Little Saints wanted to celebrate Wales!
From activism to tea dances, Zoe Balfour tells Joseph Ali of her time in Cardiff as a lesbian in the ‘70s and ‘80s and the creation of the support network Cardiff Lesbian Line...
IT’S nearly time to dust off those little aprons, shawls, hats and flat caps – or, with Wales off to a great start in the Six Nations, stick on those rugby jerseys – before adding a miniature leek or daffodil.
Yes, St David’s Day is here again. And at the South Wales Echo and South Wales Evening Post, we want to reward your efforts to celebrate our national day with a special prize.
This year has been one like no other, but that won’t stop as many of us as possible from celebrating St David.
And to reward those making such an effort in these difficult times, we are running our annual competition to find our best “Little Saints” – with £500 of vouchers up for grabs.
To be in with a chance of winning this terrific prize, just send us a picture of your little ones dressed up to celebrate Wales.
All pictures received will feature in a special souvenir supplement to be published next month.
All entrants must be aged 11 and under and live in the circulation area of the South Wales Echo or
South
Wales Evening Post.
Supplements will also be published in the Celtics Weekly Series and Llanelli Star & Carmarthen Journal.
You can upload your photos and enter online at www. walesonline.co.uk/littlesaints
For full terms and conditions visit www.walesonline.
co.uk/rules
ZOE Balfour, who now lives in America, is one of many unsung heroes of Cardiff’s LGBT+ scene.
Co-founding the Cardiff Lesbian Line, a helpline for lesbian women struggling with their sexuality, Zoe’s work helped many young women in Wales feel welcomed into the scene and a part of a community.
Born in 1957 in Chicago, Zoe came to Cardiff when she was only a few months old and returned for a number of years after finishing university.
A prolific DJ, activist, and events organiser on the scene during the late ‘70s, Zoe used her love of dance and activism to create inclusive spaces for women, and lesbian women, to enjoy during that time.
Still teaching dance classes online during the Covid-19 pandemic, Zoe still looks back on her time on Cardiff ’s LGBT+ scene.
“I was born in Chicago but I was on a flight back to Cardiff when I was a month old,” Zoe said.
“We lived on Allensbank Road. My dad taught at the university and my mother worked in Whitchurch Hospital.”
Through her father, Zoe obtained a lifelong love of dance from being exposed to classical music collections.
Performing in school and in spaces in Westgate Street she quickly began organising her own tea dances in the city.
Originating in the early 20th century, tea dances normally included the waltz and were originally held to accompany afternoon tea.
“My parents loved dancing so I’ve always loved dancing,” Zoe said. “I used to leap around the living room to my father’s classical music records.”
Coming out in 1977 at the age of 20, Zoe volunteered for Gay Sweatshop Theatre Company which hosted shows all across the UK before heading back to Cardiff. Describing the experience as a ‘groundbreaking’ one, Zoe’s return to Wales saw her get involved with Gay Switchboard and
eventually co-founding Lesbian Line.
“I came back to Cardiff as soon as I graduated university,” she said.
“I spent the summer in London and volunteered for the Gay Sweatshop. They were a travelling queer theatre company, it was groundbreaking for me.”
Having liberal, forward-thinking parents who had gay friends, Zoe was still smart in how she handled herself socially in places like school out of fear her sexuality would become known. “In school it was rampant. You didn’t even look at someone in the changing room or at least I didn’t in case someone thought I was a lesbian,” she explained.
“I was socialised into being very careful about saying stuff. If you’re outside the box they call you a lesbian.
“Coming out that time you get yelled at for walking down the street hand in the
Cardiff
hand with your girlfriend, you’re in danger of being beaten up, the clubs are hidden and meeting people is harder. Most of my girlfriends in the early days were in the closet – it made me angry.”
Identifying a need to help other lesbians in the city, Zoe co-founded the Cardiff Lesbian Line from her communal home with her housemates.
Recalling “heartbreaking” calls from all across Wales coming in, she said that some calls were coming from girls in their last year of school.
“It’s about isolation and being there for the calls for people who thought they were different and were suicidal because they didn’t have anyone to talk to about this. It was heartbreaking,” she admitted.
“There wasn’t another Lesbian Line. We were getting calls from the Valleys and all over.
“We were getting calls from girls in their last year of school who were bullied.
“I lived in a lesbian communal house on Kings Road and four of us in that house were in Lesbian Line, Women’s Aid, and the Women’s Centre. It was a hub.”
Zoe’s passion for dance eventually coincided with her activism and work in Cardiff. Founding and organising countless parties across the city, including Lesbian Line discos, the events were normally shut down once landlords knew they were queer.
“We were nicely scrubbed faces and they probably thought we were having one big hen party but that was not what it was,” she chuckled.
“We were all organising these women’s discos, which were just cisgender women. They were fun, really fun and who came to them was pretty across the board because Cardiff was across the board.
“We started doing Lesbian Line discos [and] we found different places to have them and they were often in pubs.
“They would find out that they were queer and they would kick us out.
“One of the big homophobia rejections we got was from Electricity Club in Pontcanna. They wrote and cancelled our contract and said we were undesirable.
“We hadn’t trashed the place and followed all the rules. But we were queer, and that was enough.”
Now living in California, Zoe is still providing dance lessons online and regularly choreographs routines.
A champion in her own right, Zoe has won the Women’s North American Ballroom Champion title five years in a row with her dance partner Citabria Phillips, and still visits Cardiff when she can.
