Gymnast is jumping for joy with new frames from leading designer
One of the UK’s leading eyewear designers has created a pair of fully bespoke glasses for a gymnast from Northampton with Down’s Syndrome – allowing her to focus on going for gold at the Special Olympics.
Ellie-Bea Thomas, aged 20, was presented with the Union Jack-adorned frames created by iconic designer Tom Davies – who has produced specs for celebrities including Ed Sheeran, Angelina Jolie and Heston Blumenthal.
The glasses have been designed with a specially adapted bridge, allowing to sit squarely on Ellie-Bea’s nose rather than sliding down – a common problem among people with Down’s Syndrome who wear glasses.
Ellie-Bea, from Milton Malsor, collected her new specs from Tompkins, Knight & Son Optometrists in Kingsley Road, Northampton. Award-winning dispensing optician Andrew Oliver personally arranged for the glasses to be designed by Tom Davies as a surprise for Ellie-Bea, who has recently returned home from the European Championships in Slovakia with a haul of six silver medals.
Andrew said: “Ellie-Bea is an incredible young woman who has defied the odds to compete on the international stage. She is a long-standing patient of ours and we are all really proud of her success.
“We thought it was only right that she has some frames made in her honour to reflect her achievements and there’s nobody better than Tom Davies to create a bespoke design that not only looks great but also allows her to compete to the very best of her ability.”
Ellie-Bea, who competes in rhythmic gymnastics, has taken part in three Special Olympics and has her sights set on the 2021 Games in Liverpool. She is also targeting the 2023 World Games in Berlin.
She said: “For a long time I had to have glasses which didn’t really fit properly and I didn’t like them but TK&S found me some with a special bridge which work brilliantly. Since then I love wearing glasses and to have some designed just for me by someone like Tom Davies is amazing. I feel very lucky.”
For more information on TK&S Optometrists, currently the UK’s Technology Practice of the Year, call 01604 714413 or visit www.tks-optometrists.co.uk.
Notes to editors
- Further interviews are available upon request. To arrange, please call Daniel Owens from Orange Juice Communications on 07909 916668 or email [email protected]
- For more information on Tompkins, Knight & Son Optometrists call 01604 714413 or visit tks-optometrists.co.uk
