable Life, the AA and many others. He has experience in Business Development, Sales and Marketing and General Management. Stephen is also the MD of his own Consulting Company.
Liz (Currently on maternity leave)
Optometrist
With 12 years experience in Optometry Elizabeth has gained higher professional qualifications in Minor Eye Conditions and has a Certificate in Glaucoma from The College of Optometrists. Elizabeth enjoys talking to her clients about their lifestyle and how that relates to their eyewear needs. She is currently working towards her BAPAM registration
In her spare time Elizabeth loves to make music and is a talented Pianist and Clarinetist. She has taken advanced clarinet lessons at the Royal Northern College of Music. She was Principal Clarinettist in the University of Bradford Symphony Orchestra and a member of the City of Hull Youth Symphonic Windband before going to university. Previously Elizabeth and her husband were part of a band that played for events and weddings.
In her spare time Elizabeth enjoys swimming, Pilates, aerobic style exercise to keep fit, and gardening.
Elizabeth is registered with:
- General Optical Council (GOC)
- Association of Optometrists (AOP)
- Ophthalmic Performers list OPL
- National Health Service (NHS)
Omar
Optometrist
Omar graduated with a First Class Honours. With over 10 years of experience in the profession, including working in hospitals, Omar has had exposure to a wide clientele. He has enjoyed working as an optometrist manager and has also had the opportunity to teach and train pre-registration optometrists. Both roles, which he has greatly enjoyed.
With a work ethic that is focused on providing exceptional care to clients whilst keeping individual client needs at the forefront, Omar has a friendly and warm outlook. Omar ensures that clients always feel welcomed and taken care of.
Outside of work, Omar has a passion for volunteer and charitable work. He is also a sports enthusiast and enjoys playing regularly.
Omar is registered with
- General Optical Council (GOC)
- Association of Optometrists (AOP)
- Ophthalmic Performers list OPL
- National Health Service (NHS)
Gem
Consultant Optometrist
Our specialist consultant optometrist Gem is both an optometrist and an accomplished singer and flautist. As a performer herself Gem understands the complex needs of musicians and performers.
Abigayle
Dispensing Optician/Manager
‘Abi’ is Sheryl’s oldest daughter and she has lost no time in building her own reputation as a Dispensing and Optical Practice Manager.
Abi works hard to provide exceptional Ophthalmic Dispensing and excellent customer service. She is an award-winning Dispensing Optician in her own right and has earned many accolades while learning her craft. Abi has excellent analytical skills and you could say she’s a chip off the old block. With a particular interest in paediatric dispensing and dispensing for clients with physical and psychological disabilities, Abi brings a wealth of technical expertise to the team and just like her mum she has an extensive knowledge of ophthalmic lens design. Her professionalism ensures Allegro Optical always has up-to-date product knowledge as soon as new lenses or optical materials become available.
Claire
Dispensing Optician – Greenfield
“Local girl” Claire is the resident Dispensing Optician in Greenfield and she brings a wealth of experience to the team.
With a fantastic eye for fashion, Claire is the “go to” woman for frame advice. With her encyclopedic knowledge of lens types, she is able to advise on all kinds of vision correction. In her spare time, Claire loves to play tennis and is partial to stand up comedy shows. Is also qualified in wax removal via microsuction and otoscopy
Lauren
Hearing Care Professional
Lauren qualified in Audiology at De Montford University in Leicester and is also qualified in micro-suction wax removal. She loves spending time with patients getting to know them and providing the best solutions so they can reconnect with the people around them. And that’s why, with her passion for providing empathetic, independent, excellent clinical care, she’s the perfect addition to our Audiology team.
Matt
Hearing Care Professional
Matt Has been qualified as an Audiologist since 2013, after studying at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. He has worked in both the private and NHS sectors during this time, and is also qualified in wax removal via microsuction.
