Morrow Horner opened his pharmacy for business in Comber Square on New Year's Day in 1959 and Horner's has been a well known fixture in the town ever since. Here he recounts the history of the pharmacy...

 

“Business started 1st January 1959 in a lock-up shop at No 5 The Square, beside Millings Bar – now McBrides. The shop was originally run by the Milling family as a grocery shop. The Pharmacy traded successfully from day one, supported by local people who knew our family well.

 

“In early 1965 I bought the ground at 16 The Square. The original Scrabo Stone dwelling was incorporated into our existing shop. This move completely transformed the business as it was situated on the sunny side of The Square with more passing customers.

 

“Our family accomodation, at that time, was above the shop where I lived for seven years with my wife Jean and three sons – John, George and Gordon.

 

“In early 1972 we bought our present home at Ballystockart and I was able to extend the shop to the rear and use the upstairs flat as a store. A further extension was made in the early 1980s. In 1979 a sizeable part of our original land purchase was sold to make ground available for the public car park at the rear.

 

“My eldest son, John, joined the business in 1982, having qualified as a pharmacist from Queen's University. A few years later, in 1985, the Newtownards Road shop was opened under his management. This second pharmacy (formerly Strickland's Garage) was demolished in 1994 and replaced with the present pharmacy – 7 Newtownards Road.

 

“I retired in 2007 after 48 years trading in Comber, and my son John took over the ownership of both shops.”