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LMOST 20 years after his death Charlie Abbott's formulas live on.

And that would have pleased the world famous herbalist.

Despite significant changes which have brought the practice into the 21st century, the remedies prescribed by the Victorian-born gent are still in use today, and being prepared by his long-time assistant Jean Berry.

Jean, of Platt Fold Street, Leigh, has kept the Railway Road premises up and running since controversial Charlie's death in 1983 at the age of 94. In July she celebrates 30 years there.

Four years ago, after the passing of the fourth Mrs Abbott, Nellie, in 1997, the future of the business was in jeopardy.

However, it was taken over the following year, retaining the name Abbotts of Leigh, and now comes under the medical supervision of the internationally known naturopath, osteopath, homeopath and acupuncturist Jan de Vries.

Abbotts' cures are available via a long established mail order service and also from the Dutch health broadcaster's clinics and outlets nationwide.

Manufacturing still takes place at the Leigh premises where resident master herbalist and iridologist, Peter Jackson-Main, continues the business which has flourished since 1910.

Peter gives expert advice to patients in his consulting room, after which they take their prescriptions to the ground floor dispensary, where Jean makes up the preparations.

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ver the years Jean has acquired extensive knowledge of herbal dispensing and is now consulted by other herbalists from across the country.

She gained her knowledge from husband Peter's brother-in-law Charlie when she went to the clinic to fill in at holiday times.

Jean said: "He taught me everything I know. He became an herbalist after his family called in a practitioner when he faced death from TB as a teenager and was cured. He was a man who throughout his life practised what he preached.

"He would not consult a doctor even though he was a great friend of the late Leigh GP Eric Marsden, who told him he would die from pneumonia if he did not take prescribed pills. He refused to do so, but pulled through three bouts of the ailment using his own medicine.

"Even after the road accident in Manchester which led to his eventual death he would not have conventional treatment."

Jean said Charlie, who was 92 at the time, had been to the Midland Hotel in Manchester for a meal with his wife when she pulled him back as he tried to cross the road in front of a lorry. He fell and cracked his head on the pavement, but treated himself for two years up to his death.

"He was an amazing character," she said.

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n the renowned Black Box Case of 1933 Charlie was acquitted at Manchester Assizes of the manslaughter of a boy who was taken to him for treatment.

At a later inquest in 1963 he claimed that all the doctors who gave evidence at his trial were dead, but the patients who gave evidence were still alive and he made his living out of doctor's failures!

Jean's husband Peter is again employed at the growing firm in the manufacturing and dispatching areas, and two new practitioners have been recruited this year.

Reflexologist Anne Adams practises the ancient therapy of Egypt and the Far East which involves the application of gentle pressure to reflex points in the feet, which in turn helps to relieve numerous conditions.

Dawn Bennett has also joined the team as a remedial massage therapist, who specialises in relieving muscle tension in tendons and joints, particularly in arthritic conditions.

Jean said: "Business is booming and Charlie would be thrilled that his mixtures live on under a "formula by the late Mr Abbott" label."