Haughton's Pharmacy

When Richard Haughton moved his family to Mandeville in 1920, to start his own operation, he undoubtedly had no notion that his legacy would span eight decades! In those days, Mandeville, having just been carved out of two parishes, was abuzz with new life and business. It was a definite period of growth for this community and more people moved up from the plains to the cool hills of Mandeville.
Richard Henry Haughton was born in St. Jago de la Vega (Spanish Town) in 1866, to an Indian mother and a Scottish father.

In 1885, at the age of nineteen, he qualified as a druggist along with a number of more experienced older gentlemen who had been working in hospitals for many years.
Later on, the rules changed and the age limit to sit such exams was raised to 21 years - he was thus a pioneer on many fronts.

It was in 1907, just after the earthquake, that he visited Mandeville and met Ida Margaret DePass, who became his third wife and bore him seven of his eight children. At that time, he was working with Chemical Hall, a pharmaceutical company owned by Lauriston Charles Nunes, selling drugs and poison to drug stores in Kingston. Disillusioned by the lack of opportunity in Kingston and by the difficulties created after the earthquake, Richard moved to Mandeville to start his own business.

That original store was located at 25 Manchester Road, on land owned by his wife`s family. There he created Mandeville`s first Drug Store, named the Manchester Drug Store, right opposite the market. He had the perfect "setup" in this small but growing community. His clients were mainly entrepreneurs and farmers who journeyed to the local market to do business.


SPANNING GENERATIONS

When Richard Haughton died in 1927, Elsie Bailey succeeded him as manager until Dudley, his eldest son, qualified as a druggist and assumed that position in 1928.
With his father`s dreams alive in his heart, Dudley was determined to continue and improve on his father`s work. And, he did! One of these dreams was realised when in 1951, he spearheaded the opening of a second store named Haughton`s Drug Store at 18 West Park Crescent. His younger sister Dorothy, who qualified as a druggist in 1938, returned to Mandeville to assist with the Manchester Drug Store. In 1954, the Haughton`s Drug Store was renamed Haughton`s Pharmacy, and so it has remained.

The tradition of Haughton`s was steered into the twenty-first century with Stafford Haughton at the helm. Stafford, the grandson of the founder, started with the company upon the death of his father, Dudley in l969. This was, however, not a smooth transition. Although his obvious destiny to improve on the family business lay before him, Stafford, an independent individual, decided to try to make a name for himself first.
He was one of seven children born to Dudley and Lucille Haughton and the only son to become involved in the pharmaceutical business. Upon reflection, he is grateful for the choices he made. Back then, he wanted to become a chemical engineer. However, on finishing Higher Schools (equivalent to A`Levels) without the requisite physics, he was unable to pursue that dream. His father then convinced him to go into the pharmacy business. So, in January 1962 Stafford became one of the first students to be accepted to pursue the study of pharmacology at the College of Arts, Science and Technology (Utech).


QUALITY CONTROL DEPARTMENT

Upon graduation in l964, much to his father`s chagrin, Stafford joined the prestigious Federated Pharmaceuticals in the Quality Control Department. Determined to make his own way, Stafford`s hard work soon caught the attention of Hopwood headhunters, who were expanding into pharmaceuticals and wanted him to set up their labs at Windsor. After only two years, he was appointed Production Manager at Sterling Drugs International.


DEDICATION TO FAMILY MATTERS

When his father died in 1969, leaving the business to his sister Pat and himself, Stafford felt it would be prudent to bring all his experience into the family Pharmacy. He came with distinct ideas about how to improve the pharmacy, making it more convenient and customer friendly. He had the advantage of working part-time in retail at the more modern Manor Park Pharmacy and saw the potential retail added to the business. One of his first moves was to set up a more customer friendly dispensing area, allowing people to see him counting tablets or mixing medicines. He also added modern self-adhesive labels, which were easier to read and more attractive.


