We’d like to thank a lot of people for helping us put together this exhibition. We’d also love to hear your thoughts about it in the comments below.
This online exhibition was brought to you by…
The Pink Singers @ 30 exhibition team: Jenny Cousins, Simon Pearson, Phil Engleheart, Jess Talmage, Hester Swift, Susan Rudy, Hsien Chew, Kate Nicholls, Greg Coe, Liang Wee, a lot of red wine and the letters L, G , B and T.
It would not have been possible without the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
We want to thank all of our volunteers for the various labours of love and those who assisted us, especially the LSE and The Guardian, 3Space, Sasha Roseneil, Jeffrey Weeks, Louise Chambers and Martin Gooch.
Our researchers and writers:
Amy Wilman, Anthony Bailey, Ben Roets, Bruce Chambers, Cass Tucker, Cat Tucker, Cilla, Cormac Connolly, Emelda Conroy, Emma Herriman, Jenny Cousins, Jess Talmage, Kate Nicholls, Philip Rescorla, Susan Rudy
Our interviewers and interviewees:
Andy Mitchinson, Bill Majrowski, Charley Hasted, Charly Milton, Christine Birch, Cilla, Emma-Jane Horton, Fran George, Hester Swift, Hsien Chew, Jane Sparks, Jenny Cousins, Jess Talmage, Jo Carter, Karin Read, Kate Nicholls, Kate Oliver, Liang Wee, Lynne Nicholls, Mark Bunyan, Michael Derrick, Murray Hipkin, Oskar Marchock, Paul Cutts, Phil Engleheart, Philip Rescorla, Rachel Sparks, Richard Snell, Robert Hugill, Sally-Anne Smith, Sally Pembery, Sam Mason, Sarah Coleman, Simon Harrison, Simon Pearson, Susan Rudy, Zoë Johannes and most of the choir (85%)
Our transcribers and editors:
Bill Majrowski, Cat Tucker, Esther MacInnes, Fiona Meeks, Hsien Chew, Iain Reeves, Jenny Cousins, Johanna Carter, Kaisey Daomilas, Kate Oliver, Liang Wee, Lucy May Maxwell, Mark Winter, Oran O’Reilly, Oskar Marchock, Rachel Green, Rachel Sparks, Richard Greer, Sam Mason, Sarah Coleman, Simon Harrison, Sue Kendrick
Our designers, publicity and launch teams:
Phil Engleheart, Greg Coe, Jenny Cousins, Simon Pearson, Hsien Chew, Ben Park, Kate Nicholls, Sally Pembery, Chris Birch, David Baxter, Josh Whelan, Susannah Colgate
Our installation crew:
David Baxter, Emelda Conroy, Fiona Meeks, Frances Bowen, Gerry McRanor, Jenny Cousins, Jerome De Henau, Jess Talmage, Jules Ward, Karin Read, Kate Nicholls, Kirsten Pulley, Lara De Belder, Lou Byrne, Mark Horrocks, Mark Winter, Mina Candy, Oskar Marchock, Phil Engleheart, Rachel Sparks, Sally-Anne Smith, Simon Wilkinson
Great exhibition! Thank you. – Sam
Excellent! Well done – so good for such a small budget!! – Martin Gooch
Brilliant we need this so much – stunning, crucial, excellent – need it for LGBT History Month! – Sue Sanders, LGBT History Month
Love it. Honored to be invited to the opening. – Mark Healey
Very interesting – a lot I didn’t know and some of it very moving. Humorous tone lovely touch! – Laura Butcher, Heritage lottery fund
WONDERFUL! Congratulations! – John D Carrion, Chair, LGMC
Wonderful exhibition. I didn’t expect it to be so emotional. I’ve been in tears thinking about people being in love. – Hilary Guite
One of the most moving – no! the most moving exhibitions I’ve seen in years. – David Green
A truly touching account from real people about their lives in history. Congratulations! – Oskar Marchock
A wonderful achievement, moving and very special tribute. Well done to all involved! x – Cormac, London
Must travel – should be in every public space, every shopping mall! xx – Laura Wren, London
Many touchstones. Great reminder. – Martin Turner, All Cannings, Wilts
Great exhibition – look forward to the next concert. – Emma Carver, All Cannings, Wilts
Great job all. Background music = excellent! Lovely to revisit some great times through the photos and see some new ones. – Leonie Burton, Hampshire
Very interesting overview of the past 30 years. Carry on the good work. – Nicholas, London
This is an excellent insight into the choir’s and also general LGBT history. Thank you for all your work! – Sharan, London
Really interesting mix of contentious past, present and brilliant individual stories. Personalises the choir – great work! – Richard Van Norden
Really good! – Sue Ostick and Tony Cousins, Kendal, Cumbria
Very interesting retrospective! – David, Russ Joseph, London
Truly AMAZING! What an excellent exhibition! Proud to be Pink! – Ben Roets, London
I love the Pink Singers – been to lots of concerts over the last decade! – Marc Batten, London
Lovely soundtrack and very nicely presented. Interesting and entertaining. – Helen Lambourne, Vancouver, Canada
An astonishing and moving social history told beautifully personally. – James Cronin, London
Really touching and impressive work! – Felipe Vigoya, Bogota, Colombia
V interesting and informative! – Misbah Alvi, London
An amazing journey beautifully displayed! Very moving. [heart] – Jules Ward, London
This exhibition is fantastic and should go on tour straight away. Xxxx – Louise Tondeur and Sarah Barnsley, Hove!
