A person in white gloves looking through a microscope

About Microscope Wizards

A Statement from our Director

“I am proud to say that a service by Microscope Wizards Ltd is second to none. Microscopes are our passion: we go beyond a basic clean of the lenses to a full preventative maintenance service and diagnostic check. We strive to return each microscope that we service as close to its original factory-condition as we can achieve. If you book a service from Microscope Wizards Ltd, you will notice the difference immediately. Like a concert pianist knows the value of an expert piano tuner, keeping your microscope in full working order means you will always get the most from it. Microscopes do not die of old age; they die from neglect.”

Meet our Passionate Team

Alan J Monk

Alan’s career in microscopy began in 1982 when he graduated from the University of Manchester and began his NHS journey as a Clinical Cytogeneticist. After 16 years of NHS service using a microscope every day to analyse chromosomes, Alan took his career in a different direction and turned to microscope sales and customer support. From 1999-2016, Alan worked as a high-end microscope and imaging expert before founding Microscope Wizards in early 2017. He felt that there was a gap in the market for high quality microscope servicing and user training. Over the years, Microscope Wizards has gone from strength to strength, becoming a Limited Company in May 2022.

Microscope Wizards Ltd has established itself firmly in the UK microscope servicing sector, with a strong presence in both private and public laboratories. This includes most major UK universities, many NHS Trusts and many private companies who all rely heavily on microscopy (such as vaccine laboratories and environmental service companies).

Bearing a striking resemblance to our mascot Opticus Zoom, Alan is a true wizard with his skills in microscopy. He is a Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society and is widely acknowledged as a microscope expert (we prefer wizard!).

Christine Monk

Christine is following in her father’s footsteps as a growing expert in microscopy and has been part of the family business since 2018, working for a year alongside Alan to gain engineering skills, when she realised that women can be engineers too!

Christine began her career as an apprentice in the clean energy sector, gaining a First-Class Honours Degree in Nuclear Engineering in 2023. Downsizing from servicing and repairing industrial machinery used in the manufacture of nuclear fuel, to cleaning pin-head sized lenses used to visualise cell nuclei, Christine has earned her microscope engineer status.

Initially supporting Microscope Wizards Ltd on a part-time basis when extra hands were needed, Christine became an official member of staff in August 2024 and his helping to expand the business and enjoying helping to re-define what an engineer looks like.

Come visit us in Tarleton

Come and visit our premises in Tarleton, Lancashire and meet the team behind the magic, including our fascinating and eccentric mascot – Opticus Zoom. We are a friendly and approachable team with many years of knowledge and experience in the industry. We are always more than happy to sit down and discuss your requirements in full to ensure we can provide you the best service.

visit the team