Sirchem Pharmacy in Birmingham celebrated its 40th anniversary recently by inviting its patients, friends and local residents at its Ladypool Road outlet.
The event was celebrated on September 27, with Birmingham mayor Zafar Iqbal, and local MP, Tahir Ali, in attendance.
In his address, Iqbal recalled how Rakesh Sirpal set up the pharmacy in 1985 and it had remained a family business ever since.
Iqbal thanked the Sirpal family on behalf of the city of Birmingham for their ongoing contribution to the community and for the care provided to local people over the decades.
Rakesh Sirpal's daughter Simran, who now runs the pharmacy, said, "It was such a proud and emotional moment for all of us."
To mark the 40th anniversary, the team had set up displays and demos to showcase Sirchem's offerings - from Pharmacy First consultations and vaccinations to travel health, weight management, healthy heart checks and more.
Throughout the day, free blood pressure tests and healthy heart checks were provided to patients, and pharmacists provided them with advice.
Simran said when patients recalled how her father helped them, she realised "how much of a difference he made to so many lives".
"We’re proud to be carrying forward what he started, and the day felt like a wonderful tribute to him. It was especially fitting that the event also fell on his birthday," she added.
The celebration was a perfect mix of community spirit and professional pride.
"It gave us the chance to thank everyone who’s been part of our journey so far and to show how pharmacy has evolved since we first opened our doors," Simran said.
Simran observed that though Sirchem has changed a lot over the years, "but our values have stayed exactly the same: to care for our patients and our community with kindness, trust, and expertise."
She also thanked her team for their support and hoped to carry on her father's legacy for many more years to come.
