SO BILLY

SO, BILLY… The Chemical industry was a detrimental part of Halton's heritage and history. With bleach packers working down at Spike Island, Gossages' Soap Works, The ICI Central Research Laboratory and even more! It's no doubt that all of this history is interesting. I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon at the Catalyst Museum, down on Spike Island, watching old reels of film from the ICI's glory days. Also in attendance were a group of Ex-ICI workers who gratuitously provided me with an insight into what it was like to work for such an industry giant like the ICI. This is the conversation I had with a lovely gentleman named Billy.

"So, Billy, what was it like working for the ICI?"

"Well, we were all office workers you see, so we didn't see all the stuff going on in the labs. But it was good you know. Everyone got along. It was nice. We were like family."

"Aw, that sounds brilliant. What was your favourite part about your job?"

"Oh, it was the pay for sure. No, I'm joking. Honestly, it was probably the fact that every few weeks you'd be sent to another office for a few days so you'd get to travel a lot of the country while getting paid."

"Oh wow, that sounds good, where was your favourite place

you visited?" "Oh, London for sure. The city was so much livelier than Widnes."

"Oh, I bet it was. Do you have any funny stories from when you worked for the ICI?"

"Yeah, there was this time, at a Christmas party I think, where some of the guys who worked in the actual lab instead of the offices like us, were trying to explain how things worked in the lab. I didn't really understand what they meant but, it was a nice conversation all the same. Though some of the lab workers were really arrogant."

"Oh really? I wonder if you met my great uncle. His name was Geoff Owen and he worked in the Labs."

"Oh, yeah. I spoke to Geoff a few times. He was an alright bloke. A bit cocky though."

"That's just how a lot of my family described him. So just before we finish up, can I ask how long you worked for the ICI?"

"In total, I worked for them for about 50 years, if we include when they changed hands."

"That's just how a lot of my family described him. So just before we finish up, can I ask how long you worked for the ICI?"

"In total, I worked for them for about 50 years, if we include when they changed hands.""Oh wow, that's cool. Well, Billy, thank you for letting me interview you." "You're more than welcome. Though I do want you to email me the finished article." I told Billy of course I would (Hi Billy if you're reading this!) The ICI was a hub for Scientific discovery with the company making general chemicals, paints, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and specialized materials. Halothane, a chemical used as an anaesthetic for many years was discovered there in 1955. The Chemical industry shaped Halton as a whole over the years due to the massive influx of people coming from all over Europe to work in the industry from as early as the 1800s, as a bleach packer, or even a soap maker at Gossages Soap Works. All in all, without the industry Halton wouldn't be the place we know today.