LIVING well is important at any age, but experts say our health priorities can change as we get older.
While the principles of exercising regularly, eating well and managing stress will always be relevant, there may also be specific things you can do – at each milestone decade – to make sure you’re harnessing your full healthy potential.
So, what are they? We asked health experts to share their tips for happy, healthy aging, and looking after yourself at different stages of life...
In your 20s you should... support your bones and set good habits
Our bones carry on developing into our late-20s, so it’s important we continue to get plenty of calcium and vitamin D during these years, says Dr Naveen Puri, a lead physician at Bupa Health Clinics (bupa.co.uk).
As well as eating a good diet and taking supplements where necessary, he adds that resistancebased exercise, like weight training, can help strengthen bones, as well as repetitive activities such as hiking, jogging and playing tennis.
“Once your bones stop growing, they typically stop getting stronger and can slowly weaken in the longer term,” warns Dr Puri. “As such, helping them develop in your 20s will set good foundations as you get older.”
Your early adult life is also a great time to avoid making too many unhealthy lifestyle choices.
“When we’re young, we might not notice the impact of drinking too much or smoking, but now is the ideal time to minimise these habits,” says Dr Puri.
“Drinking too much on a regular basis is linked to a host of long-term health conditions, from high blood pressure and heart disease, through to liver disease and certain types of cancer. Similarly, smoking is linked to issues like cancer, heart and lung disease, strokes, and diabetes.”
In your 30s you should... eat well and protect your mental health
As you move into your 30s, you might start noticing some subtle body changes as your metabolism slows down. “This is perfectly normal, but does mean it becomes important to eat well,” says Dr Puri. Although it’s tempting to find a quick-fix for those stubborn extra pounds, don’t turn to fad diets. “Instead, look at making smaller, sustainable changes,” he advises. “Try to avoid grazing and stick to three meals a day, including high-fibre foods like wholegrain bread or brown rice, and protein like chicken or tofu. Also aim to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. “Elsewhere, try and avoid foods that are high in sugar or saturated fat.” At this time of life, many people may find themselves in more stressful situations. This can come from sources such as career responsibilities or family life.
Dr Puri says: “Relaxation therapies – like meditation, yoga or mindfulness – may be helpful, and it’s also important to know where to turn.”
In your 40s you should... maintain a good diet
It’s believed that almost one in 20 people in the UK are living with diabetes. While type 1 diabetes can occur at any age and is not linked with weight or lifestyle, generally speaking, type 2 is more likely to develop in over-40s, and this form of diabetes is often associated with factors like weight and diet.
Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle may help prevent type 2 diabetes, as well as being important if you are diagnosed.
“Maintaining a balanced diet and exercising regularly is key to managing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In some cases, you can reverse type 2 diabetes with the right diet and exercise,” says LloydsPharmacy pharmacist Anshu Kaura (lloydspharmacy.com).
Anshu advises to “always consult your GP before making any diet or lifestyle changes, especially if you have an underlying condition”.
In your 50s you should... check your breasts and prostate regularly
Giles Davies, lead surgeon and director of breast surgery at Cromwell Hospital (cromwellhospital.com), says it’s really important for women to check for the signs of breast cancer in their 50s.
“Women should check their breasts from a young age – ideally in their late-teens or 20s – but it becomes even more important as you get older,” he notes. “Around 80% of breast cancers happen in women over 50, so it’s important you attend your screenings.
“It’s also vital you know the signs of breast cancer, so you can act on any concerns. One of the most common signs is a new lump in the breast area or armpit, though women may also experience nipple discharge, skin changes, or a change in size or shape to either one or both of the breasts.”
Men should also get regular prostate checks. Professor Hashim Ahmed, consultant urological surgeon at Cromwell Hospital, says: “Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer amongst men in the UK.
“Problems with urinating can often be one of the first signs that something is wrong, especially if the cancer is pressing on, or growing near the urethra. Other common indications may include needing to pee more frequently, often during the night, or finding it more difficult to start or stop urinating.”
These symptoms don’t always mean you have cancer. However, getting things checked out quickly is always sensible. And in some cases, cancer doesn’t cause any symptoms so it’s important to keep up with regular health checks.
In your 60s you should... look after your joints
Joint pain is very common as we get older, and it’s often caused by osteoarthritis, or wear and tear. Lifestyle measures may help prevent these problems worsening, as well as helping ease flare-ups.
Keeping physically active can still be very important. If you are concerned about joint pain and exercise, speak to your GP and perhaps a physiotherapist for tailored advice.
Anshu adds: “For those experiencing joint pain in winter, a cod liver oil supplement may help.
“Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids help support the body’s anti-inflammatory response, which can in turn help to prevent joint conditions such as arthritis from deteriorating.”
Drinking too much ...is linked to a host of long-term health conditions Dr Naveen Puri on bad habits
In your 70s and beyond you should... keep active
Experts say even people in their 70s should look to undertake some form of exercise every day, but it doesn’t need to be anything as intense as marathon running.
Lin Seeley, wellbeing co-ordinator at Bupa Sandhills Court care home, says: “Light activity, such as a brisk walk or a bike ride, will still provide good benefits.
“People should try to clock up about two-and-a-half hours of this a week.
“Some great exercises for this can include gentle weightlifting or aerobics. Yoga and Pilates are also great options and can easily be adapted to suit anyone’s ability.”