AIDS: The Lost Voices – Details, episodes & analysis

JOHN LEWIS was a Canadian-born music composer who gained a bachelor in Music, along with several awards and distinctions.

As the 1970s got underway John came to London and was commissioned to compose music scores for the renowned Ballet Rambert. A chance encounter at Rambert Studios and an interest in buying a synthesiser led John to join Brian Hodgson at his established, Electrophon Studio in Covent Garden. The pair composed music, released albums, and worked with well-known names from the music scene.

Little did John know that with all the trappings of London’s gay scene and the creative circles he no doubt mingled and networked. That there was a silent and deadly pandemic looming which would end his life just as he was near completing a score for BBC’s Dr Who.

All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the:

XTRA Tea Blog - JOHN LEWIS THE COMPOSER

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Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE

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Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS and the works of John Lewis, featured in this podcast. No copyright infringement intended -

• British Newspaper Archives / Newspapers
• Dr Who - Mark of the Rani / BBC Radiophonic Sounds ©BBC
• Where Are We Captain? by Wavemaker Hodgson/Lewis © Polydor Records
• New Atlantis by Wavemaker Hodgson/Lewis © Polydor Records
• I'm a Computer ©Pete Davies - Goo-Q Website
• Holberg Suite, Grieg - Performed on Piano by Gerhard Oppitz
• Thunder & Lightning (© Unknown) - by John Lewis, Gareth Marshallsea & C.Platt

It was one thing to have your HIV/AIDS diagnosis and your private life dragged through the British press. It was another if you were a respected medical or healthcare professional with an HIV/AIDS diagnosis.

In 1992 & 1993 Dr. Curran, Dr. Clayton & Dr. Shuttleworth were not only vilified for their private lives but had their professional reputation scrutinised by the press causing widespread panic among their patients and the public. It is unforgivable that their reporting of these men didn’t show them the same level of care and compassion the Doctor’s showed their patients.

All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the:

XTRA Tea Blog - THE THREE DOCTORS

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Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE

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Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS.

• British Newspaper Archives / Newspapers

Will heads to Slough to surprise the hosts of The HIV podcast, Sarah & Jess. The trio then take a look at the HIVstory of the charity behind the podcast, ‘Thames Valley Positive Support’.

Between them, they unearth articles long since forgotten from the newspaper archives spanning the last four decades. Articles that include letters from readers with language that leave the pair spitting feathers. Sarah & Jess are then surprised, if not overwhelmed, to hear from two very special guests that were at the heart of it all in the 1980s & 90s.

All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the:

XTRA Tea Blog - TVPS 'This Is Your HIVstory'

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Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS) HIV Charity Est: 1985

'The HIV Podcast' Sound bite: 'Sean-It's a Sin Special'

Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE

'This is your Life' Theme Tune - BBC

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Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS.

• British Newspaper Archives / Newspapers
• This is your Life' Theme Tune

Will & Gloria once again delve into the British newspaper archives and attempt to unpick the real stories, of real people behind the sensational and attention-grabbing headlines of the 80s and 90s AIDS pandemic.

When London dentist Vikram Advani died of AIDS-related complications in 1993. Every major newspaper up and down the land seized the opportunity to vilify and stigmatise his good name and besmirch his reputation as a dentist and the memory of those closest to him.

Mr Advani’s former lover and loyal friend Dr Keith Watts, also diagnosed HIV positive and later dying of AIDS-related complications attempted to set the record straight by sharing his story in a major tabloid.

Will & Gloria also step back to 1987 and the reporting of the UKs first AIDS-related hospital ward, the Broderip Ward at London’s Middlesex Hospital.

All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the:

XTRA Tea Blog - Vikram Advani

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Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE

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Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS.

• British Newspaper Archives / Newspapers
• ITV/ITN News Channel

Will & Gloria once again delve into the British newspaper archives and attempt to unpick the real stories, of real people behind the sensational and attention-grabbing headlines of the 80s and 90s AIDS pandemic. Featured in this episode is prisoner Del Sinclair, by his own admission had a string on convictions behind him. In 1985 he was featured in a national newspaper declaring he intended to ‘go straight’ and even publish a book on Prison food with a working title ‘The Good? Prison Food Guide’. However, 4 weeks later back on remand he routinely tested HIV positive and faced threats of violence from other inmates.

