A Legacy of Love, Loss & Hope: The UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Comes to Reading
To mark a landmark moment, TVPS brought a deeply moving national artwork to Reading, honouring 40 years of supporting people living with HIV across Berkshire and Hampshire. As part of our 40th anniversary, we displayed a section of the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt, one of the most powerful and poignant pieces of British HIV history.
Each handmade panel commemorates a life lost to HIV or AIDS. Together, they form a profound collective testament to love, art, grief, activism and courage.
Bringing the Quilt to Reading was especially significant. TVPS was founded in the town in 1985, and hosting the exhibition during National HIV Testing Week offered a moment to reflect on the past, acknowledge progress, and look forward with hope.
Thank you to everyone who came and stood with us. To those who gave their time, care and energy to help bring the Quilt to Reading. To the volunteers, partners and supporters who helped create such a thoughtful and respectful space. And to everyone who continues to carry these stories forward.
This was more than an exhibition. It was a moment of community, remembrance and legacy.
We were proud to attend the BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference Awards as one of four nominees in the Community category. Although we didn’t take home the win, we were highly commended, a huge recognition of the work we do supporting people living with and affected by HIV across Berkshire.
What makes this even more special is that we were nominated by one of our own service users. Knowing that someone we support felt moved to put us forward means the world to us.
Being celebrated alongside such inspiring local organisations in our 40th anniversary year is something we’ll never forget.
Here’s to continuing the fight against HIV stigma and ensuring that everyone in our community has access to the support they deserve.
