A NEW manager is putting his best foot forward at Boots in Crompton Place Shopping Centre.

John Hulston says he’s settled well into running the large store, which employs 60 people, thanks to the brilliant welcome he has had from colleagues and customers.

A keen jogger, John has been with the company 17 years and came from the Oldham Boots where he organised fundraising activities and completed sponsored runs himself for local causes.

John, aged 48, plans to keep up this sporting side of the role and is confident that his new customers will be just as supportive as those he left behind.

He said: “I’m thinking about doing the Manchester run again next year – either for Cystic Fibrosis, as my partner has a niece and nephew who both suffer from that, or for Macmillan as Boots are heavily involved with fundraising for them.

“I’m really enjoying it here in Bolton so far. The people are so friendly – nice down to earth, straightforward people – both the customers and members of staff.

“There’s also a really nice feel to the town. I’ve been with Boots since 1988 in various towns and various stores – small city centre branches or big units on the edge of towns – and I’m looking forward to settling in here.”

John, a Manchester City fan, lives in the city centre with his partner and jogs three times a week with his usual route taking in his team’s football stadium.

He said: “I’m a big supporter which is fine at the moment as they’re doing okay, but it hasn’t always been easy! I like football, I run a lot and I also love racquet sports – anything really to keep fit.

“I’m pretty competitive and I did the Great North Run three years ago. I find running a really good way to de-stress and it gives me a lot of thinking time.”

John raised over £2,000 for cystic fibrosis when he completed the Great North Run in 2012.

Then in 2013, while managing a branch of Boots in Oldham, he completed the Great Manchester Run, in aid of the Jamie Appeal, which was set up in memory of a little boy who died in the Oldham gas explosion.

John said: “We started raising money to contribute to the Jamie Appeal, it was such a tragedy. Now a playground has been built in his memory.”

Along with the rest of the team, John will be supporting Macmillan Cancer Support with a World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event for staff on Friday September 25 and Saturday September 26.

There will also be fundraising activities in store for customers to join in with.

John said: “We will be holding our own coffee morning for Macmillan and seeing what we can do to help,” he said. “Other than that I’m looking forward to getting to know the store and the people.”