Other articles covered are those of a highly regarded Home Office pathologist refusing to carry out a post-mortem on a young man for merely “suspecting” the young man had AIDS. Another national newspaper ‘outs’ another man as being gay and being the 38th person in the UK to die of AIDS. Then in 1987 two gay men from Soho, London said to be “friends” were also denied a post-mortem when they died 3 weeks apart.

All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the:

XTRA Tea Blog - Del Sinclair

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Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE

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Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS.

• British Newspaper Archives / Newspapers

Will & Gloria delve into the British newspaper archives and attempt to unpick the real stories, of real people behind the sensational and attention-grabbing headlines of the 80s and 90s AIDS pandemic. Featured in this episode is the moving story of a 25-year-old man from Portsmouth, Paul Somes who died in Police custody in 1987.

Two national newspapers published articles devoid of any sympathy and instead chose to vilify and humiliate Paul for being an "AIDS sufferer" [living with HIV] before the entire nation. Will & Gloria seek to find any surviving family to give Paul a voice, perhaps share what happened, and a greater insight into what Paul was actually like.

All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the:

XTRA Tea Blog - Paul Somes

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Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE

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Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS.

• British Newspaper Archives / Newspapers

Before delving into the British newspaper archives and their reporting of the AIDS pandemic in the 80s and 90s. Will & Gloria first spill the tea’ on the press of today and ask why the gay media particularly, remained silent when asked to support the official UK Government HIV Stigma Petition.

XTRA TEA BLOG POST: The HIV Stigma Petition

The HIV Podcast

AIDS 1987 Monolith 'Falling Tombstone' TV Campaign UK

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Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE

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Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research.

• UK Government Public Health - AIDS Monolith TV Advert ft. John Hurt 1987
• TikTok Article by Pink News 2024

Gloria spills the tea with author William Hampson on World AIDS Day 2023. They discuss his experience of HIV stigma over the last three years and why he started a UK government petition calling for the government to 'finish what it started' after being silent for almost 40 years since the 1987 AIDS tombstone campaign. And asks why the gay/LGBT media has been unwilling to cover the petition?

SIGN THE HIV PETITION: Launch a campaign on HIV to tell the public that Undetectable = Untransmittable - Petitions (parliament.uk)

THE HIV PODCAST: Don't Die of Ignorance - the leaflet - The HIV Podcast | Acast

JET2HOLIDAY ADVERT: Jet2holidays Younger Couples TV Advert - September 2018 - YouTube

UK GOV 1987 AIDS TOMBSTONE ADVERT AIDS - Monolith (1987, UK) - YouTube

THT SCOTLAND ADVERT 2023 Stigma is more harmful than HIV (TV advertisement) - YouTube

NOVEMBER RAIN 1989 by Ivor. Full story on Kevin's instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CZJ-nOxIb2L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=ODhhZWM5NmIwOQ==

Martin Johnson met the late Diana, Princess of Wales on her first visit to the UK’s first AIDS hospice in February 1989.

But no stranger to the press Martin was ‘outed’ as a gay man when subject to a police “raid” which saw him arrested along with 36 of his birthday guests in 1982. Accused of hosting an “orgy” Martin put his case before the European Court of Human Rights, but what did they rule?

All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the:

XTRA Tea Blog - MARTIN JOHNSON

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Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE

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Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS.

• British Newspaper Archives / Newspapers
• BBC - Princess Diana's visit to Mildmay Hospital 24 February 1989

In 1992 Roy Cornes was a 24-year-old haemophiliac, infected with HIV through contaminated blood products. Through no fault of his own he then found himself at the centre of a worldwide media frenzy.

Roy’s life was turned upside down by one woman who alleged Roy was “knowingly” and deliberately spreading HIV to women. The media dubbed him a “maniac”, a “monster” and the “AIDS Casanova”. With plans for “hits” on his life & MPs raising urgent questions, we look at what happened next!

All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the:

XTRA Tea Blog - ROY CORNES

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Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE

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Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS.

• British Newspaper Archives / Newspapers
• ITV News - Online Video Report
• Channel 4 News Report