FAMILY and friends are set to gather to remember the life of a well-known Droitwich man who helped run his family’s former High Street business.

The funeral of Robert Harris will take place at Redditch Crematorium at 11.45am on Tuesday, March 5 after he died peacefully at home on February 19.

He was born in Oakley Street, now known as Corbett Avenue, on June 7, 1922 and is well-known in the town after helping run his family’s popular pharmacy firm, Stephen Harris and Son, for many years.

The firm was based in Droitwich High Street for more than 100 years and Robert was the third generation of the family to take charge of the business. His pharmacist grandfather, Stephen, took over the already established firm before passing it on to Robert’s father Percy.

When Robert, who lived in Bromsgrove, was finally handed the keys to the shop, he expanded the premises to include two neighbouring shops in 1972.

The business was closed in 1985 when Mr Harris retired to spend more time with his wife Kay. The closure featured in the Droitwich Advertiser and many residents expressed their sadness that they could no longer visit the family firm. 

He continued to live in Bromsgrove even after his wife's death in 1999.

Daughter Amanda Jermain said: “He was well-known in Droitwich and was a popular figure. The family-run business had been there for many years and was a key fixture in Droitwich High Street. I think people came in to see him just as much as they did the shop.”