Very impressive! Really interesting and film was great. X – Carmel Conroy, London
So interesting and inspiring and emotional – v impressive! – Naomi Berwin, London
A very impressive display and informative and interesting video. – Corinne Littlestone, London
Fascinating and inspiring stories and the soundtrack that’s getting me through my PhD! – Angharad & Richard Eyre, London
Stunning! So much packed into a small space – and a fascinating video history as well! – Andrew Doggin, Schools Out
Amazing. So personal and so well put together. Shows how no-one can afford to be ‘apolitical’. – Richard Eyre, London
Great exhibition, particularly fascinated by the Section 28 stuff – well done to all involved. – Lorna Batty, London
Moving, informative and inspirational – wonderful exhibition! – Hsien Chew, London
Excellently produced! – Ugo, Camden
Inspiring – deeply touching. Thank you xx – F Bernard Lynch, Camden
Deeply moving, thought-provoking, beautifully presented – Stuart, Forest Hill
So far it has been excellent! And beyond! – Jim O’Rogan, Chiswick
A touching reminder of my own history as a gay man – inspiring. – Garry Wall, W. Hampstead
I loved the history and to know and about the group. Superb! – Julian Puihuro, Brazil
What a wonderful display. I’m a straight male, but as they say, ‘I’ve got your back.’ – Sam Carpenter, Essex
Marvellous, fabulous, extraordinary – well done to all involved! Love you all! – Joey Tabone and Charles Layton, London
Excellent, very powerful exhibition. Well done! – Harrie Brown, London
Lovely memories, beautifully realised and Frances was a fabulous guide! Xxx However, those minutes do miss out the hounding, insults and bullying I received during the ‘discussion’. Not by everyone mind. – Daniel Brennan
Great exhibition!! Will be telling people to come and pay a visit. – John Pullin, Earlshead
As interesting and as informative as the LGBT museum in San Francisco. *Only half way through but will come back. Brilliant project. Superbly executed. Amazing story. Leaving with tears my eyes. – Stephen Refern, London
Fabulous exhibition. Well balanced, cleverly laid out and meaningful stories told. Love it. – Johanna Carter, London
This is about so much more than a choir – our heritage and history preserved and brought to life in glorious Technicolor (Pink!). Proud! – T. Eigerhoss, Berlin
Wow! I feel proud to be part of the Pink Singers! Well done everyone involved. X – A Scholar, London
Entertaining and informative – great stories and objects set on a broader history – great! – T Blair, London
Great exhibition and film! Loved the design and stories! xx – Jane Chambers, London
Fantastic! Well done J Inspiring, moving and musical trip down memory lane. – Nick Lane, London
A beautifully-presented exhibition of a national treasure! – Paul Mait, London
Great exhibition. Very informative. Job well done. – Julius Adasorla, London
Great! Thanks. – Lucy Parkin, London
Fabulous, educational, poignant exhibition and I want to come back again. – Fran Scholar, Winchmore Hill
Well done! Fantastic exhibition. Thanks for the hard work. Proud to be Pink! – Alwyn Tan, London
What Alwyn said! – Ryan Cushion, London
Really good – well-displayed and informative. – Ellen Swift, Kent
Great exhibition! Thanks. – Hilmi Jaidin, Brighton/Hove
To actually have a few hours to go through all of this is amazing. History not lost. – Sam Mason, London
Moving AND funny – brilliant! – Jo Booth, London
Amazing! Well done to everyone involved and all your hard work. – Oliver Gilbody, London
Beautifully done! Thank you! X – Craig Cuming, London
Amazing – charts the history so well. – Ali Bowen, Telford, Shropshire
So moving to hear all of the diverse histories and experiences. A beautifully presented exhibition. – John Flinders, London
Truly moving exhibition and learnt a lot. Proud to be a Pinkie. X – David Baxter, London
Amazing! – Ben Park
The Pinkies have been a crucial part of my life for 25 years. This exhibition is tremendous. Well done. – Philip Rescorla, London
This is a very impressive collection/exhibit and very moving. – Jan Pimblett, London Met Archives
