This time around we go back to the days when the current Boots chemists was split into two shops - Edwards Pharmacy and the village butchers.
Liz and Gordon Edwards owned the chemists and were at the centre of quite an unpleasant controversy in the village that was none of their making.
Back in the day (how I hate that phrase which is an excuse for an unknown date but which in this case is true) all prescriptions were issued and dispensed from Hethersett Surgery. This changed when the Edwards opened their pharmacy. There was an outcry and a public meeting was held because residents felt this would be an erosion of the existing service. Many didn't want to have to go from the surgery across the road to pick up a prescription.
There were some harsh words spoken. I seemed to be a lone voice speaking up for Liz and Gordon at the meeting as I knew them both well. Both qualified pharmacists, they were (and are) hugely caring people and I knew that the service they would provide would be second to none. This was proved and very quickly all opposition disappeared. It seems incredible today to think that having a chemist shop in the village could be so controversial.
Incidentally Liz and Gordon both still live in the village, long having retired. When Boots took over the chemists' shop they extended it to its present size and the butchers moved to the back of the site.
More from Memory Lane tomorrow.