Alan Clarke Alan Clarke was the second director of the Sussex AIDS Centre and Helpline on Cavendish Street and worked hard to raise awareness on AIDS related issues. He made the news in 1991 after calling for Brighton & Hove businesses to give their employees a personal supply of condoms to help stop the spread of the virus. Alan tested positive in 1988, and died peacefully aged 46 on the 31st July 1996. His funeral service took place at Woodvale Crematorium on the 7 August, and as a mark of respect the Sussex Aids Centre and Helpline closed that day. Alan requested that no flowers be sent, but asked instead for donations to the Sussex AIDS Centre Equipment fund and the Sussex Beacon.

Maurice’s story - 19 December 1987 ‘I developed swellings in my glands and my bowel movements became difficult. I told my doctor, whose reaction was “glands, that’s nothing - feel mine. I hope you’re not becoming obsessed with your bowels.” I was sent for a blood test, but as there was no HIV test in 1982, I was told that I must have picked up a virus which had now gone. But I think that it could have been HIV as two years ago I was diagnosed as being antibody positive. Since that day, I have to thank the Sussex AIDS Helpline, from whom I had support from the first moment of the shock of my diagnosis. I very soon joined the Helpline myself - it was the only way I could cope with everything. I had to know as much as I could about AIDS. After a while I realised I wanted to work with people with AIDS, so I did a course in massage techniques, so I could offer something useful to the people I worked with. Because I have had a full life, I can’t be too sad, though I’m not ready to go yet and I’m going to put up a fight. The people I feel sorry for are the young ones who thought they had a full life to lead, and now live in fear and doubt. Today at St. Peter’s Church, I witnessed the most beautiful service of my life – a memorial to those in Sussex who have died of AIDS. Bless whoever in the Helpline who first thought of this. I shall remember it for the rest of my life, however long that might be, and I shall remember my departed friends.’ Maurice died on the 12 January 1988, quite suddenly but peacefully.