Learnt so much from those who were there for me. Truly inspirational moving. – Josh Whelan, London
An effective milestone for the Pink Singers and the community. – Martin Brophy MBE, London
A wonderful exhibition – brought back a lot of memories – thank you. – Penny H, Reading
Brilliant – Alice Morcheda
Love it!!! Thank you! – Alexandra Staboda
This would be a valuable resource in educational institutes. An excellent display. – Gina Marshall
Speechless – what a fantastic exhibition! – James Murphy, Box
Inspirational – how wonderful – new ideas and ways to mee like minded people – Sally Bennett, Reading
A good translation of a history for us all. – Rhoda, Newcastle
As a straight man in the gay community (technician for G.A.Y. since ’91) this stirred memories. Stunning xxx – Dan Sanders, London
Astonishing!! – Susan Rudy, London
Fantastic! – Tony Donaghy, Belfast
Inspiring! [heart]xxoo – Karen Dietz, Edinburgh (Loud & Proud)
The name says it all. – Frank, Over the Rainbow
Wonderful! Touching, thorough. Thank you. Also – Sally-Anne Smith who put Ethel Smyth on the collage – help me get her Mass in D performed! – Chloe C-F, from Diversity
So proud to be a Pinkie – once a Pinkie, always a Pinkie xx – Kate Walker, Clapham South
Go Richard Greer! Fabulous!!!!!x – Jo Scott, Rainham
Fantastic exhibition and amazing concert! – James Cawley, Stourbridge
I want this exhibition to exist for ever. Make it happen plz xxx
Thank you for telling our story. We have come far but still have a long way to go!! – Alison Dodd, Notting hill
Always the best night’s out. A straight woman wishes she was part of this community. – Helen Farmer, N10
Brilliant exhibition – congrats on 30 years here’s to the next 30! – Judith Baxter, Harrington
Son in choir – proud!!! – Mike Baxter, Harrington
Very informative thanks! – Andres Ruiz Rocha London
You do not mention the quality of the music. People are proud to be in the choir because it makes great music not just because LGBT membership. You don’t thank your conductors enough who kept the choir alive because of the music quality. More recognition for them please!! Having said that the choir has always been so very brave. Wonderful for that too. – Esther Davis, London
FABULOUS! – Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus
This exhibition inspired me to tell my parents of my homosexuality! – Ed Waters, Luton (but a safe part!)
I love you guys and gals and gonna miss you so much! – Mark Horrocks, Tokyo, Japan
Find a permanent home for this amazing exhibition but add music – Nigel Thompson, Woking, Surrey
Learned a lot. Come a long way in relatively short time. Great exhibition. Would have been nice to hear some Pink Singers in the background! – Debra Skeen, High Wycombe, Bucks
Well laid out and informative. Ad in The Sun is shocking! – Joe Fuller, Brighton
Fabulous exhibition – many, many congratulations to all involved. – B McGing, London
Great exhibition! – C Nesmith, San Francisco, CA
Truly, truly wonderful – Beth, Gloucester
Very interesting and informative. I just wish I could sing. Love + quior though – Andy Hardeman-Bennett, Camden
Nice place u got here J – Emma, Denmark
Inspiring, thought provoking, true, real and emotional. Above all really FABULOUS!! – Paul Jenkins, Stuart Watson, Eileen Langley, London & Brighton
Pink Singers saved London for me – exhibition misses the role it plays for visitors to London but wonderful to hear Hand in Hand again! Thanks guys, It’s a lot to cram into a small space! – Anne Gedden, Gloria, Dublin
Thank you for the poignant, funny, engaging way you tell the stories included here. I wish my wife was with me to share in this moment. – Rev Nicolette Lee Siragusa, Grand Ledge, Michigan, USA
I so like this exhibition. Awesome [heart] – Casey, London
Everyone should come and look at this exhibition. Good job guys! Xx
Fabulous! Well done! – Ana Cristina Santos, Coimbra, Portugal
Wonderful to see this community in this lovely space. Terrific exhibition. Moving interviews. Thanks. – Frances Bowen, London
Brilliant and really important exhibition. – Helen Marefelt, London
Great work! – Eman, Amman, Jordan
Pinkies rock!!! – Stephen, Blackheath
