A WREXHAM-BASED pharmacy group is celebrating as its founder has been awarded a prestigious Fellowship of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Alexander Daghlian, who grew up in Caia Park, is the founder of three local pharmacies in Acrefair, Caia Park and Penycae.

Only seven Fellowships of The Royal Pharmaceutical Society were awarded nationally this year, of which Alexander was one.

The Fellowship is awarded by a panel of Fellows to a small number of pharmacists each year, in recognition of an outstanding original contribution to the advancement of pharmaceutical knowledge, practice and profession.

Alexander said: “I am really delighted to receive such an honour at this time. It’s been an especially difficult time for the team at Alexander’s Pharmacies during this period of coronavirus as we have been determined to stay open and serve our local communities when they needed us most.

“When many of the shops in the area were forced to close their doors, we saw our local communities rely on us more than ever - not just for their essential medicines but for advice and reassurance on the signs, symptoms and advice on COVID-19.

“Putting our customers first to serve their healthcare needs has always been our company ethos and we have been able to do that over these recent months, through difficult and challenging times across our communities of Wrexham.”

Alexander, who also sits as an expert adviser for the North Wales Research Ethics Committee which meets monthly to review research proposals for new health related projects, has recently marked his 27th year in business as Alexander’s Pharmacies.

He added: “I applied for a licence to open the first community pharmacy in Plas Madoc in 1994 because we didn’t have anything in the area and I could see that people were having to travel three miles to the nearest pharmacy for essential medicines.

“For the elderly and those people who are sick, they need access to medicines on their doorstep.”

Alexander’s Pharmacies also provide much needed range of clinical services in each of their three pharmacies, as well as a prescription collection/delivery service to those who cannot get out of the house for their medicines.

As a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Alexander will join a small number of pharmacists who are acknowledged by The Royal Pharmaceutical Society each year.

Although the awards ceremony has been put on hold due to the lockdown restrictions, he plans to celebrate with his family and the team at Alexander’s Pharmacies - which includes his sister Catherine Daghlian who works as area manager for the pharmacies.