Sadie Jefferson was just 15-years-old when she first stepped behind the counter at the local chemist in Portrush. Now after 75 loyal years with the pharmacy branch she has finally decided to retire at the age of 90.
Her service with the branch began just after she had finished school, back then it was known as JGW Boggs Medical Hall.
“I never planned to work in pharmacy but in September 1951 I saw an advert saying they were looking for a pharmacy assistant so I applied and I got the job. I have been there ever since,” said Sadie.
“It was a long time ago but I can kind of remember my first day. It took me a few weeks to get used to things – I can remember that.
“It was very, very different back then. I used to help with the dispensing and everything was in Latin. You had to make up most of the medicines from scratch. It has changed a lot since then and there are far better treatments available now too,” she said.
“The biggest change over the years has been the medicines and the way they are dispensed. You have the weekly boxes of course now which are good for the older people taking lots of tablets and I think that is a good idea.”
Over the years the branch has changed ownership a number of times and it was eventually taken over by Gordons Chemist. But Sadie was always the constant, serving and supporting generations of families over the years.
“I have served up to four generations of the same family. When I was in the street, the little ones in their prams would often say: look mummy, it’s the lady that works in the chemist,” said Sadie.
“I also remember many families that moved into the area who didn’t have English as their first language. They used to find it difficult asking for what they needed but I would always help them and ask them to write it down. I could always help. Then as they lived here longer their English used to improve and I would comment on how well they were getting on. It was great to see.”
Sadie explained that it is working with people and being in a position to help them that has given her the most joy over the past 75 years.
“I just love people and I have met so many lovely customers over the years. I know so many people in Northern Ireland because I worked there for so long,” she said.
“I worked with a lot of different pharmacists over the years too, so many I lost count. But they were all wonderful.”
There have been times working in the pharmacy that Sadie’s support has had a lasting impact on people’s lives too.
“Many years ago I had a lady come into the shop who said her breast was feeling very heavy. I told her she should go to the doctor. She went and discovered she had breast cancer and was able to get treatment for it,” she said.
Sadie’s commitment to her job and the pharmacy branch remained steadfast even after she started her own family. She continued to work there full time with her mother looking after her two children. She finally made the decision to drop down to part time hours when her husband, who passed away 14 years ago, first became ill.
“When she got older my daughter used to say to me – I am giving up asking you when you are going to retire. But I decided to call it a day when I reached 90 because I thought at this age I shouldn’t be working any more. Gordons didn’t want me to leave though,” she said.
“Working in the pharmacy has left a lasting impact on me. I could never have worked anywhere else, it would have been too big a change. When I left I got so many lovely presents from both the staff and the customers. It is the people I will miss the most,” she said.
Sadie plans to spend her retirement helping out a local heritage group and spending time in her garden. She also said she would continue to be a regular visitor at the branch in Portrush.