In a warm and engaging conversation, two venerable patrons of Mildmay - legendary musician Sir Cliff Richard OBE and Anglican priest and celebrated broadcaster the Revd Canon Roger Royle - reflect on their enduring support for Mildmay and its pioneering work.
Sir Cliff also reflects on his remarkable career, beginning with his childhood dream of becoming a famous singer. He remembers how musical legends like Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Little Richard and Buddy Holly inspired him to pursue rock and roll and shares personal memories of supporting Mildmay over the years.
Both Sir Cliff and Canon Roger reflect on the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, and Mildmay’s role in pioneering HIV/AIDS care. The conversation highlights the crucial role played by Diana, Princess of Wales, in destigmatising HIV. Her visits to Mildmay Hospital in the 1980s and 90s transformed public perceptions of the illness. Sir Cliff fondly remembers a dinner he attended with Princess Diana, where her warmth and down-to-earth nature shone through.
They also discuss the recent naming of the Mildmay line in honour of the hospital, recognising its groundbreaking work in HIV/AIDS care during the 1980s and 90s, its ongoing support for LGBTQIA+ communities, and its 160-year legacy of service to East London.
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