AIDS: The Lost Voices

William Hampson
  • 0.0 (0)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

In "AIDS: The Lost Voices," hosts William Hampson and Gloria take a profound look back at the often overlooked narratives of individuals affected by the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s. They navigate through the archives of British newspapers, shedding light on the lived experiences that were overshadowed by sensationalist headlines. Hampson, drawing from his own harrowing experiences as detailed in his book 'The Lost Boys of Soho', highlights the personal toll of the pandemic, revealing how stigma and fear shaped the lives of countless individuals within the gay community. Together, they aim to honour the voices that were lost amidst the chaos, providing a platform for understanding the human stories that contributed to the history of AIDS in Britain.

  1. AIDS: The Lost Voices - AIDS in Chains

    FEB 14

    AIDS: The Lost Voices - AIDS in Chains

    A forgotten and overlooked aspect of the AIDS pandemic was how people diagnosed in prison were treated when their illness advanced: rather than receive dignified medical care, many were transported to hospitals in chains and shackles. In 1991 a male prisoner testified to being taken to hospital still chained, and in 1996 a woman on remand, ‘Jane’ — not convicted, with no previous offences — was held in the AIDS ward at St Mary’s Hospital, London, chained to a guard round the clock; so weak she could barely walk the corridor, her chain was wrapped in a jacket at night to stop it from rattling and keeping her awake. Press coverage and photographs provoked national outrage and became a scandal for the then Conservative government, which was forced to review the policy of shackling women on hospital visits. That episode exposes how stigma, punishment and institutional inertia compounded the suffering of people with HIV in custody, consigning compassion and basic human dignity to the margins. All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the: XTRA Tea Blog AIDS: THE LOST VOICES - AIDS in Chains ---------------------------------------------------- Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE ---------------------------------------------------- Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS, featured in this podcast which has no (Zero) commercial gain. No copyright infringement intended - British Newspaper Archives / NewspapersNews Audio Clips - ITN (Known presenters self identified)'Anne Widdecombe Song' from Victoria Wood's 'All the Trimmings' 2000 - BBC

    48 min
  2. AIDS: The Lost Voices - Mark Warren Hearne

    FEB 7

    AIDS: The Lost Voices - Mark Warren Hearne

    Mark Warren Hearne was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988 at the age of 22 and told he had only three months to live; he nevertheless survived for another nine years, during which time he was convicted of robbery in 1992 and sentenced to five years' imprisonment. While serving that sentence at HMP Camp HIll on the Isle of Wight he was admitted to St Mary's Hospital on the island with an AIDS-related illness; either because doctors believed him immobile or because he persuaded them he was, his prison guard was stood down, and Mark subsequently escaped from the hospital and the country was alerted. We search the newspaper archives in a bid to piece together snippets of this young man's life, starting with a single clipping that announced the discovery of his lifeless body by neighbours in his London flat in August 1997 — he was 31. All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the: XTRA Tea Blog AIDS: THE LOST VOICES - Mark Warren Hearne ---------------------------------------------------- Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE ---------------------------------------------------- Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS, featured in this podcast which has no (Zero) commercial gain. No copyright infringement intended - British Newspaper Archives / Newspapers

    49 min
  3. AIDS: The Lost Voices - Mountjoy & Arbour Hill Prisons 2/2

    JAN 31

    AIDS: The Lost Voices - Mountjoy & Arbour Hill Prisons 2/2

    In 1986, Dublin’s Mountjoy and Arbour Hill prisons opened separation wings for inmates diagnosed with AIDS — a policy prisoners likened to being “treated like lepers” that sparked a wave of desperate protests: dirty protests, prolonged sit‑ins and rooftop demonstrations that only drew sustained media attention once visible, dramatic resistance began. Men and women confined to segregation described humiliating conditions — paper pillowcases and sheets, food served on paper plates, exclusion from work and education, and strict prohibitions on mixing with others — measures that compounded the isolation of illness and drove three men to escape while prompting public acts of defiance that forced the outside world to confront punitive, fear‑driven policies behind bars. The punishment for their crimes was a prison sentence, not an HIV/AIDS diagnosis, yet by standing up, using their voices and exercising their right to protest they exposed inadequate medical care, entrenched stigma and human rights abuses in the prison system. In doing so they became unwitting activists: their resistance helped secure improvements in conditions and access to treatment for incarcerated people living with HIV and warrants recognition in the history of AIDS not only for their offences but for the role they played in advancing dignity and humane care. All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the: XTRA Tea Blog AIDS: THE LOST VOICES - MOUNTJOY & ARBOUR HILL ---------------------------------------------------- RTÉ - Irelands National Television & Radio Broadcaster ---------------------------------------------------- Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE ---------------------------------------------------- Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS, featured in this podcast which has no (Zero) commercial gain. No copyright infringement intended - British Newspaper Archives / NewspapersRTÉ - Back to the Joy (Mountjoy Revisited Documentary) YouTube

