Casgliadau Arlein

Postcard 'Lenin 1922'. Message on back to Siân James and family from Derek Hughes, 30 September 1988. The message mentions Derek’s partner Henry who was in London Lighthouse for rest and care. London Lighthouse, Ladbrook Grove, was a centre for people with HIV and AIDS. Both Henry and Derek were HIV positive and admitted to London Lighthouse at a time when there was little support care for anyone with HIV. Both died within months of each other in 1988.

Siân describes Derek "This was our very best LGSM friend – Derek Hughes. He was half Welsh, with his dad being from the Bridgend/Porthcawl area. His dad had worked in Wyndham/Western mine but went to work at Fords Dagenham after the war. Derek and his brother were born in London and they and their dad were lifelong members of the Communist Party. Derek was a Cambridge graduate and taught English and Drama in Catford. He died of HIV in 1988 and he was a true comrade and friend. We visited him regularly as a family and he came to stay with us. It was a privilege to know him. He appears in the bottom left of the famous picture of us all dancing in Coelbren Club. It’s the picture that inspired the dance scene in the film Pride".