From a garden store in Preston to a West Country pioneering success story

John Robert Gibbs (Jack) started his career in 1930 as a pharmaceutical agent before starting his own family business in the garden store at home on Kings Road, Preston Torbay. Eventually, this business would become the major supplier of pharmaceutical products in Devon and Cornwall.

John, the son of Army parents, was born in India in1906 and the family returned to Britain to live at Preston in South Devon. John would now attend Torquay Boys' Grammar school and eventually enjoy a career as an agent with a pharmaceutical company from 1930 selling products to chemists in the West Country. After six years he recognised the potential for wholesaling pharmaceutical products and then set about creating his own business.

By 1937 two empty houses in Manor Road, Preston, had been purchased and with a board of directors including his father and brother, Bert, plus a qualified pharmacist he established - J R Gibbs and Co Ltd. It was soon apparent more storage was required. The second progression involved the company purchasing a large property at the rear of the terrace homes on Manor Road, previously the Preston Indoor Bowling Centre. The two storey building comprised 24,000 square feet of space adequate for the future storage required.

From the outset Jack said his company would supply only products deemed 'ethica' and yet promised a next day delivery, a genius suggestion. His promotional literature confirms this 'Everything for the Pharmacist - as we supply only ethical products and give next day delivery'. It was a winning formula and now the business grew rapidly becoming one of Britain's first firms to stock and supply - 'folic acid preparations' only available previously from American doctors. J R Gibbs & Co became the major supplier to all main chemists of Devon and Cornwall.

Two private houses on Manor Road were now converted into offices allowing supplies to be extended to chemists of 12 counties in the South while fulfilling orders from some independent shops in London.
When the 2nd World War intervened Jack was called up and joined the RAF having to leave his firm in the hands of father and brother. Bert also then enlisted and he would never return, dying in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. Jack meanwhile became a Commissioned RAF Officer until in 1941 his troop ship was torpedoed off North Africa and although safely landing in Tunisia was discharged from active service by 1943. He would not rejoin his father and the new Director - Leonard Tucker - until 1945 while the business was expanding. It retained its next day ethos even though supplies went as far as Oxford and Cheltenham involving nine lorries daily leaving Preston. Licensed refrigeration was installed so even dangerous drugs were now supplied.

By 1948 it was clear an extra depot was needed and Jack now acquired the druggist - Ferris and Co Ltd of Bristol. The total capacity of his small firm now exceeded 64,000 square feet and modern machinery even allowed mixing and packaging of products while in the office Power-Samas modern machines had arrived. The final expansion came via a new factory and warehouse at Kenn Road, Bristol, before in 1959 Gibbs' was sold to British Drug Houses Ltd. Still the managing director Jack commented: "This I did in perfect harmony until I decided it was better to retire while I was still young enough or at least not too old - to continue to enjoy myself."
Retiring in 1965 when Vestric Ltd took over, Jack and Enid celebrated their 50 years of marriage together before two years before on April 11985 Jack died at his home on Cliff Road, Paignton. Enid with their children Carolyn and Peter remained until Glaxo arrived as AAH Holdings and finally AAH Pharmaceuticals. Today as a subsidiary of Celesio AG of Germany, the AAH relating to Jack's 'All About Health' also survives.

IAN'S COMMENT An amazing life story of a father introduced to me by Caroline being one of our Society members still residing near Paignton

NEXT WEEK - Beverley Nichols

My full copy of the John Gibbs story can be obtained by sending 2x First class stamps and a SAE to Office 4 - No 1 Palace Avenue Paignton TQ3 3HA