First local LGBTQ+ Conference

Our Chair, Maurice Greenham wasa one of the keynote speakers at the first ever LGBT+ Conference organised by the NHS North Staffs Combined Healthcare Trust. This took place on Friday 14 February at a packed hall in the Bridge Centre, Birches Head Road, ST2 8DD.  ‘Allsorts of Love’ was an appropriate title for the conference …given that it took place on Valentines Day. 

Other speakers included: Dame Julie Moore, Matt Mahmood-Ogdon , Maxwell Davies and Joey Knock. some important topics were covered such as ‘Religious Homophobia’, ‘Becoming Dad and Daddy’ and ‘Trans men and Pregnancy’ along with many moving personal stories.

Lesley Faux and her team are to be congratulated in their efficient staging of a highly successful event.
 

Ladened with donations for the Foodbank, a group of us enjoyed this English version of Marc Camoletti’s highly entertaining French Farce at Stoke Rep Theatre. A delightful fun evening with significant contributions given to a much needed service.

We had another trip to the theatre the following Monday …this time to see a professional re-enactment of the poplular 1960s radio programme Round the Horn. For most of us it was a pleasant nostalgia trip down memory lane to hear the once familiar voices of Julian and Sandy along with J Peasmold Gruntfuttock, Daphne Whitethigh and Seamous Android. Lots of enthusiastic audience participation.

Creative Evaluation of B-Arts

Deborah Rogers has been commissioned to evaluate the long term impact of B-Arts…and we have been invited to help. Basically the aim is to create a mandala that indicates how B-Arts has affected individuals with whom they have worked. To achieve this, we first needed to make some rubber stamps that represented 21 questions or statements. It has taken us two sessions to do that. Well done to everyone who took part in creating the stamps.

February Meeting

We had an excellent turn out for our first group meeting at the American Clubhouse in Cobridge. Jo and Anne volunteered to make and serve drinks which members appreciated. Maurice gave an account of his recent trip to Cuba with the aid of a bag full of maps and memorabilia. The talk was followed with a short film of photos taken in Havana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Camaguey, Santa Clara, Los Remedios and Varadero.