A LOCAL pharmacist - the first ever manager of the Boots store in Penarth - has retired after a 50-year career with the company.

John Lewis served the local community from the Windsor Road shop for more than 20 years, and he celebrated his last day at Boots with a return to the store, along with wife Linda, on July 31.

The Penarth resident, originally from Port Talbot, qualified as pharmacist with Boots in 1962 - although he started working for them in 1958.

He called his time with the company, in Penarth and beyond, 'a real privilege'.

"It's been a brilliant 50 years," he said.

"I was the first manager of the shop in its current location, and the support we got from the people of Penarth was fantastic."

John also spent time managing a Boots in Fishguard, and one in his hometown of Port Talbot - but Penarth was where he spent more time than anywhere else.

"It was the shop of my dreams," he added.

"I always said I wanted a shop with six doors because that meant a bigger store, and in the end we became quite a force.

"We had a resident optician, which was very successful, and serviced 16 residential homes during my time, including Holme Tower which was the real pearl in the crown."

And he paid tribute to a 'great set of staff'.

"There are people still here now from when I finished as manager in 1994," he said.

"There were times when I had three generations of family working for me. That family atmosphere spilled over on to the shop floor. It was great."

And he said his last day had been full of suprises including a call from the Boots pharmacy superintendant, who is responsible for outlets across the UK. "Then I found out I was working my final day in Penarth," added John.

"I told them I wanted a quiet send off but they arranged a buffet and a bit of a party. I couldn't have asked for more.

"It has been a more than satisfying career for me - and I would do it all over if I had another 50 years in me!"

Current Penarth manager Pei San Ho said: "He is a proper old-school pharmacist. They don't make them like him any more! "The store is still run around the principles he put in place. He's an inspiration for us here."