Pharmacist retires after 53 years

By BARBARA WARD

Newark pharmacist Miss Elizabeth Whistler is retiring after 53 years.

Miss Whistler (77) says: “I think the time is right. There is an awful lot more legislation now and there is too much paperwork. I feel I have had enough.”

H. Whistler Ltd was started in 1934 in Imperial Buildings, Baldertongate, in part of what is now Boyes, by her father, Mr Harold Whistler. It relocated to the present shop on Cartergate in the late 1930s and the family lived above the shop.

Miss Whistler was allowed to serve from the age of 13. She remembers the old mahogany counter with its many labelled drawers and large, coloured Bristol glass syrup bottles.

She was interested in the beauty culture side of the business, but decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and train as a pharmacist.

Qualifying She attended Nottingham University and served her apprenticeship at Oldchurch Hospital, Romford. After qualifying she came into the business in 1955.

When her father died in 1967 Miss Whistler became superintendent pharmacist. She has seen many changes over the years.

“At one time we used to make up a lot of remedies ourselves.

“We still do make a lot of over-the-counter cough medicines.” Miss Whistler has old pestles and mortars that were used to grind ingredients.

She also has some of the old moulds in which suppositories and pessaries were shaped, and a paper folder used for the paper wrapped around powders.

She has some of her father’s early ledgers, where every detail about each pill and potion that was made up and sold was recorded. She is hoping to donate some of the old equipment to Newark Museum.

Miss Whistler said that over the years there had been a huge increase in the dispensing of prescriptions. “People live so much longer as more diseases are kept under control,” she said. One of the biggest changes Miss Whistler believes is the loss of Newark’s character as a thriving market town with its individual shops.

She is opposed to the proposed Asda development at the Potterdyke site and believes it will take trade away from the town centre. She expects that retirement will take some adjustment.

“People tell me that it will be difficult for a few months until I get into a different routine.” She says: “I have always enjoyed what I do and helping other people, and I have loved meeting customers.

“I hope I have always treated them with a sympathetic ear.” Miss Whistler said she would not have been able to do her job without her staff.

Loyalty Current staff include Mrs Karen Lawson, with 34 years’ service with Miss Whistler, Mrs Christine Duck (30 years) Mrs Julie Plackett (25 years) Mrs Jenny Moreton (18 years) Mrs Julie Oxley (six years) and Mrs Hazel Marshall (three years).

She said: “I should never have been able to carry on so long without their loyalty and the tremendous effort that they have put into their jobs. “They have rarely been off sick and have never been clock-watchers and I should like to record my grateful thanks to all of them.”

The new shop owner, from Thursday, is Balderton pharmacist Mr John Reynolds, who will be assisted by Mr Veejay Raja. The shop will be called Whistler’s, Newark Ltd. Miss Whistler, who has been the chairman of Newark Music Club for 34 years, will now devote more time to music, gardening and travel. She is hoping to write a history of Newark Music Club.

MISS ELIZABETH WHISTLER, outside her shop on Cartergate. 160408MAT4-4.