Behind the breathtaking pace of change at the Essa Academy in Bolton are two local businessmen: Anwar and Yakub Patel, self-made millionaire brothers who have returned as benefactors.

The pair, the academy’s chief sponsors, are known for one thing in this unpretentious part of the world — their aversion to the spotlight.

When Anwar, 54, and Yakub, 55, were awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Bolton for services to the community, they were all smiles on the stage but backed away when asked to pose for photographs for the local newspaper.

Although they have clawed their way up the rich lists with their retail pharmacy empire, they have risen without trace, preferring hard work and a modest lifestyle to ostentatious shows of wealth.

The brothers were born in Africa but moved to Bolton as children. Anwar, a pharmacist by profession, and Yakub, an accountant, combined their skills to take over their first shop in Rochdale in 1980.

They took over the Cohens pharmacy in Little Lever, Bolton, soon afterwards and used the name to establish a chain of shops across the country. They sold 111 branches to Lloyds Pharmacy for £130 million four years ago but still operate more than 90 community pharmacies. The Sunday Times Rich List estimates their combined wealth at £108 million, ranking them 503rd-richest. They were 22nd among Britain’s richest Asians.

They are the prime movers behind the Essa Foundation, set up with local businessmen including Adam Umarji, managing director of the car parts business General Traffic. Between them they have provided £2 million to sponsor the academy in partnership with Bolton council.

People involved with the academy say that its focus on science and modern languages and emphasis on entrepreneurship reflect the brothers’ priorities. Their aim is for the new school to match the provision of the area’s best independent schools.

The brothers’ elderly mother still lives in a modest corner-terrace house in an ethnically diverse suburb of Bolton.

When The Times knocked on her door, it was answered by a middle-aged Asian man in a business suit, who appeared insistent that Yakub Patel was not at the property. Only reluctantly, with a brief ironic smile, did he acknowledge that he was Anwar.

Asked why he and his brother were shy about their good works, he replied: “We just don’t want any publicity.”

When pressed for an interview he politely accepted a business card before saying that such a thing could not be arranged before Tuesday. With that, the door was gently closed.

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