A RETIRING pharmacist from Llanfyllin can look back on three generations of his family working in the pharmacy profession going back more than 100 years.

Gron Page-Jones, a native of Llanfyllin who is retiring from pharmacy this year, can celebrate a family record.

His grandfather, David Jones, was the Llanfyllin pharmacist for 59 years from 1906 to 1965. Gron’s father, R D Jones (Dick, chemist), was also the town’s pharmacist and optician for 54 years, from 1930 until 1984.

And on September 1, Gron will have exceeded their long service when he completes 60 years in the profession.

Gron qualified as a pharmacist at Bristol in 1960. He completed his practical year at Boots in Welshpool, then moved to London and finally to Highcliffe in Dorset.

He ran his own pharmacy for many years but spent the last few years working as a locum.

Gron has seen many changes during his 60 years, including more medicines coming from the wholesaler ready prepared, rather than being made up by the pharmacist.

Gone are the days of counting out loose tablets, from bulk supplies, now that everything comes pre-packed. On the other hand, Gron has found the bureaucracy has increased to such a level that it takes up much of every pharmacist’s working day.

Health and safety have also come to the fore. In the early days of Gron’s career prescriptions were quickly scribbled down by GPs – and partly in Latin.

Before they could be dispensed, they first had to be carefully deciphered. The name of the medicine was never divulged to the patient and said only ‘The Mixture’ or ‘The Tablets’.

In those days many people had cupboards with a dozen different pill-boxes all marked ‘The Tablets’.