A Tale of Two Alex’s

The Pubs and Theatres That Used to Be

It’s been a few weeks since the murals were completed, and we thought it would be good to look back at the activities over the past month. There are still some decisions to be made about how we share information about the history and stories behind the murals – so that’s top of the to-do list.

This look back is a nod to two Alex’s who have played an important part in the murals.

Alex Haycraft – The Original Thread

Alex Haycraft from Society first pitched the idea of the murals over five years ago. This then became adopted as part of the ‘High Street Connectivity’ strand of the Reconnecting Runcorn projects when the funding for that was successful. This led to the creation of a steering group that worked together on developing the project to completion.

Members of the steering board were initially Alex Haycraft, Halton Borough Council, and Runcorn and District Historical Society – which then commissioned Hazlehurst Studios to develop the stories into a booklet that meant we could talk about the history and project in a relatable way. You can see what/how we did that by reading these blog posts (Part 1 and Part 2). After that stage, Hazlehurst Studios also joined the steering board and the project moved forward into the actual creation of the murals, which meant commissioning artists.

We mention this connection because Alex Haycraft is the thread that connects the projects in more ways than one.

Introducing Alex Hallsworth

When the artists were deciding the locations of the murals (which concrete viaduct piers) and whether we wanted all four murals together, one already had a memorial on it dedicated to a young man (Alex Hallsworth) who sadly passed away in 2021. It was a much-loved place for his friends and family to visit.

These are words from the family after the first meeting with them to discuss what could happen with that spot for a mural:“We recently went to a meeting with the Council, the artist (Liam Banoni), Runcorn Historical Society, and Alex Haycraft, who’s really been the driving force behind this art project. Honestly, we were a bit nervous at first—worried about the idea of the memorial wall being painted over. But we didn’t need to be. Everyone there was so kind, thoughtful, and respectful of Alex’s memory and what the wall means to so many people.They were really interested in hearing about Alex, and we loved sharing stories, photos, and memories with them. Although the wall will look different, there’ll still be a little nod to Alex that anyone who knew him will recognise straight away. We hope it brings a smile as you remember him.We’re so grateful that our feelings were taken into account, and we hope you’re just as excited as we are to see the finished artwork!”

After that initial conversation with the family, and as we headed towards the work on the murals starting, HBC Community Development Officer Jane Rhodes got in touch with the family to let them know about the timescale and what activities we had planned.

The family indicated that they would like to be involved in the clean-up process and prepping the walls, especially the walls that contained Alex’s memorial. This led to us getting to know Alex Hallsworth and his family over the past few weeks — from funny stories about ladybirds to Alex’s love of Society and why it was so important to have a memorial near his favourite place. The family got actively involved in the clean-up process, which was a great way to get to know them.

Prepping the Walls

On the Sunday before the work on the murals really started, we wanted to help the artists get the walls ready, which meant making sure the area was clean and tidy and adding layers to the walls so that they accepted the paint.

At this point, we thought it would be great to involve our friends and neighbours from the Wat Phra Singh Buddhist Temple — not only as another community organisation involved in Reconnecting Runcorn projects but also as a way to bless the project and kick it off in a beautiful way.

It also ended up being a surprisingly poignant moment with Alex Hallsworth’s family being part of the ceremony.

Artist Liam Bononi – Kindness in Every Stroke

The mural on that pier was created by Liam Bononi, a Brazilian artist known for his powerful portrait work. Liam approached the project with such warmth, respect, and gentleness. He took time to listen to the family, understand their stories, and thoughtfully wove a subtle tribute to Alex into the finished piece.

The result is a mural that feels both beautiful and deeply human – honouring personal memory while connecting with broader themes of Runcorn’s heritage.

What’s the Mural About?

A few people have wondered about the mural and its relevance to local history, specifically Dukesfield's history. It’s an acknowledgment of the once vibrant pub and theatre history of the area, but also ties in with the future ambitions for the area — including local businesses like Society. It’s a nod to the past and a connection to the present and future, where we want vibrant things happening once more.

It may not be 30 new pubs, but it might look like monthly street markets, great food, and music, which ties back to Alex Haycraft and the original ideas for the mural project in the first place.

Photography by Lauren Quayle – Quayle Social We are grateful to Lauren Quayle for capturing the moments and the spirit of the project so beautifully. You can see more of Lauren’s work in the accompanying blog posts and social media.