Interesting bits and pieces, unknown people and events, plus badges!
The Oval House Community Theatre space, cafe and printshop. Gay men from South London met regularly in the cafe. Brixton Faeries staged several plays and cabarets there as did Gay Sweatshop, Hormone Imbalance and other lesbian and gay theatre groups.
The Oval House has moved from Kennington to Coldharbour Lane, Brixton and is now called unimaginatively The Brixton House
Another photo from The Oval House
Prides and Protests
L-R: Jamie Dunbar, Wendy Wattage (Jim Ennis) at unknown event
Jamie Dunbar and Chris Ransome were determined to defy the forces of law and order by being openly gay in public
Nettie Pollard in the middle who tirelessly fought for LGBT+ rights and gay liberation as a member of the NCCL (National Council for Civil Liberties, now just Liberty), the GLF and Icebreakers collective. Still active 50 years on!
A big hug for Malcolm Watson from Detlef Fischer at a gay pride event
Julian Hows entertaining the crowd at a gay pride event
Is that Julian Hows camply saluting in fairy fashion?
Severe repression of gay men in Huddersfield
Brixton gays joined the gay pride demonstration in Huddersfield where police raids and repression had been particularly severe (1981)
photo credit: Peter Scott Presland
Another photo of Huddersfield protest
Bill Thornycroft next to a bare-chested Gary de Vere, with Eric Eagle (wearing glasses) behind him at unknown demonstration. Since publishing the site, Eric has reached out and confirmed that he also can’t remember what the demonstration was!
Portraits
Malcolm Watson took part in Brixton Faeries productions and street theatre. He was a staunch presence and a great comrade on many campaigns against anti gay injustice. Below is a marvellous obituary that perfectly captures his radiant personality.
click the image to find out more
Malcolm in a Brixton Faeries productions
click the image to find out more about the Brixton Faeries productions
Tony Smith who lived at 146 Mayall Road
Tony Smith who lived at 146 Mayall Road
Ian Townson adopting a Christ-like pose for the camera
Ian Townson relaxing in the South London Gay Community Centre wearing a Glad to be Gay and Gays Against Fascism badges (mid 1970s)
Who could this be? Andy Ferguson who used to live in Brixton
Don Milligan enjoying a relaxing pint. His challenging ideas are often controversial and stimulate sometimes heated debate and provoke greater precision and clarity in thinking.
Dr. Don Milligan though with a beard like that it really ought to be ‘professor’
Six photographs from the Robert Workman Archive, Bishopsgate Institute
All boys together outside the gay squats on Railton Road L-R: Malcolm Collier?, unknown, Chris Langan (barefoot Chris), unknown, Malcolm Watson
Cop telling gay centre users not to be so mouthy and know their place?
L-R: Passer bye, unknown, Bill Thornycroft, Colm Clifford, Dennis Odd
back row L-R: Alastair Kerr, Lloyd Vanata, unknown, Dennis Odd
front row L-R: Henry Pim, unknown
Graham Mumford with the camera?, Peter Cross
Henry again and unknown camera man