Matt likes spending time getting to know his patients well, in order to ensure they are provided with the right care, and the most suitable hearing instruments and solutions to help improve their everyday life. Helping patients hear better in situations specific to them is the most satisfying part of his job.
Harriet
Oddly Harriet loves seeing all the wax coming out of customers ears and knowing that she has an impact on their improved hearing.
In her spare time, she enjoys singing, playing some piano and cooking
James
Clinical Support Technician & Trainee Manager
James, or Jim, came to Allegro Optical through his musical connections. Jim is a very talented young Tuba player and currently plays with the world-famous Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band. Jim’s favourite piece of music is Resurgam. He says “I love brass bands because they have given me many opportunities. I’ve had the chance to play at the Royal Albert Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall among many others as well as many concert halls up and down the country and abroad. I have also met many many people who have become friends for life. Although I love making all types of music I get my biggest buzz from winning contests. I’m very competitive so 2nd might as well be last!”
Jim performs an essential role in practice, supporting the clinical team and making sure that everything runs smoothly. He is always available to assist patients in any way he can and he always goes that extra mile.
Josie
Administrator/Manager
Josie Dawson is based in Meltham, she is very friendly and familiar face in the local area, having worked with Stephen Haigh at his practice for twenty plus years.
With her wealth of knowledge of optical administration, Josie looks after the day to day running of the practice and she is always available to assist patients in any way she can.
Megan
Front desk receptionist
Megan assists all our clients with a friendly smile and a calm persona. Megan’s intentions are to make all patients feel welcomed and happy once they enter the practices. She makes sure clients are greeted with a smile and leave with a cheerful good-bye
Xanthe
Administrator
Sheryl’s youngest daughter Xanthe has a way with words, in fact, she is a bit of a lexical goddess. Whether it’s writing a creative blog or something a little more off the wall for social media, Xanthe is our go-to girl.
When Xanthe isn’t creating trendy social media posts or helping the team with day-to-day tasks, she takes a healthy interest in fashion. Always immaculate Xanthe treats every day as if life is the catwalk. If you want some sound fashion advice regarding frame style, she’ll tell it as it is.
Jane
Administrator
All things admin, Jane makes sure we stay fully compliant with all the current rules and regulations. With an incredible hard drive built-in, there isn’t anything Jane doesn’t know about the current operational guidance.
Sean
Corporate Sales
Sean knows the optical industry through and through. He is willing to try new things and he gets very excited by our all British range of frames and lenses.
When he isn’t working Sean likes to sample real ales, he loves Rugby League and he is an avid supporter of Wigan Warriors. He’s also a bit of a foodie and a bit of a whiz in the kitchen.
Helen
Online and Practice IT Support Manager
Helen is our IT guru, she provides us with a comprehensive back office system backup and significant IT support. She is completely unflappable, even when we’ve broken the system, Helen remains calm and collected, dials up some code and after a few taps of her keyboard, she usually has everything fixed and working again.
When she’s not tapping away at her keyboard Helen is a busy Mum to two young boys. She also likes to run cross country and she has completed quite a few competitive fell runs in her spare time.
On the sly Helen is a bit of an Accrington Stanley supporter and it looks like her two boys will follow in her allegiance to the team.
Zac
Lab Technician
Zac has been working in glazing labs since he was 15 years old, which we all delight in telling him is more than half his life. A dab hand at frame repair Zac is the “Man that can”.
When not working in the lab, Zac enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons. He is also a keen fish keeper and can often be found up to his elbows cleaning out his fish tank which is his pride and joy.
Zacs favourite food is anything from Meltham Balti, but he’s a bit of a chef himself on the quiet. His been known to “knock up” a bit of a mean Mexican.
Zacs favourite range of frames are the Walter & Herbert range as he loves the quality and workmanship of the each frame.
Danielle
Optical Support – Meltham
A busy Mum Danielle manages to juggle the demands of raising three young children and looking after clinic administration for all practices. We’re all amazed at how she does it.
