My wonderful pal Terrence Higgins
Salute to man who inspired HIV charity
ALEX LLOYD
BY
WITH a cheery wave, Martyn Butler looked back at his pal in a hospital bed and said: “See you soon.”
He had no idea they would be his final words to Terry Higgins, who would die of AIDS-related illness on July 4, 1982.
The 37-year-old was one of the first in Britain to lose his life to the immune deficiency syndrome.
Terry’s death 40 years ago tomorrow would change Martyn’s life – and save countless others – by inspiring the creation of the Terrence Higgins Trust, now the UK’s leading HIV charity.
But while the trust is well known, few know much about Terry himself.
Now Martyn and co-founder Rupert Whitaker, Terry’s partner, want to change that.
Martyn says: “We’ve been incredibly protective of Terry. But I’m 67 and while Rupert is younger, he is not very well.
“There’s a chance in 10 years we’ll be gone and his story will be lost.”
Martyn, from Newport, South Wales, met fellow Welshman Terry at London gay club Heaven.
Terry was a Hansard reporter in Parliament and a DJ, while Martyn ran a West End cinema.
He recalls: “Terry was the first male friendship where he didn’t want something from me – he didn’t want to sleep with me, he didn’t want money from me.
“We just thought the other was cool. Terry built a community. He would step up and look after wide-eyed new arrivals. He was very practical and kind too. If you were broke, he would cook your dinner, take in your washing and give you your bus fare home.
“He was the most radical person I ever met, just by being Terry.”
Terry would DJ while showbiz stars like Kenny Everett and Freddie Mercury mingled. Martyn adds: “There could be Floyd and Mark from Hot Gossip on the dancefloor, or the lads from Frankie Goes To Hollywood, all showing off and looking fantastic. Right in the middle was Terry, the epitome of dad dancing. “Rupert described it as watching a human slinky. It was a joy to watch.”
But in April 1982, Terry collapsed on the dancefloor. Doctors did not know he had AIDS-related pneumonia when Martyn visited him for what proved to be the last time.
He goes on: “There was no doom, no sense he wasn’t coming out. I said, ‘Do you expect to be out by Saturday night?’”
Loved ones are creating a quilt celebrating Terry’s life and the songs he loved. Martyn says: “In 100 years, someone will look at that and be able to listen to the music we did.
“How would Terry feel? He was all about losing ego, not building one. But I think he’d chuckle.”
After Terry, Martyn lost more friends and admits: “It felt like we were in a war, bombs going off and people dropping everywhere. We were on our own.”
He and Rupert received the OBE for their work with the trust and shifting societal attitudes. Cancer survivor Martyn adds: “I’m proud HIV and AIDS has kicked the system up the backside.”
Terry was cool, kind... he looked after you and built a community MARTYN BUTLER ON PAL WHO DIED 40 YEARS AGO