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Me with Jamie
University Life
In 1998, I moved to Liverpool, to start my four year sandwhich degree course at John Moore’s University. As a young gay male, I thought that life was gonna be fabulous, away from home, and able to do wot I wanted to when I wanted to do it. Unfortunately I was not able to get into Halls of Residence as they were all full, so I ended up living in a bedsit upstairs in an old couple’s (Joe and Pat Atherton) house. I didn’t feel ready or able to go out a lot, so didn’t. and for the first year and a bit went home every weekend. Great fun that was!
In my second year I decided that enuff was enuff, and it was about time I discovered the wonderful world of gay nightlife. I got the number of a dating line, called the TeleGay line, which was based in Manchester. In those days it was a normal 0161 number, so was not expensive to call. I listened for a few nights before I felt ready to reply to a message, and chose one, a guy called Phil in Warrington, who was around my age. I left a message for him, and gave Joe and Pat’s number, and went back home and waited. A couple of days later Phil called, and we arranged to go out for a drink. The only place in Liverpool that Phil knew was the Roman Catholic Cathedral, so we arranged to meet there. He turned up late, (as he always does!!!) and we went into town, to PACO’s, a sleazy downstairs gay bar, and then to Scarlets (now closed) and then to Sadie’s Bar Royal. We had a nice night, but that certain magic thing was not there.
Phil has, however remained a very close friend of mine, his is my oldest gay friend (well longest gay friend!)
During our evening out Phil told me that he had the number of another guy in Liverpool, called Andrew, and wondered if he could play matchmaker between us.
I said it was fine by me, so the next day Phil passed Andrew my telephone number.
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