July 2026

Where has the time gone? I can’t believe it’s already more than halfway through July. My last posting was in February after my trip to Argentina…and so much has happened since then. The OLGBT+ group takes up a lot of my time and to a lesser extent the North Staffs & District Organ Society (NSDOS), the Victoria Hall Proms and, of course, playing for services at Holy Trinity Hartshill.

Health-wise…I seem to be in good shape. The annual GP monitoring picked up an abnormal reading with triglycerides…which was tiny…and bothered me less than my GP. Still…it’s reassuring that they are looking after me. My six monthly check up with my HIV consultant went well. He was pleased with my all round health profile. To be honest, HIV is pretty low down on my list of priorities …however, I try to keep in touch with my peers by attending HiVtality Living-Proof retreats at Shallowford House …and as many THT Before 96 online meetings as I can.

The March NSDOS visit to organs at churches not far from Stoke-on-Trent was a reminder of the great camaraderie that these outings engender. It is a huge pleasure to hear and play pieces on modern or historical instruments for like minded musicians with similar passions for organs and liturgical music. I was amazed at the grandeur of the architecture of Holy Trinity Church Eccleshall. Why was such a lavish church built in this tiny Staffordshire village? It appears the reason was that the bishops of Lichfield had their country residence here for over 800 years. Eccleshall is ideally located… roughly midway between Lichfield and Chester. Although the organ does not date as far back as the medieval era…it is suitably impressive with a magnificent case. The current instrument, pictured below, was reconstructed in 1930 by Hill, Norman and Beard

Longton’s Carnival and Pig Walk took place on a sunny day at the end of April. This is the third commemoration of a true historical event involving a bet between Mayor John Aynsley and the Duke of Sutherland. Aynsley bet that he could walk a pig from Trentham to Longton. He successfully coaxed the creature and won the bet…which included the land for Queen’s Park (the first Victorian park in Stoke-on-Trent) and funds for Longton Cottage Hospital. The modern incarnation of this historical event began in March 2023. Organized by Urban Wilderness , the annual Longton Carnival & Pig Walk Parade transforms the streets into a community festival. Last year, I was costumed as a bird of paradise…but this year, I was back to my favourite role in the parade as a member of the pig patrol.

In May, members of the OLGBT+ Group joined other members of the LGBT+ community to visit the National Arboretum to lay a wreath on the new memorial to our people who bravely served in the armed forces…yet were court marshaled and dishonourably discharged for loving someone of the same sex. When King Charles unveiled the monument earlier this year…it marked a key shift in attitudes towards our people and a recognition that LGBT+ soldiers, sailors and airmen deserved to be remembered along with their straight colleagues. The steel art work is made up of words taken from private, personal, letters that were opened by investigating officers in search of evidence of a same sex relationship…which until January 2000 were illegal in the armed forces of Great Britain.

Death as Part of Life and Living

The May workshop of the Keele University led discussions on death as part of life and living was held at the Wade Conference Centre, Hartshill. Its intention was to explore local perceptions of difficult discussions through participatory research methods. I found the presentations and group discussions stimulating. Perhaps the topic was more appealing to me as the oldest participant in the room. As I will soon turn 85, I am conscious of the need to complete things that are important and archive as much as I can…whilst still living a full and active life. I take heart in believing that be simply writing this post, I am directly addressing the topic…even if it is only a tiny step. From my experience of studying with the Open University…it is through approaching each major challenge… diligently a small section at a time…that I was able to amass the necessary body of work, skills and experience to succeed.

I regret not having supported the call for help with filming ‘Pits & Perverts’ – the working title of what later became the highly successful movie ‘Pride’. However, when the chance to assist in the production of a locally created short film by Thomas Sargeant…a Stoke born and bred individual…I seized it eagerly. The film was scheduled to be shot in January in Stoke on Trent. Tom offered me a small, non-speaking part which I had to turn down because in January I planned to be in South America.

When I was in Argentina and received news of the appalling weather conditions back home…I thought filming outdoors would be impossible. I recalled from the film script that there were several scenes located outside. However, Tom and his magnificent cast and crew navigated all the challenges…the first screening of ‘Between Breath and Silence’ was at Cineworld in Hanley. The second showing was at the Home Cinema and Arts Centre in Manchester. At the latter, I was able to meet some of the cast members, crew and the production team. A memorable experience that fits squarely under this paragraph heading.

Between Breath & Silence records the family tensions and resolutions as Paul, the head of the family, is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and slowly slips away surrounded by those who loved him. Although the short film explores dark emotions…ultimately, the viewer is left with feelings of hope and a belief in the strength of love to break down barriers and bring together the mother, Ryan her elder son, Tom, her youngest and his boyfriend, Ryan into a close nit family unit.

Pride Events

Stoke Pride was bigger than ever with the most number of members volunteering to put up our gazebos and staff them throughout the day. Nicola and Stephen from GRAIN Photography shared the main gazebo with Jane Titley who brought along the Rainbow Threads pennants created for last year’s Pride as well as a selection of hand embroidered bags for each of which there was a suggested donation label attached.

David Evans displayed some of his remarkable collection of models whilst continuing to work on his most recent items. Our small gazebo had to be squeezed in behind the other two. This turned out to be a brilliant idea…it became the OLGBT+ VIP Lounge…and was well used for members and visitors to rest in the shade set back under the quiet shelter of giant trees.

This year we had the greatest number of participants in the parade…most notably a significant band of women. It was a glorious day with plenty of sunshine…but no one appears to have suffered from sunburn or heat exhaustion. We even had an unexpected member coming to help with dismantling the gazebos and packing up. Well done everyone.

Pride in the Moorlands was the week after Stoke Pride. This year, we didn’t have a stall…but several members turned up to carry our banner and walk in the parade in Leek town centre. Luckily, the rain stopped in time for the parade…but some of us who arrived earlier got wet and were glad to change into dry parade costumes.

Voices Unheard

The last event towards the end of July took place at the Brampton Museum in Newcastle in front of a packed house. This was to view archive footage and images put together by Ray Johnson with a contribution about the legendary Keith Groom. It was also a chance to reconnect with Mike Wolfe, a friend of Keith’s and the first elected mayor of Stoke on Trent who happened to be gay. The screening was one of the events associated with an exhibition Voices Unheard that features the stories and achievements of local heroes and heroines including Keith Groom (pictured below)