IN THE SPOTLIGHT
B
ased on a true story, “Pride” depicts a group of lesbian and
gay activists who raised money to help families affected
by the British miners’ strike in 1984, at the outset of
what would become the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners
campaign. Mike worked closely on the screenplay with the
writer, Stephen Beresford, becoming his right-hand man for over
three years to capture the spirit of the time and of the struggles.
How accurately does the film describe the events? Mike says:
“The real bits are so real that they are almost disturbing because
of the assiduous attention to detail. Some fictional characters
and events give the movie sense and meaning”.
Mike left Keele in 1980 with a degree in American Studies and
Sociology. When Mark Ashton, who interviewed Mike to become
a volunteer for London Gay Switchboard in 1982, suggested that
they take collecting buckets to the Pride March to collect for the
miners, Mike became totally immersed, living and breathing the
campaign alongside thousands of others.
Mike had been studying for a diploma in horticulture from Kew
Gardens immediately before Keele. Kew took him to London
where Mike says: “I not so much came out as exploded. By the
time I came to Keele in 1976 I was already a raving gay libber
and socialist anarchist”.
“I felt a freedom and confidence
at Keele I’d never felt before”
Mike recalls: “I felt a freedom and confidence at Keele I’d never
felt before. I made life-long friends and met a wider circle
of people than ever before”. Mike describes Keele as a down
to earth university, with a liberal admissions policy making
opportunities for people who might not otherwise have
been able to go to university. His lasting memory of Keele
is the encouragement and nurturing he received from the
academic staff.
Mike was part of a group that re-launched the GaySoc at
Keele and also formed Gayline, initially just for Keele campus
but soon expanding to Hanley. It was later renamed the
North Staffs Gay Switchboard and it continues today.
28 | Keele University