WORKERS at what was then Glaxo Wellcome were celebrating the company’s 50 years in South Cumbria back in 1998.

The Mail, on Wednesday, October 14, noted: "Almost 350 members of staff from Glaxo Wellcome in Ulverston have received commemorative watches to mark the company's 50th anniversary in the town.

"The 1,000-plus workforce was given the option of a golden anniversary gift, which included a watch, shopping voucher, or a donation made by the company to charity."

It noted: "A total of 619 Glaxo workers received a shopping voucher and £1,150 was presented to four charities — £400 went to St Mary's Hospice and £250 each to Sandside Lodge School, the British Heart Foundation and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

The pharmaceutical firm, which made use of parts of the former North Lonsdale Iron and Steelworks after the Second World War, also held a celebration lunch for staff.

It also made presentations in October 1998 to a variety of groups, including George Romney School, Dalton.

Dr Ian Reed, from Glaxo Wellcome, was pictured in The Mail handing over microscopes to pupils Matthew Bettany and Leigh Marshall.