So much info I didn’t know! I love it! – Saz, Mudchute, London
Great exhibition – well done to all! – Mary, Diversity choir, London
I am a Greek lesbian and like to know I’m not alone. – Lu, London
Thank you!!! – Jasper Garvida
Fascinating, thank you! – Anton Perreau
This makes me feel so proud! In my heart I will always be a Pinkie. You guys are amazing! x – Richie Parrott, Harlow, Essex
Very proud to be Pinkie MD – Murray Hipkin, London
What progress we have made over the years. – Frederick Lee, Lodnon
AMAZING! Should be installed permanently. Headphones a bit ropey. INSPIRING! x [heart] x Thanks – Hannah Rose Tristram, Kingston
Really wonderful – here’s to another 30 years! – Peter R, LGSO
Enjoyable walk down memory lane – with a few horrors on the way. – Simon Richardson, Clapham
Great to remember past years. – Kate B, London
Great! Detailed, accurate, inspiring, comprehensive… – Jane Mcintosh, Lewes
Great exhibition – thanks for making the message so available – Pat Rigg, Lewes
So glad to relive for a few minutes fondest memories in the choir – keep singing – William Ramsey, Stoke Newington
Fascinting! So grateful for the stand taken by Pink Singers. – Michael Wickham, King’s Cross
Fabulous! I sing in Loud & Proud (Scotland’s LGBT choir) – see you in Dublin for Various Voices 2014. – Linde Jites (sic), Edinburgh
Thank you had an awesome first time here. – Dee-Anne Johnson
Thanks for putting on the great exhibition. Keep singing! – Brian, Woking, Surrey
Excellent. Fab display. I wish I could sing too. – Jill, Canterbury, Kent
Fantastic, will it be put on again for LGBT History Month? – Circle LGBT Network
Pink-tastic. Was a pleasure to see it again. I missed the main history vid though. – Dru, London
It was great to see the exhibition again, would love to have an iPad with Pinkies tracks and photos on. – Lynne Nicholls, London
Just as fascinating and fabulous to a man [something unreadable]. Looking forward to attending a concert! – Claire Dobbs and Matt Gray, London
Nice exhibition from The Observer and The Guardian! Design appreciated – Gianella Cortez, Milan, Italy
A really fantastic exhibition and a great way to pass on LGBT communal history! – Greg, London
Fantastic! Thank you for learning lots of things! I really wanna join u! J – Hana Choikim, London
The exhibit is well thought out and beautifully displayed. Thanks for sharing your creativity, thoughtfulness, professionalism and history. Well done! – Thomas, Melo’Men, NYCGMC, LGMC
What a triumph getting this together! Well done, and thank you for sharing your lessons you’ve learnt in the process. It’s encouragement! We will be in touch! – Deirdre, Gay Abadon, Leeds
I loved your display. Many thanks. X – Guy, Brighton GMC
Great historic display! Fabulous! – Jim Vivyan, NYCGMC, New York
Fantastic display. Well done. We enjoyed singing with you both in Bristol and London. xx – Suzanne, Sing Out Bristol
Lovely exhibition. I definitely feel that I learned a lot! – Alana
Fab! – Conor P
Fantastic! – Simon Sharp, AD, LGMC
Amazing exhibition – so important to keep a history of development and where we have from. Well done to you all. Xx – Philip Giorgi, founder of Positive Voices, a choir for people with HIV or affected by HIV
Really impressive exhibition – fantastic visuals and very informative. Makes me realise I am part of history! – Improvement: the link between LGBT Rights and disability rights. Disabilism in LGBT world. Why are there no LGBT choirs with positive images of members with disabilities? – Overall just so interesting. Well done. Very inspiring. – –
This display is an important historic experience akin to the LGBT’s history museum / exhibit in San Francisco. Thank you for the dedication and love put into this essential presentation of our history and stories – FABULOUS! – Kathleen McGuire, VVD Conductor-in-Residence
Very informative, touching and simply beautifully done. Thank you for the facts and interviews. Xxxooo –
Congratulations and thank you for this labor of love that is so valuable to all of us. Remembering the struggles as well as the pleasures is so very important. – Julia Balen, Prof @ CSUCI
Congratulations!
