History

1835

   "Baines" Chemists was established at 14, Piccadilly, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

1857

   Thomas Chinsura Cornwell was born on board the s.s.Chinsura in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Madagascar, during the Indian Mutiny when his father was Captain of this government ship. (He never forgave his parents for naming him after the ship!) At the age of 13 he went to sea himself, but after sailing twice around the world and once being shipwrecked he decided that a sailor’s life was not for him so he left seafaring and went to study chemistry, finally qualifying as a Pharmacist.

1884

   "Baines" was bought by T C Cornwell and the name was changed to T C Cornwell.

1891

   Henry Clement Shaw was born at Holmfirth in Yorkshire where he lived and went to school; he became apprenticed to a chemist.

1913

   H C Shaw qualified as a registered chemist and became a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. During the 1914-1918 war he served first in the Medical Corps and subsequently as an Officer in the Field Artillery where he fought in the battles of Ypres and Passchendale. He was twice Mentioned in Dispatches.

1919

   After the end of the war and in need of a job, he sent a telegram in answer to an advertisement to work as a partner at T C Cornwell in Hanley, Staffordshire. He went to look at the shop, first studying it from the opposite pavement to see how busy it was. Being satisfied he went in and accepted the offer, with a view to buying into the business.

1921

   H C Shaw bought the business from T C Cornwell, who then retired to Penzance. The business flourished and Mr Shaw built it up until he was in a position to acquire more shops in the area.

1928

   The first acquisition was a shop at Cheadle and after their marriage in 1929 Mr and Mrs Shaw moved into the flat above the shop. Their children, Jon Anthony and Mary Rose, were both born there. Further acquisitions were made successively at :

Birches Head
Snow Hill, Shelton
Hartshill
Silverdale
Parliament Row, Hanley

H C Shaw employed a team of young managers for his new shops, the most senior being W. Frank Redfern who managed the main shop at 14, Piccadilly and also the office. In due course he became a Director and then Managing Director until he retired. Mr Shaw was on the Council of the local Pharmaceutical Society for many years and served as its President. He was elected to the Council of the National Pharmaceutical Society where during his 12 years on the Council he held office as Treasurer, Vice President and then President during the years 1948-1950. Subsequently he served on the Statutory Committee of the N. P. S. after leaving the Council.National meetings were held at the Society’s premises in Bloomsbury Square, London and travel to and frow during and after the war involved endless hours on slow moving and stationary trains.He believed intensely in International co-operation and during his Presidency fostered links with overseas Pharmacists and their Societies (Mary Rose Mitchell regularly kept in touch with a Dutch friend who was the daughter of a former Pharmacist in Eindhoven). International Conferences were a highlight after so many years of being unable to travel.

1939

   T C C became a Limited Company - T C Cornwell Ltd.

1952

   H C Shaw suffered a Thrombosis, which left him partially paralysed.

1953

   Jon Anthony Shaw qualified as a Pharmacist and became a member of the
Pharmaceutical Society. After some years he was made a Fellow of the
Society.

1959

   Oxen’s in Newcastle was acquired and subsequently:
Huntbach Street,
Hanley Broad Street, Hanley
Jon Anthony Shaw gradually took over the running of T C C with the help of Frank Redfern.

1961

   Henry Clement Shaw died. A man of integrity, wisdom, vision, kindness and great humour - he never lost his Yorkshire accent! Jon Shaw became Chairman of the company.

1973

   Peter Taylor joined the company and became a director and then Managing Director. He became a Fellow of the National Pharmaceutical Society in 1981. For 15 years he served on the National Pharmaceutical Association and became its National President in 1985/86.

1977

   Mary Rose Mitchell (nee Shaw) became a Director of the company and was appointed Company Secretary.

1986

   James Jonathan Clement Mitchell was appointed a Director of the company.

1987

   Martin Biss was appointed Director of the company.

1989

   Jon Shaw retired as Chairman and was succeeded by Jonathan Mitchell. The Goodwill and stock of Wains Chemists, Newcastle were bought, the Newcastle shop enlarged.

1991

   Charles Herbert Mitchell became a Director of the company and was appointed Chairman. Jonathan Mitchell became Deputy Chairman as part of a restructuring of the company and Martin Biss was appointed Superintendent Pharmacist to head up the company’s professional pharmaceutical activities. The head office was established at 15 High Street, on the first floor.

1994

   The company committed to the national Investors in People programme as a suitable vehicle for taking forward the development of all members of its staff, fundamental to the successful achievements of its business objectives. Holmcroft Road, Stafford Pharmacy opened in December.

1995

   1995 Jon Shaw retired as a Director of the company and his services retained as a Consultant. Charles Julian Mitchell was appointed to the Board.

1996

   Photo lab opened in Newcastle branch. Investor in People status was achieved.

1999

   Jonathan Mitchell became Chairman, Julian Mitchell became Company Secretary. Broad Street branch was sold and Weeping Cross branch in Stafford was purchased.

2000

   The company was split into T.C.Cornwell's Limited and Cornwell's Chemists Limited. The latter being a wholly owned subsidiary of the former.

2006

   Philip Galt was appointed as Superintendent Pharmacist and a Director of the company.

2007

   During the period of 2001 - 2007 both T.C.Cornwell and Cornwell's Chemists have grown substantially, opening pharmacies and investing in the UK and overseas. Shareholders funds stand at over £4million.

2007

   Cornwell's Chemist's celebrates the achievement of a decade of accredited Investors In People.
 
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