David Furnish and Jay Rayner support iconic AIDS quilt at St Paul’s in memory of lives lost

Celebrities commemorated the lives of those lost to the AIDS epidemic at St Paul’s Cathedral today, where the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt was on display for the first time in 20 years.

The UK AIDS Memorial Quilt is a irreplaceable piece of international social history, telling the stories of people whose lives were lost at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. Hundreds of individuals made quilt panels in memory of loved ones who had died from AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s, inspired by a global project that started in America.

David Furnish and Jay Rayner came to St Paul’s Cathedral to see the UK quilts and hear from the people who made quilt panels in memory of their lost loved ones.

Sir Elton John, supporter of the AIDS Memorial Quilt said: “The Quilt, both here in the UK and in America, is an extraordinarily poignant reminder of just what the AIDS epidemic has done to individual lives, to families and communities. This disease has killed over 35 million people around the planet.

“I’m so moved by the human spirit that weaves that tragedy into something powerful and beautiful to see and touch, and delighted that the Elton John AIDS Foundation was able to support the collaborating charities and bring this project to public notice for World AIDS Day.”

Dr. Gill Brigg, 57 year old Drama Teachermade a quilt for their school friend Vaughan Michael Williams and spoke at St Paul’s today said:

“I recall the day Vaughan told me about his diagnosis, we were in his flat in London. He was wearing his favourite hand knitted jumper - he was a great knitter - and the kitchen was a mess. He said he’d just seen his doctor and had been told he had HIV. We sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Right, I said, let’s clean the kitchen.

“His decline came fairly swiftly and he spent some time in the London Lighthouse where he received wonderful care.

“On a visit to San Francisco I became aware of the Names Project and had seen photos of the display in Washington.We made Vaughan’s quilt panel at his friend Paul’s flat. A group of us had various artefacts of Vaughan’s that represented his life and personality.

“I haven’t seen the panel since we made it in 1991 - thinking about the panel recently makes me realise just how much time has passed. Vaughan would be very proud.”

Quilt panels will be on display part of the AIDS Quilt Trail across London taking place on the weekend of 3rd and 4th December, as part of a series of events marking World AIDS Day.

These exhibitions have been organised by a coalition of charities including George House Trust, Terrence Higgins Trust, Positive East, The Food Chain, Positively UK and Sahir House, with support from Elton John AIDS Foundation. The charities hope the exhibitions will help remember those lost, raise awareness of HIV to younger generations and help find a permanent home for the UK quilt to ensure its preservation.

Jay Rayner, restaurant critic, writer and broadcaster, said:

“The Aids epidemic and the appalling number of lives taken by it was all too often portrayed in the media as being about a faceless mass of unknown people.

“In truth, of course, it was an all too large patchwork of individual stories; of real people with names and lives, with loved ones and families and careers and talents never quite allowed to reach fruition. How better to represent that than through the Aids quilt, which gives individuality back to so many people who risked becoming mere statistics?

“It is both work of art and a vital social document, and I wholeheartedly give my support to the coalition of charities and it's ceaseless work to make sure the quilt finds the home it so richly deserves.”

The Quilts remind us how far the UK has come in the fight against HIV – it no longer stops those living with the virus leading long and healthy lives - but there is still much to be done to tackle stigma, stop transmission and diagnose the 1 in 6 who are unaware they have the virus.

Find out more about the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt at including full listings for the exhibitions on 3-4 December. People can also get involved on social media using the hashtag #AIDSQuilts

ENDS

For more information please call Victoria on 079 5781 2691 or

Notes to editors:

1.AIDS Memorial quilt trail details:

  • St Paul’s Cathedral, Sat 3 December and Sunday 4 December
  • All Hallows by the Tower, Byward Street, 10am - 5pm Sat and Sun
  • Positive East, 159 Mile End Rd
  • St John's Bethnal Green
  • St John’s Waterloo
  • Redbridge Central Library
  • St Anne's Soho, 55 Dean Street, 1.30-6pm Sunday Only
  • Brand Museum, 111-117 Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, 10-6 sat, 11-5 sun
  • Lumen Church, 88 Tavistock Place, Friday and Saturday
  • Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, 26 Russell Square, from 1st Dec onwards
  • St Giles', Cripplegate, 11am - 4pm Sat & 11am - 1pm Sun
  • Guildhall, Gresham St

Useful facts about HIV

  • HIV is a virus which attacks the immune system and weakens the body’s ability to fight diseases.
  • An estimated103,700 people are living with HIV in the UK and 6,000-7,000 people are diagnosed every year.
  • Of these, 17% are undiagnosed and do not know about their HIV infection.
  • HIV treatment lowers the amount of virus in the blood to undetectable levels which stops it from damaging the immune system, and means the virus cannot be passed on to other people.
  • There is still a great deal of stigma about HIV. Stigma is damaging as it prevents people from getting tested, from accessing treatment and from living a happy and healthy life.
  • The most common way HIV is transmitted is through sex without a condom.
  • You cannot get HIV through casual or day-to-day contact, or kissing, spitting or sharing a cup, plate or toilet seat.