Research and article by Richard Hall, 2017

When Mr Duncan the chemist in Irthlingborough decided to retire, in 1962, his business was bought by Don Summerfield. He was the owner of Summerfield Dairies and he asked me if I would manage the business for him. Two years later, when Vic Fleeman announced his retirement in Rushden, Don rented one of the two shops which had been formed out of the old entrance corridor to the Palace cinema. [Shown above when Express Dry Cleaners were there. This is now Mrs B’s Sandwich Emporium.] We converted it into pharmacy under the name of Duncans Chemists (Irthlingborough) Ltd and my wife and I ran this and the Irthlingborough shop for a couple of years before we bought the pharmacy at Kimbolton.

Don then sold the Rushden shop to Herbert & Herbert of Bedford and they appointed John Whittington as their manager.

1969 - Herbert & Herbert

c1970 - John Whittington's

Ruth Abbott in 1983 inside John Whittington's Chemist's shop.

John eventually bought the business from Herbert & Herbert and subsequently moved to larger premises further north along the High St. This shop is still a pharmacy and now also houses the Post Office. (Cherry Pharmacy, 2017)