STILL IN CHARGE

Thirty years after that fateful move, Stafford is still in charge and the success he has brought to the legacy of his father and grandfather is evident. The dream of Richard Haughton has grown by leaps and bounds with recent opening of a branch of Haughton`s Pharmacy in Spanish Town. This is indeed significant, as Richard Henry Haughton was a son of Spanish Town , and his legacy has returned to serve the people of that historic town in the year 2000 and beyond.
And what of the future - -Despite past achievements, Stafford Haughton, Managing Director of Haughton`s Pharmacy for 30 years still sees much more in its future. He envisions opening another store within the next few years, preferably in Kingston and also plans to use the soon coming Single Market Economy to expand into the Caribbean region.
The Jamaican economy in many ways has been built on the entrepreneurship of many families who have expanded their enterprises over decades and generations. Haughton`s Pharmacy is one such contributor to the economy and has provided valuable products and services to the health of the communities it has served over the years.


THE FOURTH GENERATION

The Union of Stafford and Joan Haughton produced three daughters - Carolyn, Francine and Nicole. They all grew up in Mandeville and attended the Belair Schools with Nicole completing her high school studies in Kingston at Campion College.
Upon graduation from high school, Carolyn attended the College of Arts, Science and Technology (C.A.S.T.) (now Utech) to pursue a diploma in Business Administration. She joined Haughton`s Pharmacy, Mandeville in 1993 where she got involved with administrative duties. During this time she also completed her business degree at C.A.S.T., specializing in Marketing.
Today, she is in charge of the daily operations of Haughton`s Pharmacy, Spanish Town along with her sister Nicole. In addition, she has specific responsibilities of staff related matters such as Payroll, aspects of Human Resources and Inventory Control.
Francine graduated from high school and immediately went on to pursue a diploma course in Institutional and Catering Management at C.A.S.T. She then went on to the University of the West Indies (U.W.I.) where she obtained a degree in Management and Economics. She officially joined Haughton`s Pharmacy, Mandeville in 1999 and is responsible for Advertising and Public Relations for both Pharmacies.
After spending a year in Belgium as an AFS Student, Nicole pursued a degree in International Relations and Management at U.W.I. Nicole joined the family business in 1998. In addition to managing Haughton`s Pharmacy, Spanish Town, her specific duties include Research and Development.
No-one from the fourth generation is a Pharmacist, however, according to Stafford, this is a good thing as "it allows them to be more focused on the growth and development of the business instead of losing themselves in the practice of pharmacology."


COMMUNITY SERVICE

In a continued effort to support charities in the Mandeville community in 1999, Haughton`s Pharmacy joined together with Northern Caribbean University to provide the children`s ward of the Mandeville Public Hospital with an Infant Baumanometer.
Haughton`s Pharmacy has been the sponsor of the Manchester Football Association (MFA) Division One Competition for the past two years. The competition takes place between October and November annually. The sponsorship covers referee`s fees, field preparation, gears and general administration.

In Spanish Town, the company sponsored St. Jago High School in the High School Girls Football Competition in March 2000.
To celebrate Emancipation Day, the Spanish Town branch donates a baby basket filled with baby supplies to the mother of the first child born on August 1st in the Spanish Town Hospital each year.



"DUDLEY ARLINGTON HAUGHTON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP"

Haughton`s Pharmacy`s commitment to education lead to the establishment of a scholarship for a 3rd year pharmacy student at the University of Technology as a tribute to one of its forefathers.

The scholarship is offered to a 3rd year pharmacy student and will run for two consecutive years (3rd and 4th year). Selection of the candidate is based on second year grades as well as two UTech references. Other criteria include:-

  • Good oral skills

  • Friendly disposition

  • University extra-curricular activities

  • Community involvement

  • Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry

  • Financial constraints

  • Willingness to be bonded to HAUGHTON`S PHARMACY LTD. for a designated period of one year


The first scholarship to commence in October 2000 was awarded to Kerry-Ann Stewart, a 22 year-old graduate of Bishop Gibson and Manchester High Schools in Mandeville, Manchester. It will cover 50% of tuition fees, as well as provide an allowance for books, uniforms, project and special equipment, and transportation.

LOCATIONS
Our stores are conveniently located in:

  • Mandeville

  • Spanish Town

  • Oxford Medical Centre

  • Old Harbour
CONTACT INFO
Contact: 2H Old Hope Road, Kingston 5
Phone: (876)962-2246
Website: http://www.haughtonsrx.com