AIDS, THE LOST VOICES
ARTIST: Edward Cairns 1980s
Will & Gloria once again delve into the British newspaper archives and attempt to unpick the real stories, of real people behind the sensational and attention-grabbing headlines of the 80s and 90s AIDS pandemic.
Scottish artist Edward Cairns, 34, was found dead at his London home in October 1984. Edward’s untimely death which was thought to be AIDS-related, fell under the scrutiny of the West London Coroner Dr. John Burton. And it didn’t go unnoticed by the Coroner, the sensational headlines in the tabloid press, and the media presence at the inquest simply because Edward was a gay man.
Given ‘Eddie’ was a very talented up and coming artist Will & Gloria also look at how the press covered HIV/AIDS-related ART exhibitions within the UK and some of the people behind the ART.
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Edward was born 1950 in Johnstone, Scotland to parents John & Mary Cairns. Edward had a younger sister by four years, Linda. Edward known as ‘Eddie’ to his pals moved to London after studying art. As a gay man Eddie enjoyed everything the glittering London scene offered, just like any other gay man who had a zest for life. Then in 1981, America raised the alarm about a new deadly virus named AIDS which was disproportionality affecting gay men.
CORONER: John Burton
CORONER: Dr. John David Keith Burton (1929-2004) graduated in medicine from University College and Hospital London in 1952, where he was awarded prizes and undergraduate gold medals in medicine and surgery.
In 1968 he was appointed HM coroner for West London, a large and busy jurisdiction. He retired in 2000. He was made coroner of the Queen’s household in 1986. During which time he was responsible for the inquest into the death and present at the autopsy of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Fayed. He retired in 2002 due to ill health.
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