Taking the long-term view proved worthwhile, as Alex eventually took up the helm at Lundin Links, retaining his father's name above the door, and remaining dispensing chemist there until 1995, when he retired. The photograph below appeared in the East Fife Mail at the time of Alex Stebbing's retirement. Although that marked the end of an era and the conclusion of a remarkable story, the pharmacy business continues in the same premises to this day. Elements of the shop's early twentieth century origins can still be seen. The entrance for example still looks very much like it always did.
When William Stebbing moved his Chemist business from Bo'ness to Lundin Links at the end of 1947, the two shops in West Lothian were taken over by Boots. Meanwhile, the Stebbing family established themselves in their new village. However, after only a few years, in 1952, William died suddenly at the age of 44. Remarkably, his son Alex, then only 15, decided to set out on the long road to finish school and train as a pharmacist. He qualified in 1959 and served an apprenticeship with T.W. Buchanan of Leven. During the intervening years the Lundin Links pharmacy was run by a series of locums.
Taking the long-term view proved worthwhile, as Alex eventually took up the helm at Lundin Links, retaining his father's name above the door, and remaining dispensing chemist there until 1995, when he retired. The photograph below appeared in the East Fife Mail at the time of Alex Stebbing's retirement. Although that marked the end of an era and the conclusion of a remarkable story, the pharmacy business continues in the same premises to this day. Elements of the shop's early twentieth century origins can still be seen. The entrance for example still looks very much like it always did.
1 Comment
Andrew Morrison
3/5/2016 01:37:53 pm
Sadly, Alex Stebbing died on 22nd April this year (2016)
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AboutThis blog is about the history of the villages of Lundin Links, Lower Largo and Upper Largo in Fife, Scotland. Comments and contributions from readers are very welcome!
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