On 4 July 1982 Terry Higgins became the first
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Rupert Whitaker (right) was an 18-year-old Durham
University student when he met Terry Higgins. Terry was 36 at that time
and had been working as a Hansard reporter in the House of Commons and
as a barman in the nightclub Heaven.
Rupert explains: "Terry had headaches and weight loss and didn't
know why it was happening. I'd go down to London as much as I could and
stay at his place in West Kensington. He'd cook for me and I would eat
but he said he felt sick and had no appetite.
"In the summer of 1982 Terry collapsed on the dance floor at Heaven
and was rushed to St Thomas' Hospital and placed in isolation.
"I'd fallen madly in love with him, but he went downhill rapidly
and died within a few weeks. The doctors said he had parasitic pneumonia but didn't explain how or why he had it.
"None of his friends were particularly helpful or involved, except one - Martyn Butler - whose idea it was to set up a charity in Terry's name."
