David Pickwell
Professor of Optometry and Methodist Minister,
David Pickwell, taught ophthalmic optics at
Bradford Technical College from 1954 until his
transfer with the opening of Bradford University.
Nothing in David’s background indicated that he
would be come an eminent professor and author
of a classic textbook used by ophthalmic students
everywhere. The son of a Lincoln hairdresser,
(Lionel) David grew up in Oxford where he left school at 14, without any qualifications. He went
to work for a local optician who saw his potential
and encouraged him to take a correspondence
course to supplement his practical experience.
His studies continued with a 2 year course in
ophthalmic optics, after National Service in the
Army. He qualified as an ophthalmic optician
in 1950 and obtained a position as Assistant
Lecturer in ocular anatomy and physiology at
West Ham College, where he taught for 4 years.
In 1954 David came to Bradford Technical
College as the first full-time lecturer in Optics
in the Department of Physics. His passion and
commitment were such that he developed and
expanded the provision and recruited additional
lecturers so that Optometry became a separate
department with David as Head.
He created
undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
ready for the transfer to the University of Bradford,
where served as Professor and Head of Optometry
until he retired in 1992. His book Binocular Vision
Anomalies remains a classic text and he also
wrote numerous papers.
David was a member of the Council, and Senior
Examiner to the College of Optometrists and
President of the International Optometric &
Optical League and was the recipient of numerous
awards.
He was President of the British Optical
Association from 1972 to 1973. Visitors to the
Association’s museum now enjoy a personal
collection he made which gives some indication
of his sense of fun. David spent many years
trawling antique fairs, flea markets and boot sales
to build up an impressive assortment of spectacle
wearing character and Toby jugs.
He was also a
keen ornithiologist and watercolour painter, who
enjoyed painting birds.
A very caring man he devoted much of his time to
others, through youth work, the scout movement
and was a Samaritan.
David had been a committed
Methodist since a teenager and a lay preacher
for many years. When he retired from teaching
he was ordained and became the Rev Pickwell,
Methodist minister, serving the West of Bradford
from Allerton Methodist Church for 14 years
until his death. He also acted as chaplain to the
Lord Mayor of Bradford and in this capacity gave
a reading at an official ceremony held in the
memorial garden of Centenary Square following
the tragic death of PC Sharon Beshenivsky.
David died in June 2006.
Photograph courtesy of the University of Bradford