    1h 10m
  4. AIDS: The Lost Voices - Mountjoy & Arbour Hill Prisons 1/2

    JAN 24

    AIDS: The Lost Voices - Mountjoy & Arbour Hill Prisons 1/2

    In 1986, Dublin’s Mountjoy and Arbour Hill prisons opened separation wings for inmates diagnosed with AIDS — a policy prisoners likened to being “treated like lepers” that sparked a wave of desperate protests: dirty protests, prolonged sit‑ins and rooftop demonstrations that only drew sustained media attention once visible, dramatic resistance began. Men and women confined to segregation described humiliating conditions — paper pillowcases and sheets, food served on paper plates, exclusion from work and education, and strict prohibitions on mixing with others — measures that compounded the isolation of illness and drove three men to escape while prompting public acts of defiance that forced the outside world to confront punitive, fear‑driven policies behind bars. The punishment for their crimes was a prison sentence, not an HIV/AIDS diagnosis, yet by standing up, using their voices and exercising their right to protest they exposed inadequate medical care, entrenched stigma and human rights abuses in the prison system. In doing so they became unwitting activists: their resistance helped secure improvements in conditions and access to treatment for incarcerated people living with HIV and warrants recognition in the history of AIDS not only for their offences but for the role they played in advancing dignity and humane care. All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the: XTRA Tea Blog AIDS: THE LOST VOICES - MOUNTJOY & ARBOUR HILL ---------------------------------------------------- RTÉ - Irelands National Television & Radio Broadcaster All audio from RTÉ News Television Bulletins - Links below to watch: Prisoners with AIDS, Arbour Hill - 20 January 1986Transfer of AIDS Prisoners - 21 January 1986News AIDS Prison Unit - 23 January 1986Prison AIDS Scare - 25 January 1986Prison Rooftop Protest (Arbour Hill) - 11 March 1986---------------------------------------------------- Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE ---------------------------------------------------- Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS, featured in this podcast which has no (Zero) commercial gain. No copyright infringement intended - British Newspaper Archives / NewspapersRTÉ - All Audio News Bulletins from RTÉ Archive Website

    56 min
  5. AIDS: The Lost Voices - Brian Nugent's AIDS Diary 2/2

    JAN 17

    AIDS: The Lost Voices - Brian Nugent's AIDS Diary 2/2

    Brian Nugent was diagnosed with AIDS in October 1986 at the age of 33. Originally from Waterford, Ireland, he trained as a cordon bleu chef in Paris before relocating to Sydney, Australia, in 1979, where he carved out a career in journalism as social editor for Sydney & City Magazine and later Panache. In 1987 Brian began sharing his experience of living with AIDS through a collaboration with journalist Jill Margo; together they devised a regular column for The Sydney Morning Herald that chronicled the personal, social and political dimensions of the epidemic in Australia, giving a public voice to a deeply private struggle at a time of widespread fear and misunderstanding. Forty years on, Brian’s diary stands as a stark, intimate testament to that era — a record that not only documents the daily realities of illness and care but also interrogates the cruelty of stigma. His entries perform a dual work: they commemorate the quiet courage of one man confronting mortality, and they demand renewed attention to the lessons of compassion, advocacy and collective responsibility that remain just as important today. All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the: XTRA Tea Blog AIDS: THE LOST VOICES - BRIAN NUGENT'S AIDS DIARY ---------------------------------------------------- Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE ---------------------------------------------------- 'Amazing' Grace by Celtic Woman - Follow on Instagram YouTube Apple Music Amazon Music ---------------------------------------------------- 'Take Me Home' by Celtic Thunder - Follow on Instagram YouTube Apple Music Amazon Music ---------------------------------------------------- Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS, featured in this podcast. No copyright infringement intended - British Newspaper Archives / NewspapersBrian's diary published in: The Sydney Morning Herald (1987)Written by Brian Nugent & Jill Margo, then Journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald

    54 min
  6. AIDS: The Lost Voices - Brian Nugent's AIDS Diary 1/2

    JAN 10

    AIDS: The Lost Voices - Brian Nugent's AIDS Diary 1/2

    Brian Nugent was diagnosed with AIDS in October 1986 at the age of 33. Originally from Waterford, Ireland, he trained as a cordon bleu chef in Paris before relocating to Sydney, Australia, in 1979, where he carved out a career in journalism as social editor for Sydney & City Magazine and later Panache. In 1987 Brian began sharing his experience of living with AIDS through a collaboration with journalist Jill Margo; together they devised a regular column for The Sydney Morning Herald that chronicled the personal, social and political dimensions of the epidemic in Australia, giving a public voice to a deeply private struggle at a time of widespread fear and misunderstanding. Forty years on, Brian’s diary stands as a stark, intimate testament to that era — a record that not only documents the daily realities of illness and care but also interrogates the cruelty of stigma. His entries perform a dual work: they commemorate the quiet courage of one man confronting mortality, and they demand renewed attention to the lessons of compassion, advocacy and collective responsibility that remain just as important today. All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the: XTRA Tea Blog AIDS: THE LOST VOICES - BRIAN NUGENT'S AIDS DIARY ---------------------------------------------------- Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE ---------------------------------------------------- Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS, featured in this podcast. No copyright infringement intended - British Newspaper Archives / NewspapersBrian's diary published in: The Sydney Morning Herald (1987)Written by Brian Nugent & Jill Margo, then Journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald

