Pride over clarity
From Mrs L. G. M. Williams, RegPharmTech
I was surprised by the information given in an advertisement by Boots (PJ, 2 November 2008). It indicates in the blurb that Boots has been in business for 248 years.
Jesse Boot was born in 1850. He left school at an early age to help his mother in the family herbalist shop at Goose Gate and later acquired management of it.
On the centenary of Boots The Chemists, all serving members of staff were given a Parker pen engraved with “1877 BOOTS 1977”. Mine is still in use to this day.
So, there appears to be an error somewhere along the line in the advertisement, whether it is from the information provider or at the stage of publication.
Linda Williams
Colchester
Boots responds
From Clare Stafford, public relations manager, Boots
You are indeed correct that Boots has not been in business for 248 years.
The figure in our advertisement refers to a combined 248 years of trust that has been invested in both Boots and Alliance Pharmacy (and Moss Pharmacy before that), who are now one organisation.
We apologise if a little pride in our combined heritage took precedence over clarity.