QueenSpark Books, Brighton’s non-profit community publishing house, published ‘Brighton’s Seaside Stories: A People’s History’ in 2017.
In the later stages of its development, a good friend hinted to me rather heavily that the book was distinctly lacking in LGBTIQ+ stories.
I made it my mission to see what I could do about such a tragic situation. I contributed one tale of my own, about the polysexual club night The Perfume Garden, involving the West Pier, which I’ll cover another time.
To my delight I was also told two tales by an old friend and local resident ‘Piers’, that I wrote up on his behalf for the book. Thankfully Piers approved my re-telling of his stories, and so did QueenSpark Books. They did suggest a slight modesty adjustment to the second story, but nothing too drastic so Piers and I agreed.
The stories are very short but equally sweet and juicy I would say. The second tale is told here in full, so get ready to clutch those pearls! They had no titles originally but I’ve given them a couple here. I hope you enjoy them and agree that they deserved to be recorded.
Once more dear?
I came to Brighton in 1986. There were a lot more public toilets back then, and a lot fewer venues in which to meet like-minded men. All of the conveniences along the seafront from the Angel of Peace to the Bushes were cottages. I used to walk a circuit of all the seafront toilets, in the hope of meeting other gentlemen like myself.
There was one sweet old queen, in his late 60s or early 70s, doing the same thing as me, and he took to saying as we passed each other “Once more round the esplanade dear?”
Under the pier
The decaying arches under the West Pier were also a hot bed of action. I was in there one night, right at the back with a local hairdresser, a real Brighton character that everyone knew.
I was on my hands and knees in front of him when I saw torches in the darkness: it was the police coming in. The hairdresser zipped up really quickly and I got up and pulled my trousers up too. It was very busy in there, lots of men, so I thought I could get away with it if I slipped out through some panels at the back.
I had just put my head through when I saw two police men looking at me. “Good evening sir, what brings you here tonight?” I explained that I had been caught short and had nipped in to relieve myself, however there now seemed to be a bit of a situation… I’m not sure if they believed me or not but they told me to go, and go quickly.
I think this was 1993. The arches were boarded up after that spoiling all our fun.
Fancy the book?
Last time I looked it was still in print and you can order the book direct from QueenSpark. Thanks again to Piers for sharing his memories, and to Barry Priest for letting me use his photos which aren’t in the book but inspired me to make this post.
