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Tracing Ravenscraig LIFELONG LEARNING DEMOLITION AND MOVING FORWARD THE LAST SHIFT FROM STEELWORKER TO CAREWORKER REWILDING OR RENEWAL? THE LAST PUB STANDING BEYOND STEEL AFTER THE RED DUST In the Shadow of Ravenscraig

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IN THE SHADOW OF RAVENSCRAIG The Liberty Steel D IN THE SHADOW OF RAVENSCRAIG The Liberty Steel Dalzell plant in Motherwell has existed and operated in the long afterlife of Ravenscraig. For those who have spent their lives in steel, both plants share a strong bond. William McWhinnie, now Chief Engineer after 41 years at the plant, remembers the day Ravenscraig’s cooling towers fell. “We all watched the demolition from here… we could see the helicopter… then the explosions, the noise and then the collapse of the towers,” he recalls. “It was sad because Ravenscraig was the flagship of steel making.” The spectacle of the demolition was followed by an eerie silence: “Everybody just walked back to their workstations in silence, thinking – are we next?”..... https://www.thelastfoundations.com/portfolio-item/shadow-of-ravenscraig/ The Last Foundations - 30 years after the demolition of Ravenscraig - multimedia exhibition and film runs until the 2nd November at the North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre in Motherwell. #ravenscraig
AFTER THE RED DUST The air itself was different t AFTER THE RED DUST The air itself was different then—thick, metallic, and heavy with the red dust that settled over everything. “It was everywhere…” Now, the view stretches for miles in silence... Ann Nimmo who worked as a nurse in the ambulance centre at Ravenscraig https://www.thelastfoundations.com/portfolio-item/after-red-dust/ The Last Foundations - Ravenscraig 30 Years After Demolition. A visual arts project and exhibition by Chris Leslie Funded by the William Grant Foundation, @creativescots , and NLC Museums Archive photo - courtesy of North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre #ravenscraig
ROM STEELWORKER TO CAREWORKER “I remember going h ROM STEELWORKER TO CAREWORKER “I remember going home and saying to my wife, ‘That’s it, it’s gone. What are we going to do?’” he recalls. With a family to support, the uncertainty was frightening.... https://www.thelastfoundations.com/portfolio-item/steelworker-careworker/ The Last Foundations - Ravenscraig 30 Years After Demolition. A visual arts project and exhibition by Chris Leslie @the_lastfoundations Funded by the The William Grant Foundation and @creativescots , and North Lanarkshire Council Arts Archive photo by John McKillop - courtesy of @nlheritagecentre #ravenscraig
THE LAST SHIFT On the final day at Ravenscraig in THE LAST SHIFT On the final day at Ravenscraig in June 1992, Stevie Jeffrey remembers a feeling of disbelief and emotion hanging over the entire site. The closure had been anticipated for a long time, but nothing prepared the workforce for the emotion and finality of walking out of Ravenscraig for the last time... https://www.thelastfoundations.com/portfolio-item/ilast-shift/ @the_lastfoundations - Ravenscraig 30 Years After Demolition A visual arts project and exhibition by Chris Leslie #ravenscraig
Filming this morning on location for my new short Filming this morning on location for my new short film ‘Scars’ with former Ravenscraig worker, poet and writer Martin Brown. The film will be premiered at @the_lastfoundations exhibition in September via @northlanarkshire arts Project supported by @creativescots, NLArts , @wilfiamgrantfoundation #ravenscraig
“This natural regeneration—slow, unplanned, and re “This natural regeneration—slow, unplanned, and resilient—embodies a cycle of destruction and renewal. It is both powerful and necessary.” BETWEEN RECLAIMING AND RENEWAL The Last Foundations - Ravenscraig 30 Years After Demolition A visual arts project by Chris Leslie https://www.thelastfoundations.com/portfolio-item/between-reclaiming-and-renewal/
Seasons change... #ravenscraig Seasons change... #ravenscraig
The Last Foundations - Today’s Birds Eye view… # The Last Foundations - Today’s Birds Eye view… #ravenscraig
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CHRIS LESLIE

07737 370481

chris@chrisleslie.co.uk

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