    46 min
  7. AIDS: The Lost Voices - Behind the Stitches, Tommy, Peter & Juicy

    12/20/2025

    AIDS: The Lost Voices - Behind the Stitches, Tommy, Peter & Juicy

    We take a look at the AIDS quilts commemorating figures from fashion and nightlife whose lives intersected with celebrity, creativity and activism: Tommy Nutter, the Savile Row tailor whose daring cuts and showmanship in the 1970s made his suits a zeitgeist item coveted by a generation — friends and clients included Bianca Jagger, Twiggy, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Cilla Black and The Beatles — and whose quilt honours a maker who reshaped menswear. Nearby is the panel for Peter von Werffelli, the son of a prominent Swiss family and master furrier with ties to Dior. Peters a master furrier himself and now living in London create a range from couture furs to audacious ‘micro’ beach pants; his quilt recalls a craftsman who bridged high fashion and playful saucy style. And there is Ronald Heyfron, better known on stage as Juicy Lucy, a celebrated figure in the 80s London drag scene who appeared in pop videos — including the Frankie Goes to Hollywood iconic ‘Relax’ — and, despite his own AIDS diagnosis, channelled creativity into activism with his ‘Juice’ nights to raise funds for AIDS charities; his quilt is both a memorial and a testament to the community care and defiant joy that sustained so many through the crisis. All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the: XTRA Tea Blog AIDS: THE LOST VOICES - Behind the Stitches UK AIDS Quilt Website ---> DONATE HERE >>WATCH HERE YOU TUBE ---------------------------------------------------- Holly Johnson/Frankie Goes to Hollywood: Holly Johnson Instagram 'Relax' - Frankie Goes to Hollywood Spotify ---------------------------------------------------- Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE ---------------------------------------------------- Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS, featured in this podcast. No copyright infringement intended - British Newspaper Archives / NewspapersUK AIDS Memorial Quilt Website

    38 min
  8. AIDS: The Lost Voices - Remembering Roger Youd

    12/16/2025

    AIDS: The Lost Voices - Remembering Roger Youd

    In this special tribute episode, "Remembering Roger Youd," published on the 40th anniversary of Roger’s untimely passing on 16 December, intimate recollections from his brother Carlton Youd sit alongside an inspiring interview with Paul Fairweather — a close friend and longstanding, respected LGBT and HIV/AIDS activist who helped establish Manchester’s AIDS line along with the picket and protest in response to Roger’s unlawful detainment. We also hear first‑hand accounts of Roger’s deep friendship with Ian, a bond so close they mischievously called one another “sisters,” a small, wry testament to the humour that sustained them. Roger’s catalogue of imported disco records — traded for the use of Ian’s solarium — made for a friendship that endured through ordinary joys and the looming, unknowable crisis to come, AIDS. This episode stitches personal memories into a tender, unflinching tribute to a much-loved son, brother and friend, showing Roger as far more than a historical footnote or the press’s reductive label, “the Monsall patient.”. Together these testimonies map how Roger's fight for his freedom and care helped redefine support for a whole generation living with HIV/AIDS. All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the: XTRA Tea Blog AIDS: THE LOST VOICES - Remembering Roger Youd ---------------------------------------------------- Music: Saving All My Love - Whitney Houston (1985) Apple Music Amazon Music YouTube Music ---------------------------------------------------- Reflections - Evelyn Thomas Apple Music Amazon Music YouTube Music ---------------------------------------------------- Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves - Eurythmics (1985) Apple Music Amazon Music YouTube Music ---------------------------------------------------- TV Interview/Report TV Eye - AIDS and You (1985) Thames TV/Freemantle ---------------------------------------------------- Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS, featured in this podcast. No copyright infringement intended - British Newspaper Archives / Newspapers

    1h 29m
See All (62)

About

In "AIDS: The Lost Voices," hosts William Hampson and Gloria take a profound look back at the often overlooked narratives of individuals affected by the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s. They navigate through the archives of British newspapers, shedding light on the lived experiences that were overshadowed by sensationalist headlines. Hampson, drawing from his own harrowing experiences as detailed in his book 'The Lost Boys of Soho', highlights the personal toll of the pandemic, revealing how stigma and fear shaped the lives of countless individuals within the gay community. Together, they aim to honour the voices that were lost amidst the chaos, providing a platform for understanding the human stories that contributed to the history of AIDS in Britain.

Information

  • Creator
    William Hampson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Will Hampson 2022
  • Show Website
    AIDS: The Lost Voices