Not many have strode the UK's pharmacy sector with the majesty that Kirit Patel has. His passing away has left the industry and UK's Asian community in a state of deep shock. Such was his stature that it is hard to comprehend that a man in his prime and seemingly invincible is no more with us – a reality which those who have known him will find hard to come to terms with for days to come. His foot prints, larger than life, will forever lay firmly embedded in the sands of time – a monument for posterity.
Earlier this year Asian Voice had the privilege to have a long conversation with him for his profile in the Asian Giants magazine. Gushing with youthful exuberance and unabashed passion, he recalled vividly his early days at university, his love for the good things in life, his personal beliefs, his early days as an entrepreneur and his meteoric rise to become a giant in the pharmacy sector.
Born in a Gujarati business family, his father left India for Kenya and set up a shop there. Kirit himself was born in Kenya and was sent to England in 1967 to become a doctor.
“ The 1960s was an era of hippies, rock & roll and long hair. I didn’t concentrate on academics. I fell in love with Simon and Garfunkel and other music from the Sixties and indulged in worldly pleasures, ending up with mediocre grades. I could not get into medicine and decided to become a pharmacist. Six months after I qualified as a pharmacist in 1974, my father died of a heart attack. He was just 54 and I was only 24. In 1975 we bought two pharmacies in Kent and a year later my brother and his family, and my mother, emigrated from Kenya and quickly built up a small chain. I called it Day Lewis Pharmacy, named after poet laureate Sir Cecil Day Lewis and the father of the actor Daniel Day Lewis,” reminisced Kirit.
Kirit's climb to the pinnacle of success was paved with a mixture of triumph and failure. He recalled, “In 1988 I nearly went bust. I had 32 shops in 1986 and by 1988 interest rates went up to 14% and I nearly went bust. I had to sell all but 8 shops.” Where lesser mortals would have buckled Kirit rose each time like the mythical phoenix. The world was his oyster.
Like most successful leaders Kirit was a firm believer in empowering his staff. He said, “The whole focus is on people – treating people with respect, caring and empowering them. So the key to a successful organisation is its people. People in our pharmacies behave differently when compared to others.”
When asked what success mean to him, Kirit said, “Success to me is when people value my relationship with them. Creating wealth and not giving back is not my style. For me success is creating wider empowerment, wider engagement and paying back to society. I derive happiness from my family, my children playing key roles in my business, staff being treated as extended family members and they treating our family as their extended family.”
His greatest inspiration he said was the business guru Napoleon Hill. “Napoleon Hill taught me not to think negatively. I took a leaf from his book, ‘Think and grow rich,’ which is all about thinking positively and acting positively.”
When asked about his regrets and how he would like to be remembered, he said, “As far as regrets in life go, I don’t have any except that my father is not alive to see my success. People should say that I made a difference to their lives.Someone who gave back to society.”
His philosophy in life was to live one's dream. “Follow your heart more than your head. Dreams are in your heart. If you wish for something, take the first step. If you fall, take another step,” he said.
While summing up Kirit's life the famous saying comes to mind – “I shall not pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
A recent message received by Asian Voice from the Patel family reads, '' 'Rest in peace' would not apply to Kirit. His commemoration will be a day of colourful celebration of his life with drinks, food and music, in the way he wanted.' We raise a glass to the departed soul. Long may the celebrations continue.
Kirit Patel – Fond Memories
Kirit and Jayanti are my extended family members. We have been neighbours all our lives both in Kisumu, Kenya and Bletchingley, UK.
At a very early age Kirit was sent to a boarding school in Taunton, UK and qualified as a pharmacist from Portsmouth university. He was full of love and laughter and we were always awaiting his arrival home from university on the weekends. His dress sense at the time resembled the Beatles and he fully enjoyed the social side of his student life. So much so that we did not believe that he had qualified so we asked him to produce his certificate!
Though he had innocent mischief written all over him he was very focused and wanted to be a successful businessman. He bought his first two pharmacies in Sevenoaks, Kent and the rest is well recorded in the pharmacy world of UK. He worked hard in Sevenoaks and changed his attire and his hairstyle and evolved into a handsome bachelor. He was noticed by many parents who asked us to introduce their daughters to him.
Kirit was not used to meeting Indian girls so we used to advise him on not what to ask. However, we knew he would ask unusual questions and eagerly awaited the outcome of his introductions! He wanted to meet presentable, well dressed, bubbly girls and on one occasion he was introduced to a girl whose mother insisted she wear a full length dress on a hot summer day. Kirit was least amused! Finally my cousin introduced him to Nalini. At first sight Kirit’s eyes opened wide and he said, ‘She is the one for me!’ Nalini was very young and Kirit flamboyant and we were all anxious but Nalini turned out a Star.
One thing Kirit missed greatly was his father who had died early before he started his journey. He mentioned on very many occasions the loss. However his mother gave him encouragement. Both his parents would have been extremely happy to see their son receiving an MBE from the Queen and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bath for his outstanding business success and contribution to Pharmacy.
Kirit was a genuine human being and helped anyone who asked, either financially or by mentoring and advice. He gave generously to all charities and both brothers run free of charge an old peoples home in his father’s birthplace.
Kirit focussd on raising and educating his children Jay, Rupa and Sammy to very high levels. He also spent a lot of time talking proudly to me about their non-academic achievements and he excitedly awaited the arrival of his second, third and fourth grandchildren.
Kirit will be missed by all his family and many, many friends, colleagues and associates. He is a star amongst us and will never be forgotten.
Dadu C Patel
