Ulverston's giant Glaxochem pharmaceutical factor y played host to the chief executive of multinational parent company Glaxo Holdings plc, Dr Ernest Mario, in 1990.

Dr Mario joined Glaxo's United States subsidiary, Glaxo Inc, as president and chief operating officer in September 1986 and had been elected to the board of Glaxo Holdings in 1988, being appointed chief executive in May 1989.

He spent two days familiarising himself with operations at the Ulverston complex, based on the site of the former North Lonsdale ironworks, including production departments and development laboratories.

Dr Mario took particular interest in the factory's newer products and processes, including the liquid suspension operation for Glaxo's latest oral antibiotic, cefuroxime axetil, which had proved a world-wide success.

"These people have taken an extraordinarily difficult process that is still in a sense, evolving and have succeeded in creating a commercial product which is a very important addition to our antibiotic product line," he said.

Glaxochem's long distance truckers who clocked up three million miles without serious accident or delay during the previous 13 years were given unique hand painted model trucks in recognition in 1990.

The models, in Glaxochem livery, were presented by Ulverston factory manager Dr Tony Sherrard at a dinner for transport staff and partners at Barrow's Abbey House Hotel.

Dr Sherrard and the truckers' achievements represented between five and six thousand round trips to either Greenford or Montrose.

Also in 1990, Glaxochem gave £4,000 to the Cumbria Ambulance Service to buy a defibrillator in recognition of their outstanding safety record in their Ulverston factory.

The donation was to mark one million accident-free man hours in 1989, which culminated in the award of their sixth Chemical Industry Association safety certificate in ten years.

Glaxochem technical director Dr James Kennedy praised the efforts of all staff, management and safety representatives for their vigilance and care.

A cheque for £4,000 was presented by Dr Kennedy to Harry Taylor, CAS divisional officer, and Jeff Barr, extended training instructor.