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Urquharts, a unique history

Expert Eyecare for your little ones
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Over 100 years of eyecare...

That makes us experts at looking after your eye health. We are committed to providing the best clinical care, premium eyewear collections and a personal service so we know you as well as you know us. Our focus is on our community and we now have practices in Kilmarnock, Ayr, Troon, Prestwick, Kilwinning, Stranraer, Saltcoats, West Kilbride, Lanark, Eaglesham, Clarkston, Strathaven and Galston. We’ve come a long way from where we started...

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Scroll into the future of Urquharts

1916

Urquharts was founded by Robert Urquhart with the first practice in Dreghorn

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1930

Moved to Portland Street Kilmarnock.

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1938

Then moved to St. Marnock Street.

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1950

Robert Urquhart retired and moved to London. James Weir took over the practice, an optometrist in the Navy during WW2.

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1964

Iain Montgomery joined as partner with Mr Weir.

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1976

Mr Weir retired, and Alasdair Reid having completed his Pre Registration Year with Iain Montgomery came on as partner. Practice Moved to Portland Road.

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1989

The Troon practice was then added. Mr Montgomery sadly passed away suddenly, leaving Alasdair as sole owner for 7 years.

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1996

Ronnie Stevenson had been working with Urquharts on a Saturday and decided to come on as partner with Alasdair Reid.

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2000

Added practices in Partick and East Kilbride.

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2015

Alasdair Reid and Ronnie Stevenson retired. Alistair Duff, having known Alasdair and Ronnie through scuba diving, takes over with long time friend Peter Telfer

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2016

Kilmarnock & Prestwick practices have a full refit

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2017

Troon moved practice to a larger premises

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2018

Alistair and Peter, focusing on Ayrshire sold the Glasgow practice.

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2019

Urquharts added the Ayr practice

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2020

We opened our practice in Kilwinning, with Optometrist Neil Gray as Director.

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2021

We opened in Stranraer, our first practice in Dumfries & Galloway with Optometrist Linda Dempsey as Practice Director.

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2021

We added practices in Saltcoats & West Kilbride with Practice Director Neil Gray

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2022

In 2022 we added practices in Lanark, Strathaven and Eaglesham & grew the Urquharts team to 50 people.

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2023

In 2023, we added Clarkston to our group of Independent Opticians. Previously Burnside McPhee, Clarkston became our 12th Practice and Andrew Mostyn became the resident Optometrist.

Clarkston Opticians

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