HIV
The Birth of Eddystone
21 years ago Eddystone was born, in Plymouth, to a group of people who saw the need for new hope and love and care in their community. At about the same time a sister (organisation) came to birth in Torquay. She was first called Tre Denham (after a house one of the group knew) but later adopted the nickname of Tags.
I was there in Torbay at the arrival of Tags, but we knew of the Plymouth ‘birth’ - and for most of their growing-up years Eddy Stone and Tags rarely met: but in their middle teens they got together and Tags took on Eddy Stone’s name. So now we have the Eddystone Trust serving Plymouth and most of South Devon.
These organisations grew out of a sense of great need, that people diagnosed as HIV positive should receive support and understanding. All the early ‘workers’ were volunteers, many themselves HIV positive, and most of the early meetings were held in relatively secret locations - such was the animosity, ignorance and fear in the wider community. There was no official funding - simply the gifts of friends - and I well remember how in Torquay our group had only the profits on the coffee to cover the cost of postage and heating a room.
Those early years of Eddystone and Tags were times of great pain and sorrow, with many bereavements and a lot of anger. Mercifully now, largely thanks to the invention of new drugs we speak of living with the virus rather than dying from AIDS related illness, but there is a long way to go in bringing adequate support so that those living with the virus can live really well. The numbers of women and children affected in Devon has increased and we have amongst us some from developing countries who have many other needs as well in that they are mostly separated from their own families.
A key to making Eddystone the mature adult organisation it now is was the skill and leadership of Mike Taylor and his team in Plymouth and the excellent funding made available by the Health Service and Social Services in their various shapes and forms. The work in the rest of Devon and Somerset really began with Val Parker who was part of the Torquay Support Group and later set up what is now known as PASW in Exeter.
Eddystone is frequently challenged to think about the spread of HIV infection in other parts of the world, and take action to give help where possible. It has also taken on board concerns about other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as Hepatitis C. Indeed it has had quite a leadership role regarding Hep C in England.
Eddystone still seeks to work around issues of Prevention, Education and Support, and hopefully will do so until all the problems are solved. Then Eddystone can die a natural death. Until then - we must work on to fulfil the vision of our founders that stigma and marginalisation will be banished and understanding support will be offered.
So, for the 21st anniversary, let’s join together in saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY and many HAPPY RETURNS - but not too many! And, a BIG THANK YOU to all of Eddystone’s Staff and Volunteers… and of course, especially our friends who live with the virus and teach us so much.
Peter (Chair of Eddystone)