Wicker Pharmacy in Sheffield today celebrates its 70^th anniversary of providing a daily extended hours service to patients in the city’s East End.

A small group of independent pharmacies set up the consortium-owned Associated Chemists (Wicker) Ltd in 1951 before opening a central premises at 61 Wicker St on January 21 1952.

Since then, the pharmacy has opened 365 days a year, staying open until 10pm from Monday to Saturday and until 8pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

Chairman Martin Bennett, who has worked at the pharmacy since 1973, says it has dispensed more than 10 million prescriptions since it opened, and has provided more than 25,000 Covid vaccinations in the last eight months.

Wicker Pharmacy has become a Sheffield institution over the years, and has won a number of national awards. It was also the first UK pharmacy to receive a rating of ‘excellent’ from the regulator.

The premises has expanded over the years and currently employs over 60 staff members. It is now an employee-owned business.

Mr Bennett commented: “It’s a fantastic achievement to have been open every day for 70 years and thanks must go to all our staff and our shareholders, both present and past, for providing that service and for constantly striving to improve what we offer.

“Those involved back in 1952 would be truly amazed to see how pharmacy has developed from small scale manufacturing of mixtures, ointments and powders to current practice where computers and robots are the order of the day, while pharmacists and their teams develop more and more clinical skills.

“Three things have remained the same throughout our 70 years – the position of the pharmacy on ‘The Wicker,’ the fact that the pharmacy is open extended hours every day and that all-pervading company ethos to provide the best possible service to patients.

“Long may they all continue.”