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!
Julian Hows entertaining the crowd at a gay pride event
Is that Julian Hows camply saluting in fairy fashion?
A big hug for Malcolm Watson from Detlef Fischer at a gay pride event
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!
Jim Ennis fearlessly takes on the forces of repression Wendy Wattage (Jim Ennis) single-handedly taking on the Metropolitan police force
Lesbians United!
Terry Crabtree in the background with Julian Hows looking soulful or annoyed? photo credit: Robert Workman archive, Bishopsgate Institute
Bus conductor trying to ignore Julian Hows and get on with the job (1983)
Julian How’s showing the way
Steel bands led Gay Liberation demonstrations on several occasions
When Gay Pride was much more political
L-R: David Callow, John Lloyd, Colm Clifford, Gary de Vere Despite a speech impediment and partial deafness David Callow took part in many of Brixton gay’s social and political activites including this ‘Queens in Furs’ summons to Camberwell magistrate’s court for non-payment of rates (community Charge)
Queers Against the Cuts campaigned against public spending cuts affecting the jobs, services and welfare benefits for gay people. Here we are at a demonstration against the far-right English Defence League in the East End of London (early 2000's). L-R: Colin Wilson, Ian Townson
Some of the original crew who went to South Wales in solidarity with miners who were on strike nationally from 1984-85. The highly acclaimed film Pride (2014) faithfully reflected this event and broke the myth that working class communities would be automatically hostile to lesbians and gay men even in times of intense struggle. L-R: Jonathan Blake, Mike Jackson and………
The Communist Party of Great Britain adopted a gay rights policy in 1976 backed by Mick McGahey Scottish miner and Vice President of the National Union of Mineworkers. L-R: John Lloyd, unknown
NIGRA (Norther Ireland Gay Rights Association) delegation to Stormont to demand gay rights (1973). Edwin Henshaw on our far left. He later joined the Brixton gay community
L-R: Julian Hows, Detlef Fischer, Jim Ennis picketing the Old Bailey at the Jeremy Thorpe trial (1979) From the Robert Workman Archive
L-R: Malcolm Watson, Bill Thornycroft, Julian Hows, Nettie Pollard (behind policeman), Jamie Dunbar, Detlef Fischer, Jim Ennis From the Robert Workman Archive
Anti-Nazi League demonstration (1981). L-R: Edwin Henshaw (holding banner), Don Tyler. Rest unknown
Anti-Nazi League demonstration (1981). Person unknown
Gay Pride 1976. Scottish Tom.
Gay Pride 1976. L-R: Julian Hows, Jamie Hall
Brixton gays, along with other gay liberationists, joined the Hendon Times’ picket to protest against anti-gay slurs and a campaign of vilification by the paper (1973)
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’
Colm Clifford when feather boas were in fashion
Colm Clifford about to challenge someone or just looking enigmatic
Gary de Vere wearing a Yes, I’m Homosexual Too badge
Gary de Vere relaxing in his garden at 33 Helix Gardens?
David Callow
Despite a speech impediment and partial deafness David Callow took part in many of Brixton gay’s social and political activities
Jim MacSweeney, Manager of Gays the Word bookshop, as a sister of perpetual indulgence. He also starred in Friends of Rio Rita's a play by Colm Clifford
Thomas Mutke at the film co-op
Bruno de Florence, radical gay film maker, jointly organised the first ever Festival of Gay Film and Video for Gay Pride 1981 with Thomas Mutke. Both were Brixton gay communards.
Alan Bray's main claim to fame was his highly acclaimed book Homosexuality in Renaissance England
Betty Bourne, sometimes known as Peter Bourne, founder and mainstay of the Bloolips theatre troupe
Bill Thornycroft as Vera Lynn?
Bill Thornycroft taking a tipple on a tube train
Terry Crabtree played piano and took part in several Brixton Faeries’ plays as well as creating his own cabarets
Terry Crabtree
Dave McKay worked at Union Place Community Resource Centre as did Colm Clifford and Ian Townson from the Brixton gay community. The centre taught people printing and photographic skills. Colm initiated Homosexual Posters which produced a gay-themed calendar and Christmas cards, a gay men’s diary and an assortment of posters and leaflets.
What better way for a gay man to rest than on another man
Tenderness between gay men - a very rare thing?
Unknown people
Know who any of these people are? Please contact us
I recognise this fellow’s face but who is he?
Who are these lovely people?
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
London Queer Social Centre under surveillance by the police
David Jones pondering what to do next now that the police have arrived?
Police keeping an eye on the squatted London Queer Social Centre before the eviction. Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, South London (2010s)
The London Queer Social Centre was squatted on Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, and lasted a few hectic but brilliant weeks before being evicted. Ian Townson spoke about Queers Against the Cuts at one of the workshops