THE HEART OF PHARMACY


A LIFE OF SERVICE Remembering Pharmacist Samuel Simpson


Samuel George Simpson, (Sam) who dedicated more than five decades to community pharmacy and the patients he served, passed away peacefully on the 7th February 2026 surrounded by his family. He leaves behind a lasting legacy of care, innovation and service within his community.


By then Sam was already a pharmacy owner having opened his own pharmacy in his home village of Portglenone in June 1974, with Vida as his first shop assistant. Her unwavering support was central to the success of the business. Sam loved community pharmacy, and he championed and supported his local community. He knew generations of patients and customers and they knew his care, kindness and support.


Born 23rd January 1943, Sam was the youngest of five children, born into a farming family where his father also owned scutching mills, processing flax into linen fibre. It was here that Sam first learned the fundamentals of business, knowledge that would later prove invaluable in his pharmacy career. Although farming remained a lifelong passion, it was never to be his profession. His entrepreneurial spirit emerged early, as a student he reared turkeys at Christmas to fund the purchase of his first car, a brand new Mini.


In the 1960s, Sam studied Pharmacy at Belfast Technical College, known locally as the “Old Tech” in College Square East. During this time, he completed a two year apprenticeship at McKays in North Belfast. Following his registration with the Pharmaceutical Society, Sam worked as a locum pharmacist before taking up the position of pharmacy manager at Lawrence’s Pharmacy in Moneymore.


In 1972, he married his devoted wife, Vida. Together they raised two daughters, Sarah and Catherine, who they supported and championed in all their endeavours. Their youngest daughter Catherine pursued a career in teaching and later became a Church of Ireland minister. Sam was especially delighted when Sarah followed in his pharmacy footsteps. He encouraged and supported her and in January 1999 they went into partnership, establishing a pharmacy in Galgorm.


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Throughout his career, Sam served on various professional committees, including the Pharmaceutical Council in the early 1990s. He was also an early adopter of technology, introducing computerised labelling systems, initially using a BBC computer and later implementing the McLernons Alchemist programme to maintain patient records. He continued to embrace innovation, encouraging the installation of a collection point at the Galgorm pharmacy.


A keen businessman, Sam recognised the value of collaboration and was involved with buying groups such as Vantage and later Numark. He and Vida attended numerous conferences and trips and, in true Sam style, made friends from all over the UK and Northern Ireland


Outside of the pharmacy, while others played golf to relax, Sam farmed. He was a faithful member of Portglenone Church of Ireland, his life centred around faith, family, pharmacy, and farming. Sam sold his Portglenone pharmacy in 2006, marking his retirement, though he still maintained a keen interest in the profession. He continued attending courses and regularly helped at the Galgorm pharmacy, helping Sarah in whatever way he could, even taking on delivery duties when needed.


In 2019, he was awarded a certificate recognising 50 years on the Pharmaceutical Register. He formally retired from the register in June of that year, but in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he answered the call to service by rejoining the temporary register of recent retirees. Sam will of course be remembered by all who knew him for his care, warmth, sense of humour, dedication to his profession, his loyalty and integrity, kindness, and unwavering commitment to his family, his profession, his church family and to his community.


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