World Aids Day: Activist who inspired It's A Sin on virus

We spoke to Jill Nalder, a patron of the Brighton-based charity The Sussex Beacon and inspiration for Channel 4 TV series It’s A Sin, about her memories from the epidemic, how accurate the show was, and the medical progress made in improving life for those living with HIV.

This year marks an important anniversary for The Sussex Beacon - 30 years since the charity was founded and the first stone laid at its main centre in Bevendean Road in Brighton.

Originally functioning as a hospice for people at the end of their lives, The Sussex Beacon has seen its role change to now being a place where those living with HIV receive support to regain their sense of independence and to improve their health and wellbeing through inpatient and community resources.

Jill Nalder, a patron of the charity, describes the progress made as a “medical miracle”.

She said: “It was an absolute death sentence but now you can live a normal life, so that’s incredible.

“The miraculous moment was at a conference in Vancouver in the 1990s, when they announced combination therapies - that was a game changer.

“People who were preparing to die could suddenly live, and that doesn’t happen very often.”

Jill has more experience with the impact of the Aids epidemic than most, having supported gay men suffering from the virus during the 80s and 90s.

Her numerous visits to patients in hospitals and fundraising campaigns to support Aids awareness and research inspired a character, also called Jill, in the Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin.

It's A Sin character Jill Baxter, furthest right, was inspired by Jill Nalder and her activism

The show, produced by Jill’s friend Russell T Davis, was inspired by her life stories when living at a flat in Hampstead.

While Jill says the show does closely follow what her experience was like at the height of the Aids epidemic, she said some parts of the show used an “element of dramatic licence”.

She said: “Some of the more dramatic stuff, like the character of Jill being hit over the head and being thrown into a police van, didn’t happen - I wasn’t that brave.

“What you can’t capture in five episodes is the endless visits to hospitals - it went on for many years.”

• READ MORE: 'Everybody knew of somebody who had tested positive', says HIV charity director

Jill praised efforts in the city to improve and normalising regular testing for HIV in the city, as well as the greater availability of Prep - medication which prevents the spread of the virus.

“It gives people confidence - they don’t have to fear anymore because they can lead a normal life,” she said.

Jill Nalder, who inspired Channel 4 drama It's A Sin (Image: The Sussex Beacon)

Bill Puddicombe, executive director of The Sussex Beacon, said that he is proud to have been able to continue providing services and care for those living with HIV, while other services have been forced to close after cuts in public funding.

He said: “As a result of our work across Sussex, particularly in Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas, The Sussex Beacon has become a much-loved and respected part of the community.

“Our fundraising team has commented how members of the public often approach them at events, relating anecdotes and situations where the Beacon has helped loved ones in the past.

“These are very personal, sometimes very emotional stories, which remind us just how valued The Sussex Beacon actually is.”

• READ MORE: 'The death of my soulmate inspired my memorial to remember victims of Aids'

Bill said that communities in the city came together and “rose to the challenge” as the virus spread, with people actively getting involved in fundraising campaigns to support groups helping those affected by HIV and Aids.

He said: “People were running the Brighton Half Marathon for The Sussex Beacon two years before the first brick was laid, so there were events over a period of years to raise money for the beacon.”

Volunteers for The Sussex Beacon will be raising money for the charity outside Brighton Station on World Aids Day (Image: The Sussex Beacon)

While Bill acknowledges that there have been huge advancements that have allowed many people living with HIV to lead normal lives, he said that there are some who do face challenges.

He said: “There is also emerging evidence that suggests that ageing with HIV has its own issues.

"This is the first generation who have really aged with the virus and some research has highlighted the difficulties of living with HIV, particularly around long-term health conditions.”

He is hopeful that the city can reach its target of eliminating new HIV infections by the end of the decade and urged people to test regularly.

The charity will be fundraising at Brighton Station on World Aids Day, with volunteers donning colourful hoodies and braving the cold to collect as much as possible.

A candlelight vigil will take place in New Steine Gardens at 6pm that evening, which will include a reading of names to commemorate those who have died from the epidemic.