A DRUGS manufacturer has opened its doors to retired staff with generations of families enjoying a lunch and site tour.

Among the 50 former workers who, as members of the GlaxoSmithKline Ulverston factory’s retired staff association, three were met by grandchildren who are apprentices at the antibiotics manufacturing facility.

Granddad Peter Ainsworth, who retired as a shift controller after 30 years at the factory, was greeted by his grandson Jordon Wilson, who is a third-year electrical and instrument apprentice.

Completing the family connection was John Wilson, a process technician at the factory, who is Peter’s son-in-law and Jordon’s father.

The visit gave husband and wife retirees Robin and Ann Ripley the chance to hear about life in GSK today from their grandson Callum Ripley, who is a first-year process apprentice. Robin worked at Ulverston for over 30 years, retiring as a process supervisor, and Ann worked in the factory for 15 years retiring from its steriles unit.

In welcoming the retired staff, GSK Ulverston’s operations director Phil Wilson referred to strong family links being a feature of the factory’s 65 years’ history as parents demonstrated to their offspring that the site offered rewarding careers.

He said: “With the site looking to recruit a further nine new apprentices this summer, GSK Ulverston staff past and present are encouraged to continue to promote the site as a great place to work. We would particularly encourage applications from female candidates as we would like to see more female talent in scientific and engineering disciplines join our ranks.”