AIDS, THE LOST VOICES
ICONIC: Ivan Cohen
Two men around 30, each with an HIV/AIDS diagnosis are on the same hospital ward. One is a patient and the other, a nurse. Both men were photographed with the late Diana, Princess of Wales as she opened the UK’s first HIV/AIDS ward at London’s Middlesex Hospital in 1987.
The patient on the ward only agreed to be photographed if he had his back to the camera in fear of being identified due to the rhetoric and stigma at the time. The nurse of the ward openly shared his HIV status with the waiting news cameras for the first time. But who were these courageous men, what happened to them and what impact did they have on HIV/AIDS stigma?
Shane Snape :NURSE
IN ORDER OF PODCAST EPISODE - CLICK TO ENLARGE (OPENS IN NEW WINDOW)
IVAN Anthony Cohen was born June 1955 in Cape Town, South Africa to London-born parents Maurice and Helen Cohen. Ivan welcomed his sister Pearl Sara two years later before the family returned to the UK. Helen travelled 1st Class on steamer Pendennis Castle with Ivan and Pearl arriving at Southampton on 11 May 1960. The family set up a home at 87 Whitechapel Road, East London (since demolished) where his mother Helen worked as a Secretary for her father (Ivan’s Grandfather Harry Green) who travelled back and forth to Cape Town with his profession listed as “Agent”.
PROBATE: Granted December 1987
Both sets of Ivan’s grandparents were in the ‘tailoring’ profession in the East End of London and respectively were financially comfortable. Ivan himself studied and became a graphic designer upon his death on 21 June 1987 at the Middlesex Hospital with his sister Pearl by his side. Later the same year probate was granted in December 1987 in the sum of, £157,044.00p [£437,483.79p as of March 2024] with the sale of his 3 Bedroom flat at 6 Biddulph Mansions, Elgin Avenue, London, W9. An insight that shows HIV/AIDS does not discriminate based on personal success nor wealth as the British press continually pushed.
ABOVE: Shane & the Princess
LEFT: Bed on the Broderip Ward, 1987
THATCHER: Shane 3 Aug 1989
SHANE Christopher Snape was born Burnley, Lancashire in October 1959. The second of two sons to parents John and Norma Snape, Shane the youngest by 5 years to Leslie Snape.
After qualifying as a nurse in Lancashire Shane worked on a psychiatric ward at the mental health facility Calderstones Hospital, Lancashire.
Upon moving to London Shane was instrumental in being on the team commissioned to open the UK’s first dedicated AIDS Ward. Living with the disease Shane advised other care facilities on nursing care.
For what was to be the final 4 years of his life Shane worked as a training officer for the Department of AIDS Education in the North West Thames region. Shane passed away on 20 March 1992 at the Mildmay Hospital, Tower Hamlets, London.
PROBATE: Shane Snape 1992
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