SEEING is Believing - A History of Spectacles, was a delightfully wry and witty talk presented by Harry Scharf.

The speaker addressed all aspects of spectacles, from the early invention centuries ago, through to the 1300s when eyeglasses first appeared in paintings, and then how they featured in Shakespeare's King Lear when ancient Britons wore spectacles with historical improbability.

The innovation in spectacle design is fascinating. Mr Scharf displayed examples of his collection and their cases. Scissor Spectacles were so called because of their folding action - and liability to chop the nose off! Because of the flat oriental nose, people in the far east clamped an arm-less frame to their eyes by means of strings with weights on the ends that hung over and behind the ears.