A PHARMACIST has swapped her days of dealing with medication for the blank canvas of retired life after becoming the owner of an art gallery.

Mum-of-three grown-up sons Anne Sheen worked at Wigan’s Royal Albert Edward Infirmary as clinical lead pharmacist after spending 34 years as a member of the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust and 37 years in the NHS.

The 58-year-old, who also worked at Leigh Infirmary, said: “I will miss the people I worked with – they are brilliant – and the people on the wards.

“I know so many people now and will really miss them.”

Anne is not planning to rest on her laurels and has already moved to Yorkshire to start a new life with her husband Mark.

She said: “We have bought Whitby Galleries and are moving there to run that.

“We have been going there for years and knew the previous owners as we buy lots of art.

“I am starting again doing something totally different and it will be a new chapter.

“It will just be a much more relaxed way of life."

Senior assistant technical officer Bernard Holding retiring on the same day from the pharmacy at the Wigan hospital.

Bernard, 65, of Hindley Green, joined the trust 17 years ago after leaving his job as a weaver at textile firm Courtaulds.

He said: “I have enjoyed my job and have worked with some lovely people.

“I now have lots of jobs to catch up on at home and I will be spending two weeks in Tenerife in October.”

The dad-of-two grown-up sons used to be on the organising committee of Leigh Carnival and is also a keen amateur actor.

He is a member of the Lowton Operatic and Dramatic Society (LOADS).