Read on Twitter
Here’s a wee story. 20 years ago I went into the VG Store in Gourock to see the owner, Mr Dhesi. I had a plan. ‘Your shop’s too big. Give me 1/3 of it and I’ll open a pharmacy’.
To my shock and surprise, he agreed. For two years I battled with the various NHS committees and then, in 2002, @brendansemple and I opened our first pharmacy. In those days that was a rare thing, and we learned a lot about the process.
Mr D (as he is generally called) supported us the whole time. From that first victory we opened lots more new pharmacies. (Well, until everyone else jumped on the bandwagon...) He was a man of his word. And for the next 18 years he supported us and entertained us.
He was never one to forget - ‘Ah Jamesey boy, you would have NOTHING if it wasn’t for me! Give me special treatment! 
’. And he was right - if he hadn’t given me the break it would never have happened. I’d probably be a disgruntled employee somewhere, dreaming of a better life.
’. And he was right - if he hadn’t given me the break it would never have happened. I’d probably be a disgruntled employee somewhere, dreaming of a better life.
Anyway, Mr D died today. So RIP Harbhajan Singh Dhesi. I won’t forget you. Trustworthy, generous, and one of the finest chaps I ever knew.
One last wee story. When I was about 23 I was the pharmacist manager of the *other* pharmacy in Gourock. Mr D was a customer. Anyway, he bought a big flash Lexus LS400. And made me come out to see it. Then gave me the keys to take it for a spin. Yes, he was fkn mental...
And as if by magic, I JUST FOUND A PICTURE OF THE LS400! A man after my own heart, Mr D bought good motors then kept them for years. This was about 20 years after the day I took it for a spin!
When I had my car park resurfaced I had a space reserved and had the guys write on it ‘’Mr D’. It’s still there...
