The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7227 p827
7 December 2002

Society summary

Leicestershire and Rutland branch celebrates Diwali

Pharmacists from the Leicestershire and Rutland branch of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society celebrated Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, on 23 November.

Organised by former branch chairman Rajni Hindocha and community pharmacist Divyesh Shah, the event was the branch's sixth Diwali celebration. The annual event was instigated to provide a shared cultural evening for all pharmacists in the Leicestershire area.

Around 200 pharmacists and their families sat down to dinner at the Wigston Stage Hotel. They were entertained by Asian dancers and musicians. During the evening, events were organised to collect for several charities.

Guests of honour at the celebration included Andy Murdock (superintendent pharmacist, Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd, and a member of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, and Arthur Daines (UniChem's general manager, sales), both of whom gave speeches. Master of ceremonies was Divyesh Shah.

The branch chairman, Professor David Upton (chief pharmacist, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust) was unable to attend the celebration for a good reason. He was being presented with the 2002 National Jaguar XJS Challenge trophy, which he had successfully defended after winning it at his first attempt in 2001 (PJ, 16 March, p377). The Jaguar car Professor Upton drives is sponsored by Mr Hindocha's CAMRx community pharmacy consortium and Eldon Laboratories (part of the UniChem group).