109 ORA - Memories of living and working in Liverpool - Oral Histories

Summary: Left home to live with gay male friend, became involved with campaign for homosexual equality (CHE) and father discovered literature and questioned him. Parents had difficulty accepting he was gay, described early years at CHE meetings. Joined Port Sunlight players, Church activities, how CHE was better option for meeting people than pubs and clubs. How he went through motions of dating girls. Present day options for places to meet gay men in Liverpool. Gay pub, Peggy Gladfly's in New Brighton. Straight men visiting gay pubs because enjoy social scene. Duration: 118 mins 35 secs. Available in the digital archive. Deposited by the North West Sound Archive (LIVSA BOX 59).

Summary: Talks mainly about his role as a Diversity Officer with Merseyside Police. Joined the Police aged 25 after 9 years of Army service. Describes Police selection procedures of the time, training etc. Contrasts recruitment differences subsequently. Comments on changes in the Police to gay people in particular. Also the impact of Equal Opportunity legislation in recent years. Talks about the hate crime awareness and public perception of the Police. Describes the creation of the Black Police Association Group and the Gay and Lesbian Support Network. Contrasts the differences between Merseyside and Manchester regarding the gay communities. Merseyside has no equivalent of the gay village in Manchester. He highlights the work of organisations like Hate Crime UK and Victim Support. Mentions his impending retirement. Duration: 48 mins 56 secs. Restrictions: Yes. Signed Clearance note never received following interview. Could not be traced as he has now retired, 27th July 2012. Minidisc available in LIVSA BOX 59. Cassette availble in LIVSA Copy box 1. Deposited by the North West Sound Archive (LIVSA BOX 59).

Summary: Talks about Mother's various jobs including milk round and bacon counter at Co-Op. Describes school days. Variety of jobs, opened cafe with parents in 1950 on Liverpool docks. Talks about Jack Jones, Dockers Union, dockers and strikes. Talks about cafe in general. Duration: c45 mins. Available in the digital archive. Minidisc available in LIVSA BOX 66. Cassette available in Copy Box 3. Deposited by the North West Sound Archive.

Summary: Describes his childhood in a foster home, schooldays. Joined the ATC. Describes his service in World War 2, places visited, pay, demob clothing. Joined The Fire Brigade. Talks about conditions, shifts, uniform, duties, wages, injuries, joined the water board. Duration: c60 mins Deposited by the North West Sound Archive (LIV BOX 7).

Summary: Father solicitor and Presbyterian. Attended St Paul's School, London. Attended Liverpool University studying Social Science. Describes relationship with Eleanor Rathbone and work for the Womens Emancipation Movement. Describes different between suffragette and suffragist. Talks about Gustav Holst and involvement with Folk music. Decribes teaching Miners' daughters in Buxton to be domestic servants. Describes involvement in girls' clubs. Describes her husband's career at Liverpool University, his work with Jewish refugees. Describes life in Berlin before World War 2. Describes work with evacuees. Describes life in the West Indies. Describes her political career as City Councillor for granby, became Chairman of the Police Authority. Describes Toxteth Riots. Talks about husband's peerage. Describes Harold Wilson. Duration c80 mins Deposited by the North West Sound Archive (LIV BOX 7).

Summary: Rec St Anthony's School, religious riots. Father at sea as Fireman. In Lusitania maiden voyage 1907. 7th May 1915 waited PAs return. Found out about sinking from Liverpool Echo. Poverty after death of father. Christmas at Sailors' Home for presents. Duration: c28 mins. Deposited by the North West Sound Archive (LIVSA BOX 66).

Summary: Father Horticulturist selling flowers vegetables etc. worked there in school holidays, after school went into industrial chemistry working for North West Gas Board, job finished when North Sea Gas discovered, became involved in Millinery, became aware gay when in Secondary School. Became involved in gay scene in late 1950s. Talks about gay men meeting in public toilets, talks about public and Police reactions, Lime Street station and Central station toilets. Sexual Health Clinics, in particular Seamens Clinic, recalls start of campaign for homosexual equality in 1963. Describes early CHE meeting and need for discretion. Advent of Gay Times and Pink Paper. Police raids on gay saunas in early 1970s, impact of HIV and AIDS, recalls International Gay Day in Liverpool, Pink Past and Present, a film about gay life in Liverpool. Duration: 79 mins 01 secs. Available in the Digital Archive. Minidisc available in LIVSA BOX 59. Cassette available in LIVSA COPY BOX 4. Deposited by the North West Sound Archive.