Pride is over for 2015 but for me it was a wonderful day despite the delay caused by the bomb scare.
I felt I had to write this letter because of all the support I got from the LGBT Community Safety Forum Team on the day. The Purple Angels I called them because without their help I would not have had such a fabulous Pride.
Firstly I was given wheelchair space on the Golf Buggy, my dear old Chuggy wheelchair is a grand old dame but she simply hasn’t got the puff in her to make it across the city under her own steam, a bit like her owner in fact.
Then there was the driver of the Golf Buggy I was in, he was lovely, and when it became clear that there was going to be a bit of a delay in the parade started he helped get me out of the Golf Cart for a mad dash to the loo!
The loo situation at the start of the parade was a bit of a nightmare as there were only two toilets available at our end of the parade, and only one of which had wheelchair access.
The wonderful Joanna Rowland Stuart pulled rank in the nicest possible way in order for me to get to the loo quickly and the people in the long queue were really understanding, thank you so much to them as well.
Upon arriving at the park we entered quickly and with no problems and of course I headed straight to the Access Tent and the loo…again!
The Access Tent was brilliant, nicely set out, lots of chargers for us wheelchair/buggy users to access, and I even got to charge my phone as I tweeted to many photos on the day it went into melt down.
Billie Lewis was marvellous, (as he was last year) he made sure that everyone who needed help on the day got it, from when the parade started to when we got to the access tent and after.
In fact whilst I was charging my wheelchair my blood sugar dropped, I am a diabetic and I fell asleep, and it was Billie who woke me up, concerned that I hadn’t moved for a while. I must have looked at bit wild-eyed because I soon was drinking a cup of sweet tea! Thanks Billie.
I stayed at the park until after five and then headed home. I am an old lady and I leave the music, the drinking and celebrating to the youngsters who have far more energy than this old dame.
I have to also mention the HDU that Sussex Police funded. Wonderful is all I can say. Big enough for me to use on my own and not make me afraid of going arse over tit because of lack of railings.
So please may I thank in writing, all of the LGBT Community Safety Forum who helped on the day to make it all accessible. It was and still is greatly appreciated.
Suchi Chatterjee
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