Ashington pharmacy worker honoured for service

Posted by The Journal on May 28, 09 01:55 PM in News

A woman who went to work with her mother and is still there 40 years later has been given recognition for her long service.

Pam Charlton, who grew up in Blyth, started work at Gowdy's Pharmacy in Lintonville Terrace, Ashington, as a Saturday girl in 1969.

Pam Charlton gets a presentation from Rowlands commercial director John D'Arcy

She ended up working there full time after she left home and has now been working there for 40 years.

That service has been recognised with a presentation to her by Rowlands, the company that now owns the chemists.

Pam said: "I've seen generations of families coming to us for all sorts of advice and treatments over the years and it's great to know them and be known by name.

"They trust me and know they can talk through any concerns with me in complete confidence.

"My mum worked in the pharmacy and I started as a Saturday girl. I really enjoyed it and just carried on when I left school. It certainly doesn't seem 40 years.

"I've seen a few changes though. When I first started we had to write labels for medicines, there were no tablet counters and we had to do it by hand.

"We also made a lot of the ointments in the dispensary.

"There were only two of us then and I wonder now how we managed - though there were fewer prescriptions to deal with."

Rowlands' commercial director John D'Arcy (pictured right) presented Mrs Charlton with a bottle of champagne, flowers and certificate to mark her achievement.

He said "Pam shows brilliantly just how important the role of pharmacies is in local life.

"She is trusted and respected not only as the pharmacy's dispenser , but also as a friend and neighbour to many of our patients in Ashington."

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