August 2023

With 200 local new infections last week and new variants arriving…I decided not to tempt Providence by using the heading ‘Post Corona Chronicle’…this post is more of a quarterly review.

If there were more hours in the day, I might write more frequently. It’s hard to believe that in my 80s I should be working on so many different fronts. One reason is that as the Chair of a charity without premises or staff, I am also its de facto CEO (unpaid). To be busy and active is fine, just so long as I don’t get swamped.

Although I may have neglected the website, I have, nevertheless, been fully engaged with several organisations trying to make the world a better place in my own small way. On the positive side, being busy also entails engaging with lots of people as well as enjoying the benefits of regular social interaction…not to mention the physical and mental wellbeing furnished by walking, singing, dance and drama groups.

Early in the month of May I headed down to London for a photo-shoot near Alexandra Palace. Some of the lovely people at nam-aidsmap invited me to take part in a photo-shoot to replace their website’s stock images with pictures of people living comfortably with HIV. There were six of us from a diverse range of backgrounds, we soon found we had more than a shared disease in common. The friendly doggie belonging to the owners of the property where the day-long session took place was so keen to take part that she had to be removed to another floor. It was huge fun, and if our collective mugshots alleviate HIV stigma even a little…it will have been well worthwhile.

At the end of the month there was another photo-shoot, more conveniently located in Hartshill. This was part of B-Arts Blank Space project which invites artists to create a piece to fill a space on the outside of their premises. Leading into Pride month, this couldn’t have been more appropriate – QUEER AS STOKE. It was a pleasure and an honour to be invited to participate with Paul Sammut’s creation.

Stoke Pride in June was bigger and better than ever. The North Midlands LGBT Group (OLGBT) had two gazebos with a display of models and a tombola. As Chair of the group, I like to be there for the whole day. This year there was a problem…I had to play the organ at Hartshill Parish Church for an ordination of three priests. This meant I would be absent for packing up at the end of the day. Thankfully, OLGBT has enough willing volunteers to ensure that all went well. I managed to take part in the parade…and was delighted to find a small contingent of members following our banner.  We were delighted and proud to welcome the Deputy Lord Mayor to our stall.

Following Stoke Pride, I was interviewed by BBC Radio Stoke and the Stoke Sentinel. Rachel Alexander wrote an excellent article – even if the heading was a bit sensational. It was heartening to have so much positive feedback from people who had read the piece. All that might be added it is to remind folk that in the United Kingdom and other countries where HIV treatment is available, people living with HIV can live a full and active life. People on effective HIV treatment cannot pass on the virus to their sexual partners.

For more information about U=U Visit THT and nam-aidsmap