Scope and Contents 00:00 EM only child, no family now except one distant cousin. Importance of different friendships, mentions three: Christopher Whyte, who opened up the whole subject and keeps in touch; Margaret, a straight female friend, who was the first person he told and was very supportive; young heterosexual friend Mark, whom he met at Edinburgh Science Festival [1998], instant attraction on EM’s part. Parents deaths 1965/1970: EM explains how difficult it would’ve been to tell them. Mother dropped...

Scope and Contents 00:00 ‘Night Pillion’: real life story behind poem. Young artist who lived near EM: they had been to see art exhibition, and EM was offered lift home on a motorbike. Exciting: attracted by him and EM’s first time on a motorbike. Last two lines express intense moment of closeness that broke shell of solitude. Solitude as negative and positive in EM’s life: always wanted a seesaw between solitude and company.05:30 ‘A Memorial’: poem written after coming out, able to write about...

Scope and Contents 00:00 Monte Hennegin [MH] born Edinburgh 1923, grew up South Africa, returned to UK forty years ago, living in Scotland past sixteen years, now aged eighty-two. Describes earliest memory about incident when girl’s body aroused him, mother’s reprimand made him feel guilty: this he believes may have led to his homosexuality.03:21 Stories about his fascination with man’s body when aged about ten years. Family moved about, first six years in Cape Town, sixth birthday in hospital with...

Scope and Contents 00:00 Monte Hennegin [MH] born Edinburgh 1923, grew up South Africa, returned to UK forty years ago, living in Scotland past sixteen years, now aged eighty-two. Describes earliest memory about incident when girl’s body aroused him, mother’s reprimand made him feel guilty: this he believes may have led to his homosexuality.03:21 Stories about his fascination with man’s body when aged about ten years. Family moved about, first six years in Cape Town, sixth birthday in hospital with...

Scope and Contents 00:00 Stories about discovering meaning of ‘queer’, and alternative terms. About first longer-term relationship in Johannesburg after return from war. Great gay society in Johannesburg. Describes bars at that time: Carlton Hotel. It was known what was going on: seemed very open. Difficult to tell difference between gay and straight bars because women not allowed in bars.08:13 Describes ways he recognised if another man sexually interested in him, e.g. lingering look, but...

Scope and Contents 00:00 Stories about discovering meaning of ‘queer’, and alternative terms. About first longer-term relationship in Johannesburg after return from war. Great gay society in Johannesburg. Describes bars at that time: Carlton Hotel. It was known what was going on: seemed very open. Difficult to tell difference between gay and straight bars because women not allowed in bars.08:13 Describes ways he recognised if another man sexually interested in him, e.g. lingering look, but...

Scope and Contents 00:00 Description of final performance by The Bedlams at Park Lane Hotel. MH’s theatrical partner left for Montreal. Took job in Maples while continuing to play in pubs in evenings. Happily made redundant. Got work in Alpine Bier Keller in Finsbury for two nights a week, then work in pubs and clubs. Bought an auto home, lived in that for sixteen years, travelling around, playing mainly in restaurants along the south coast. Regular bookings, was working most nights.03:13 Meeting...

Scope and Contents 00:00 Description of final performance by The Bedlams at Park Lane Hotel. MH’s theatrical partner left for Montreal. Took job in Maples while continuing to play in pubs in evenings. Happily made redundant. Got work in Alpine Bier Keller in Finsbury for two nights a week, then work in pubs and clubs. Bought an auto home, lived in that for sixteen years, travelling around, playing mainly in restaurants along the south coast. Regular bookings, was working most nights.03:13 Meeting...

Scope and Contents 00:00 No contact with family in South Africa or elsewhere. Continues about friendship, emotional support: Eric and Gordon are friends, sees about once a week. About last significant relationship with man called Jack, describes how they met, how Jack came out to MH as bisexual, stayed with MH once a week for four years. Jack died last year around sixty, 20 years younger than MH. Describes their relationship, more a partner of convenience for each. Sources of support: Eric and Gordon. MH...

Scope and Contents 00:00 No contact with family in South Africa or elsewhere. Continues about friendship, emotional support: Eric and Gordon are friends, sees about once a week. About last significant relationship with man called Jack, describes how they met, how Jack came out to MH as bisexual, stayed with MH once a week for four years. Jack died last year around sixty, 20 years younger than MH. Describes their relationship, more a partner of convenience for each. Sources of support: Eric and Gordon. MH...

Scope and Contents 00:00 Reflections on gay rights movement: feels any kind of couple in long-term partnership should have rights of a spouse. MH was member of Homosexual Law Reform Society in North London. MH and Colin were members of Islington art group. No memory of going on marches, but was on recent gay pride march in Glasgow. People who want to hide their sexuality are not being true to themselves.03:41 Some people hinted something going on between MH and Jack: Jack annoyed, but for MH if...

Scope and Contents 00:00 Reflections on gay rights movement: feels any kind of couple in long-term partnership should have rights of a spouse. MH was member of Homosexual Law Reform Society in North London. MH and Colin were members of Islington art group. No memory of going on marches, but was on recent gay pride march in Glasgow. People who want to hide their sexuality are not being true to themselves.03:41 Some people hinted something going on between MH and Jack: Jack annoyed, but for MH if...

Scope and Contents 00:00 Edwin Morgan [EM] born 27 April 1920 in Glasgow. Father clerk in Iron and Steel Works, mother typist in same firm. Reception of EM’s work following the 1990 interview with Christopher Whyte and the question of apprehension about coming out. EM explains muted reaction in literary world, some had guessed, some were surprised. Mentions one strong reaction from someone unsympathetic to homosexuality for whom the love poems were ‘spoiled’. EM felt some guilt hadn’t been more open in 60s...

Scope and Contents 00:00 Edwin Morgan [EM] born 27 April 1920 in Glasgow. Father clerk in Iron and Steel Works, mother typist in same firm. Reception of EM’s work following the 1990 interview with Christopher Whyte and the question of apprehension about coming out. EM explains muted reaction in literary world, some had guessed, some were surprised. Mentions one strong reaction from someone unsympathetic to homosexuality for whom the love poems were ‘spoiled’. EM felt some guilt hadn’t been more open in 60s...

Scope and Contents 00:00 EM only child, no family now except one distant cousin. Importance of different friendships, mentions three: Christopher Whyte, who opened up the whole subject and keeps in touch; Margaret, a straight female friend, who was the first person he told and was very supportive; young heterosexual friend Mark, whom he met at Edinburgh Science Festival [1998], instant attraction on EM’s part. Parents deaths 1965/1970: EM explains how difficult it would’ve been to tell them. Mother dropped...

Scope and Contents 00:00 ‘Night Pillion’: real life story behind poem. Young artist who lived near EM: they had been to see art exhibition, and EM was offered lift home on a motorbike. Exciting: attracted by him and EM’s first time on a motorbike. Last two lines express intense moment of closeness that broke shell of solitude. Solitude as negative and positive in EM’s life: always wanted a seesaw between solitude and company.05:30 ‘A Memorial’: poem written after coming out, able to write about...