Kingussie Pharmacy’s warm welcome to ‘Still Game’ star - and his ‘in character’ warning to shoplifters!
There was a warm welcome in Kingussie last night for fave TV shopkeeper ‘Navid’ as he declared the High Street’s new pharmacy open.
The shop was pretty well packed to see “Still Game” star Sanjeev Kohli take the mic and announce, in character, “it gives me great pleasure to be here and on behalf of my cousin Sanjay to say ‘Keep your hands to yourselves you junky bastards!’ - thank you.”
Some were disappointed to see Sanjeev in his civvies rather than his brown coat and make-up but as he explained, gently: “I’m afraid Navid is the copyright of Ford (Keirnan) and Greg (Hemphill) and I can’t actually be him tonight, but I still am delighted to be here as me and to meet so many of Sanjay’s customers and to wish them all well.
“Sanjay runs very good shops and I’m sure this will be a huge success for the Badenoch community.”
It wasn’t so long ago that Kingussie was afraid of losing its own chemist and pharmacy, with the announcement of Boots’ cut-backs and reduced number of Scottish shops.
The premises on the High Street have served as a pharmacy now for well over a century, initially as Grant’s. In 1970 John Allen acquired the building and for over 30 years ran a very successful outfit. He told the Strathy: “After having it a few years we decided to extend the place, literally, at the front so that we could go into retail as well. It was a big success and I know the community have always appreciated that.”
Boots leased the pharmacy and retail outlet some 20 years ago but after their pull-out this year Mr Allen decided to accept Apple Pharmacy Group’s offer to buy.
The group is owned and operated by the Majhu family who, through chairman Sanjay Majhu, approached Rukiye Beganovic-Bayansar, a prominent pharmacist from Inverness, asking if she would consider managing Kingussie Pharmacy.
“She happily agreed the takeover, which occurred on July 15th,” said Sanjay Majhu.
Apple Group have eight pharmacies after recent disposals of Islay Pharmacy, Inveraray Pharmacy and recently Shieldhill Pharmacy in Falkirk.
He told the Strathy: “I was not planning to buy shops. In fact, I was selling shops which were a long distance from our Glasgow base mainly due to the lack of pharmacists willing to work in more remote areas.
“Rukiye, however, was one of our finest shop managers and after she agreed to work with us, we knew we could have a huge impact on people’s lives in Kingussie. Her knowledge base and customer skills are excellent, so this is great adventure I’m very excited for Kingussie.
“Many of the original team are working alongside Rukiye”
Manager Rukiye added: “We have an unconditional delivery service and also spaces for Dosettes should anyone require these services. Future plans are to offer ear wax treatment, travel clinics, weight loss clinics and many more services. Our shop is open every day till 5.30pm including Saturday, closed just on Sundays.”
