We Were Always Here is a county-wide project to uncover and document Wiltshire's queer social history over to centuries to 2014 (when same-sex marriage was legalised in England and Wales). I approached Swindon & Wiltshire Pride in January 2025 with the project idea and worked with its vice-chair and project sponsor, James to shape the bid. WWAH was awarded 100% funding by National Lottery Heritage Fund in Febraury 2026.
Image shows Chippenham MP, Victor Cazalet, one of parliament's 'Glamour Boys' during WWII, and Richard Hall, author of I'm Fine (click the image for Richard's BBC interview)
Since, I have worked as project co-ordinator: managing 10+ volunteers and co-ordinating freelance team members; designing the project 'brand'; making connections and liaising with the queer community and allies; creating digital and traditional publicity materials, co-writing press releases and giving local media interviews; curating and organising research assets; liaising with project sponsors and reporters; organising community events. Alongside our volunteers, I am researching into LGBTQIA+ social history and have been trained by the Oral History Society to conduct oral history interviews.
Find out more about the project and/or tell your stories online (anonymously if you prefer) on Swindon & Wiltshire Pride's website
The project will culminate, in 2027, with:
Catalogued, local LGBTQIA+ history collections at our partner archives.
