The family of a pharmacist who died last month after a career in pharmacy spanning more than 50 years have started raising money for the British Skin Foundation in his memory.

Shabbir Jafferali passed away on June 20 at the age of 74 having worked as a pharmacist since the early 1970s, including 40 years in the West Sussex village of Lancing.

In the early 1980s, he bought Wilmshurst Pharmacy in Crabtree Lane after running a branch of Boots in London for a decade. In January this year, Mr Jafferali was awarded the British Citizen Award at the Palace of Westminster for his inspiring work in his local community.

According to Sussex World, Mr Jafferali, who was known in his community as “the oracle,” and his pharmacy team “worked from dawn to dusk, seven days a week” during the Covid pandemic to ensure patients received their medicines.

Launching their JustGiving fundraising initiative, Mr Jafferali’s daughter Waheeda said: “We have been overwhelmed by the outpour of messages and support shown by the local community. Thank you for all your words of love and kindness in memory of our beloved Dad.”

She said any gifts will be donated to Worthing Hospital and insisted the British Skin Foundation was “a charity that was close” to her father’s heart.