Below is a poem written by a young person from GLOW, with collaborating artist Louise Fazackerley

Lou Chapelle has been appointed by Halton Borough Council to create an ambitious artwork inspired by Halton chemical industry, and working with young people from the borough. Following a series of workshops in October/November 2021, the work will consist of large scale public projections, reinventing the stories of the Halton Bleach Packers and other trades of the chemical industry. It will be created with collaborating artists: costume designer Rachael Prime, sound artist Wendy Smith, poet Louise Fazackerley and film-maker Tim Brunsden. Young people from Halton are invited to contribute to the piece, and we are currently working with Fashion students, Graphic Design students, Dance students and Music students at Cronton Sixth Form College, the Young Choir group and GLOW group at The Studio.

More information about Halton’s heritage can be found at Catalyst and on the Halton Heritage Partnership website

Lung filled with gas, hearts with sulph-(f)ury

Would he even live to tell his story?

Losing breath, losing life

But he had to provide for his son and wife

A graveyard shift, a shift to the graveyard

No-one told him it would be so, so hard

The toxic fumes keep him locked in a choke-hole

Working to death for nothing but fools gold

As he lets himself go, as life starts to leave

How will this affect his beloved wife, Eve