AIDS: The Lost Voices

Chris Egner embodied a vibrant spirit in his twenties, marked by an infectious enthusiasm and a deep-rooted faith that compelled him to help those in need. In 1984, his commitment reached new heights with an 'Organ Marathon,' where he showcased his remarkable talent by performing over 700 compositions, earning recognition in both regional and national newspapers. His dedication to community suppor...

JOHN LEWIS was a Canadian-born music composer who gained a bachelor in Music, along with several awards and distinctions. As the 1970s got underway John came to London and was commissioned to compose music scores for the renowned Ballet Rambert. A chance encounter at Rambert Studios and an interest in buying a synthesiser led John to join Brian Hodgson at his established, Electrophon Studio in Cov...

It was one thing to have your HIV/AIDS diagnosis and your private life dragged through the British press. It was another if you were a respected medical or healthcare professional with an HIV/AIDS diagnosis. In 1992 & 1993 Dr. Curran, Dr. Clayton & Dr. Shuttleworth were not only vilified for their private lives but had their professional reputation scrutinised by the press causing widespre...

Martin Johnson met the late Diana, Princess of Wales on her first visit to the UK’s first AIDS hospice in February 1989. But no stranger to the press Martin was ‘outed’ as a gay man when subject to a police “raid” which saw him arrested along with 36 of his birthday guests in 1982. Accused of hosting an “orgy” Martin put his case before the European Court of Human Rights, but what did they rule? A...

In 1992 Roy Cornes was a 24-year-old haemophiliac, infected with HIV through contaminated blood products. Through no fault of his own he then found himself at the centre of a worldwide media frenzy. Roy’s life was turned upside down by one woman who alleged Roy was “knowingly” and deliberately spreading HIV to women. The media dubbed him a “maniac”, a “monster” and the “AIDS Casanova”. With plans...

“DO NOT REVIVE - AIDS” was the suicide note left by grammar school teacher John Hutchinson in August 1986. John's friends told the inquest he hadn’t seemed himself days before his death. John perhaps foreseeing his recent HIV test result being positive, without ever learning the outcome of his test. We also look at two young men who took their own lives merely for ‘suspecting’ or ‘fearing’ they ha...

Will & Gloria once again delve into the British newspaper archives and attempt to unpick the real stories, of real people behind the sensational and attention-grabbing headlines of the 80s and 90s AIDS pandemic. In a series finale Will & Gloria head to Brighton for the bank holiday weekend. Through the papers, the pair learn about the life of the UK’s first openly gay football referee, Nor...

Will & Gloria once again delve into the British newspaper archives and attempt to unpick the real stories, of real people behind the sensational and attention-grabbing headlines of the 80s and 90s AIDS pandemic. In 1985 a 29-year-old man named Roger Youd was subject to a court order to be detained in Monsall Hospital when expressing he wanted to merely “go home”. Manchester council stated the...

Will & Gloria once again delve into the British newspaper archives and attempt to unpick the real stories, of real people behind the sensational and attention-grabbing headlines of the 80s and 90s AIDS pandemic. In a series of child first’s, we hear the emotional accounts from brave parents who sadly lost their child to AIDS. Irene, a mother who only learned she was HIV positive days before de...

Will & Gloria once again delve into the British newspaper archives and attempt to unpick the real stories, of real people behind the sensational and attention-grabbing headlines of the 80s and 90s AIDS pandemic. Two men around 30, each with an HIV/AIDS diagnosis are on the same hospital ward. One is a patient and the other, a nurse. Both men were photographed with the late Diana, Princess of W...

Will & Gloria once again delve into the British newspaper archives and attempt to unpick the real stories, of real people behind the sensational and attention-grabbing headlines of the 80s and 90s AIDS pandemic. Scottish artist Edward Cairns, 34, who was also a gay man was found dead at his London home in October 1984. Edward’s untimely death which was thought to be AIDS-related, fell under th...

Will heads to Slough to surprise the hosts of The HIV podcast, Sarah & Jess. The trio then take a look at the HIVstory of the charity behind the podcast, ‘Thames Valley Positive Support’. Between them, they unearth articles long since forgotten from the newspaper archives spanning the last four decades. Articles that include letters from readers with language that leave the pair spitting feath...

Will & Gloria once again delve into the British newspaper archives and attempt to unpick the real stories, of real people behind the sensational and attention-grabbing headlines of the 80s and 90s AIDS pandemic. When London dentist Vikram Advani died of AIDS-related complications in 1993. Every major newspaper up and down the land seized the opportunity to vilify and stigmatise his good name a...

Will & Gloria once again delve into the British newspaper archives and attempt to unpick the real stories, of real people behind the sensational and attention-grabbing headlines of the 80s and 90s AIDS pandemic. Featured in this episode is prisoner Del Sinclair, by his own admission had a string on convictions behind him. In 1985 he was featured in a national newspaper declaring he intended to...

Will & Gloria delve into the British newspaper archives and attempt to unpick the real stories, of real people behind the sensational and attention-grabbing headlines of the 80s and 90s AIDS pandemic. Featured in this episode is the moving story of a 25-year-old man from Portsmouth, Paul Somes who died in Police custody in 1987. Two national newspapers published articles devoid of any sympathy and...

Before delving into the British newspaper archives and their reporting of the AIDS pandemic in the 80s and 90s. Will & Gloria first spill the tea’ on the press of today and ask why the gay media particularly, remained silent when asked to support the official UK Government HIV Stigma Petition. XTRA TEA BLOG POST: The HIV Stigma Petition The HIV Podcast AIDS 1987 Monolith 'Falling Tombstone' TV Cam...

Gloria spills the tea with author William Hampson on World AIDS Day 2023. They discuss his experience of HIV stigma over the last three years and why he started a UK government petition calling for the government to 'finish what it started' after being silent for almost 40 years since the 1987 AIDS tombstone campaign. And asks why the gay/LGBT media has been unwilling to cover the petition? SIGN T...