Barry John Wilson and the Pharmacy Collection
Biography of Barry John Wilson (1939-2021)
Barry John Wilson was born on the 22nd of April 1939, five months before the commencement of World War II. He attended Macado Road Primary School then St Johns Street Junior School. At 11 years old he gained the 11 plus exam and moved to Long Eaton Grammar School. Leaving in December 1956.
His Daughter Helen has told us that while Barry does not remember the NHS becoming a reality, he does remember that the doctor’s receptionist stopped coming to the house on a regular basis to collect money which would pay for the family’s healthcare needs.
Barry trained as a Pharmacist in Sunderland, qualifying on 1st January 1962. Registering as a Pharmaceutical Chemist and became a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
Photograph of B.J Wilson, Chaddesden, 1976
In 1966, he realised his dream by opening his first pharmacy in Chaddesden, which remains open to this day. There are currently six shops still bearing the name of BJ Wilson Ltd.
Photograph of B.J Wilson Pharmacy, Borrowash, 1996
Barry was an active member of many organisations, which included both professional and recreational interests, including the National Pharmaceutical Association, Local Pharmaceutical Committee, Chamber of Trade, St. Stephens’ Church Borrowash, the Conservative Association, Midland Railway at Butterley, to name a few. He took his roles within these organisations very seriously.
He was a member of the Local Pharmaceutical Committee for over 25 years, many of which he headed the committee as the chairperson.
Barry married Margaret Anne on 30th September 1961. Over the years the family grew to include four daughters, plus their Goddaughter, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Around 6 years before his death in March 2021, Barry became unwell with kidney disease. As the disease progressed, it made it increasingly difficult for him to run the business. The day-to-day running of the business was taken over by a team of directors, who continue in their roles to this day. Keeping up with his CPD to remain on the General Pharmaceutical Council’s Register of Pharmacists also became a problem and Barry voluntarily resigned from this following 54 years of practice due to deteriorating health in July 2016.
The B.J Wilson Pharmacy Collection
Here are just a selection of the wonderful objects that have been donated and are part of the B.J Wilson collection. Click here to view the entire collection in our catalogue.