MUSICAID
success Supported
with an award from the Millennium Festival Awards For All Committee
and in association with Staffordshire Buddies MUSICAID succeeded in
mounting their most ambitious project ever for World AIDS Day. The concert
at St Peter’s Parish Church in Stoke had over 150 performers, more than
100 of these were children and young people. There
were more schools taking part in the concert at Lichfield Cathedral
but not quite so many performers. Many children were affected by the
flu, in fact one school had to drop out at the last minute because they
didn’t have enough players for their band to perform. Both
concerts were well attended and brought together all ages and sections
of the community. The concerts were given support with messages of goodwill
from many religious leaders, politicians and celebrities. Information
about HIV & AIDS, (sadly lacking in the papers on World AIDS Day) were
clearly put across in between a wide variety of music performed with
infectious joy and enthusiasm.
VIGILS As
darkness fell in Hanley on World AIDS Day, Wednesday 1st December 1999,
a small procession of people carrying lanterns and banners walked form
Birch Terrace to Upper Fountain Square. The
banners carried information about HIV & AIDS in Britain and worldwide.
In Upper Fountain Square, a stage and public address system, kindly
made available by Stoke City Council, provided the platform from which
the vigil was directed. The vigil began with a moment of silence to
remember those who have died from AIDS. This was followed with the stirring
words of Nelson Mandela’s Inaugural speech. The same passage was being
spoken at a similar vigil being held at the same time outside the Great
West Door of Lichfield Cathedral, linking the two events together with
words as well as thought. Readings
from literature, facts about HIV & AIDS as well as political statements
made up the rest of the short ceremony. The
Stoke City Council invited those present at the vigil to continue the
tradition of former years by placing red ribbons on the trees in the
square. World AIDS Day is a global event. Vigils like these two in Staffordshire
were happening not only in the United Kingdom, but throughout the world
MUSICAID
success
There
were more schools taking part in the concert at Lichfield Cathedral
but not quite so many performers. Many children were affected by the
flu, in fact one school had to drop out at the last minute because they
didn’t have enough players for their band to perform. 
Both
concerts were well attended and brought together all ages and sections
of the community. The concerts were given support with messages of goodwill
from many religious leaders, politicians and celebrities. Information
about HIV & AIDS, (sadly lacking in the papers on World AIDS Day) were
clearly put across in between a wide variety of music performed with
infectious joy and enthusiasm.
The
banners carried information about HIV & AIDS in Britain and worldwide.
In Upper Fountain Square, a stage and public address system, kindly
made available by Stoke City Council, provided the platform from which
the vigil was directed. The vigil began with a moment of silence to
remember those who have died from AIDS. This was followed with the stirring
words of Nelson Mandela’s Inaugural speech. The same passage was being
spoken at a similar vigil being held at the same time outside the Great
West Door of Lichfield Cathedral, linking the two events together with
words as well as thought. 
Readings
from literature, facts about HIV & AIDS as well as political statements
made up the rest of the short ceremony. The
Stoke City Council invited those present at the vigil to continue the
tradition of former years by placing red ribbons on the trees in the
square. World AIDS Day is a global event. Vigils like these two in Staffordshire
were happening not only in the United Kingdom, but throughout the world