Ulverston's lantern-makers appeared on Granada Tonight in 1995ding.

Granada TV visited the previous day to film local school children at the lantern making workshops held at Welfare State International’s headquarters in The Ellers in the town.

POWER: Viv Riley sanding shelves during a women’s power tools course at Welfare State International in 1995

The next day trainee lantern makers were planning to travel to Granada TV Studios in Manchester.

Cllr Dave Miller said: “We understand they are to light the lanterns at the end of the programme, when the studio lights will be dimmed.”

Ulverston’s lantern procession was due to take place later that week and was  set to bring that year’s charter festival to a finale.

In 1997 Welfare State International unveiled grand £750,000 designs for its new Ulverston headquarters in The Ellers.

The company, which won a £1.6 million lottery handout the previous year, had unveiled an architect’s plan to turn the old National School into a design and music workshop for staging street theatre and parades.

Award-winning Preston architect Francis Robert had attempted to mimic a giant glass lantern in his design as an honour to the famous Ulverston Lantern Parade staged by Welfare State every year.

TOWER: The tower at Welfare State International in 1995

As part of the plans, the two-storey building would gain an extra floor. They also featured an oval, sound-proofed music room on the second floor, a lift for disabled access and an artists-in-residence office next-door to the main building.

"I think the plan is wonderful. A huge amount of thought, imagination and care have gone into the design," said Welfare State's Sue Gill.

Welfare State artistic director John Fox said: "They will be immensely better facilities for the community."

Welfare State needed to raise another £200,000 to earn the National Lottery award. It already had about £250,000.

LANTERN: Dave Young of Ulverston making a lantern at Welfare State International in 1995

In February, the building design was lauded by town councillors, who had one reservation. They backed the idea providing Welfare State ditched plans for full-length front windows.

Deputy mayor Richard Scott said: "It is a wonderful thing for the community and a great centre and I think the plans are good but I would like to see them keep the original windows."