Tribute to John Regan

Jack Regan — although his baptismal name was John he was always known as Jack — died after a short illness on 22 April 2015 at the age of 84.

Jack registered as a pharmacist in 1955 and retired in 2006. He studied pharmacy at Liverpool School of Pharmacy and worked at St Helen’s Hospital, Sefton General Hospital and following these appointments worked in a technical capacity at The Distillers Company, Biochemical Plant and later Dista Products at Speke, Liverpool.

He opened his own pharmacy on leaving industry in 1961 in Appleton Village, Widnes, and in 1974 he bought another pharmacy in Farnworth, Widnes, which he ran until 1990. He went into semi-retirement but continued to work as a locum pharmacist in the local area for the next 15 years.

Jack was a quiet, unassuming, friendly person, except when he entered the rugby pitch; he and his brothers Denis and Martin were the cornerstones of the successful Liverpool Rugby Union Club in the 1950s. Jack did not gain international honours like his brother Martin but during his national service from 1955 to 1957 in the Royal Medical Corps he played for Blackheath, the Army Combined Services and the county of Kent. On his return to the Merseyside Area, he played for Liverpool, Lancashire and other representative teams.

We extend our condolences to his wife Pat, his children Rachel and John, and his grandchildren. It was a pleasure to know Jack.