Well done, very touching! – Christian from Germany
Absolutely awesome. We at the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC are in our first year of our GMCU Historical Society. Your exhibit is exceptionally outstanding and we would like to steal it all J Would love to collaborate with your History Project Leadership. Thank you 1000x – Jim Madigan
LGBTI choirs are much more than the sum of their parts. The Pink Singers are a truly shining example of this. – Frank McMullan, Various Voices, Dublin 2014
Terrific exhibition. Much needed! – Karin G, Loud & Proud, Edinburgh
Wonderful exhibition. Beautifully structured. All elements invite us to linger and listen, read and reflect. Thank you. – Dianne, Edinburgh
This has brought back so many memories. ‘Battles won are so easily forgotten.’ – JL Keneghan
Thank you – a really great display. Even at the ‘young’ age of nearly 40 I now realise how far we have come in a relatively short space of time compared with the age oldness of the universe!! With [heart] xxxxxx –
A wonderful exhibition, showing how far things have come (at least in Northern Europe). Great to see so many familiar faces in the exhibition and in the video clips. – Paul Selous, ex-Pinkie, now with Vox Rosa
A brilliant exhibition – thanks – took me back to some great (and difficult times) – I remember going to Gateways in London shortly before it closed – really glad I made it there. Only thing missing might be (unless I missed it, in which case sorry) was the 40’s persecution of ‘gays’ in the Holocaust (that’s where the pink triangle originated I think – like the yellow star to Jews sadly)… Fantastic exhibition, thanks. xxx – Bev, Rainbow Chorus
Well done – bravo & brava! Congratulations on your first 30 years and may there never be a last one! – Richard Clawson, Our song, Atlanta
Huge congratulations on an amazing achievement. A wonderfully crafted exhibition, amusing, sad, thought provoking! So well ordered and accessible you should be so proud of this piece of work! – Eddie O’Sullivan, Sing Out Bristol
Very interesting and moving exhibition. Thank you very much. – I Patius, The Netherlands, Cantus Obliquus
Very thought provoking to an older lesbian (73) would like to see more stories about older gays who have lived more or less openly in the community and survived – easier to do in rural areas. – Julia, Australia
Thank you so much for such a moving exhibition! It’s a very important part of this [Various Voices 2014] weekend – it brings me back from my pink cloud I’ve been on the past 4 days – making me remember why Various Voices and queer events like this are so important! – Anita, Reykjavik Queer Choir
A brilliant exhibition that tells all of our Histories. Sexuality can often be invisible, so it is important to keep our stories and our past alive by passing it to our younger gay brothers and sisters – making them aware of how rich and precious our freedoms are – and how hard they were won. As we have seen in other countries, freedom is only sustained by careful – and visible – defending of our basic right just to be. – David, Sing Out Bristol
A very big thank you to all who were involved in this project. I enjoyed being reminded of ‘our’ history and the importance of passing on our heritage to new generations. – Nigel, Sing Out Bristol
Wow Pink Singers – This is a great exhibition and wonderful to weave your history side by side with the LGBT progressions and challenges. It’s a fantastic reminder of how far we’ve all come! Keep doing it with Pride! – Ewan Kenny?
Very moving, honest and heart-warming. – Tina, Sheffield
Wonderful exhibition, a fantastic addition to the Various Voices festival. I’m interested to know more about the lives of the ‘Gay Youth’ today and how social media helps and hinders them. – Edward, Out Aloud, Sheffield
Great piece of work – moving and humorous. Thank you. – Rhiannon, Deep C Divas and Gay Abandon
I think this exhibition was a great way of underpinning why we’re all here in this wonderful weekend: staying strong and singing strong. – Daniel, LGMC
Frabier sgning – hloklenn til net setjn upp svona syningn a Islandi eftir 27 ar! – Audur og Asta Osk
Brill, Beautiful – Thank you for this! – Shell, MLGC
WOW! Keep this up. Our history must be passed on. Keep passing that baton and run the race! – Steve Milloy, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Go PINK SINGERS, keep [picture of a rock] –ing the stage! From the country of rocks, Swatch + Der Kreis – Hauspeter Schwubs, Bern, Switzerland
Very nice exhibition Pink Singers! Very very good and exciting and inspiring performance yesterday! Keep going! We love you! – Chen from Bejing
Great exhibition – informative and interesting. Loved the photos. It would be good to show the same to ‘all walks of life and loves’ in London or wherever you perform. Keep right on Pink Singers. x – Par, Rainbow Chorus, Brighton