I am a local historian with a passion for uncovering the untold stories of Halewood and the wider Knowsley area. My research centres on forgotten voices, and I love discovering stories that have been overlooked, especially those of everyday individuals. I am particularly drawn to the experiences of women, past and present, whose contributions to our local communities and beyond have so often gone unrecognised.
So, when I was invited as a Heritage Assistant on the Strong Women project, I was absolutely delighted. This initiative set out to showcase local voices and honour the lives and achievements of women from our borough (as well as St Helens). Strong Women brings previously buried stories to light through two powerful murals in Kirkby and Parr, created by Carrie Reichardt with communities in Knowsley and St Helens.
Alongside the public artworks, the Strong Women involved recording and preserving stories from local, working class women. Through an oral histories programme involving workshops, conversations, and interviews, we gathered an incredible collection of personal accounts of what life was and is like, growing up, living and working in Knowsley. These weren’t rehearsed narratives but powerful, real reflections from strong women.
Meet the Women
The oral history interviews offered one of the most surprising aspects of this project.The women’s stories reveal that despite their differences, these women’s lives shared many common themes, particularly around community. Lynne, Chantelle, Anne, Tracey, Joanne, and Dalal all expressed deep ties to their local areas. For many, their sense of community has fuelled their activism, resilience, and service.
Local hairdresser Lynne Best’s story is a powerful example of grassroots activism. When local shops closed, she and fellow Halewood residents picketed “every Monday, nine til twelve:, even in the snow, demanding new facilities. “We’d bring all the chairs out of the hairdressers, make tea, give them biscuits. In the winter, we had to bring blankets… it was that cold.” Their campaign lasted nearly two years and eventually won a new shopping centre, “What they done… they were turning up. If they hadn’t turned up, we wouldn’t have got nothing” (sic.).
Chantelle Lunt’s story is one of leadership, bravery, and resilience. A fostered child from Halewood, she is now a Knowsley Councillor Borough (St Gabriel's Ward), Deputy Mayor for Halewood North as well as a PhD researcher, activist and founder of the Merseyside BLM Alliance. In her interview, she speaks candidly about racism and the strength she found in community: “The power of community cannot be underestimated. It’s such a powerful force. It’s something that I’m always fighting for. Community can hold you together... I think it is this big circle of giving, not with the expectation that something’s going to come back to you but giving because it’s the right thing to do and because we know what it can do for people.
Having lived in Kirkby since 1958, Anne Levey’s reflections paint a picture of the town’s past. Even as a child, she challenged stereotypes, becoming Kirkby’s first newspaper girl: “It was by default really, but I loved it.” In 2011, Anne founded Kirkby’s University of the Third Age to help older people stay connected and continue learning. She says “I like empowering other people to bring the best out in them”’
Tracey Ryan, who also grew up in Kirkby, shares a story of working-class creativity and strength. In the late 1980s, she was involved in Kirkby Response Theatre, an initiative that brought performances to everyday venues. “We played venues like working men’s clubs, pubs, bingo halls… even supermarkets...
"We wanted working-class people to know this is for you, too. You don’t need a fur coat to go to the theatre.”
Hosted by the Kirkby Unemployed Centre, the theatre was political ”but not preachy.” Tracey explains, “We were raising awareness through theatre, giving people a voice.”
Dalal’s journey as a refugee from Egypt offers a powerful perspective on starting over. In her interview, she shared how learning the English language and local history helped her feel connected: “When I study English, I do research… so I [chose] the history of Kirkby… I understand more… the people here are good.” Her resilience and determination shine through her story.
Joanne Harvey, Halewood South Councillor, weaves together themes of solidarity and public service in her recorded interview. For her, leadership is about lifting others, not seeking recognition. She describes Halewood as “a place where everybody looked out for each other”, echoing Tracey’s sentiment about Kirkby, “It felt like a really safe place… everybody knew everybody else.”
All the women interviewed have overcome adversity. Yet each continues to fight, not only for themselves but for their communities and future generations. Joanne encourages young women, especially those from working-class backgrounds, to believe in themselves: “No matter what, you can achieve. Don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t. It doesn’t matter what background or the fact you haven’t received a private education, anything is possible.” Anne offers similar advice:
“Everyone needs to have a sense of worth. I think ordinary people don’t think they’re strong, but when you talk to them, and listen to their stories, you realise yourself that you’re a strong woman.”
One of the standout features of Strong Women, was how deeply intergenerational the stories felt. Many participants crafted ceramic hearts, now part of the mural, in honour of their mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and other influential women. The interviews were rich with heartfelt memories of female caregivers and role models.
Joanne shared a funny memory of her mother’s resourcefulness and creativity when she and her siblings asked for dresses like those seen in the film Adventures in Babysitting, “We said to me mum, ‘We want those dresses!’ And believe it or not, she took down the curtains from upstairs, made us the dresses.”
Chantelle also credits her foster mother, Joan Edison, as a profound influence. “You couldn’t grow up with Joan Edison and not be inspired... She carried herself with this real dignity and grace. She never compromised on who she was.” Chantelle continues to honour her mother by wearing her Africa-shaped necklace; “it still sparks questions... But she wore it proudly when I was a kid.” Chantelle wore that same necklace when she made history in May 2025, becoming the first Black woman elected Deputy Mayor of Halewood North.
Strong Women reminds us that ordinary lives are never truly ordinary. These women’s testimonies show that history is made every day by people who resist, nurture, and lead. Often, they are women whose names may not be widely known, but whose impact is deeply felt across our communities.
The project, with its public art and the vast amount of research and oral histories behind it, serves as a lasting tribute to these remarkable women and to our amazing community.
Thank you to the people mentioned in this article, as well as the volunteers who generously shared, and recorded their stories: Pip Bellis, Bruno Castro, Nat Hughes, Kate Smith.
The Strong Women programme is made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund with thanks to National Lottery players. It forms part of Heart of Glass’ Arts Council England supported Creative People and Places programme. With additional support from Torus Foundation. Special thanks to Knowsley Council and Knowsley Archives.
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