On
27 March this year, Alan Norburn died from a heart attack. Alan was one of Positive
Nation’s favourite columnists and wrote for PN for two years. His last column
appeared in PN January 1999. Among the many topics he entertained readers with
were Smarties, pill-gagging, and Scarlett O’Hara.
Alan's death was sudden and unexpected. Clive Polles, who has been his partner for 30 years, describes Alan as "a man with an attitude but very healthy - in spite of his HIV". He went to the gym three times a week and was proud of his body. In the last two years, he'd suffered what we thought was bad indigestion, but got it checked out immediately.
Clive describes Alan's final hours:
"The morning before Alan died we went to take his blood monitor machine back because he'd been having his blood pressure checked - it had been a little irregular. The doctor checked his blood pressure. We went to have coffee and Alan was obviously not well. He complained of pains but was angry and despite being still beside the surgery, refused to go back in. Neither of us had any idea he was at such serious risk. Shortly after, he experienced a massive heart attack and died. It was ironic, because Alan knew so much about his own health and HIV, but was unaware he had a heart condition as well.
"We can't really say if his HIV drugs had anything to do with it or not. It may have been genetic, or due to his lifestyle or it could have been something else....who knows. He had ischaemic heart disease - when the blood supply to the heart muscles is narrowed restricted by narrowed arteries, so it was only a matter of time.
"He died very quickly and in my arms. Shocking for me but a good way to go under the circumstances.
"Alan was a real fighter and a very loveable charming man, with an attitude that kept him alive and enabled him to keep going through rough times. He was diagnosed about 10 years ago, had oesophagal thrush, KS, and many other bits and pieces. His treatments were working for him but he hated some of the body fat changes...he was very vain!
"All Alan was concerned with recently was the new house we were buying in London.
"You really miss someone after 30 years living and loving together, but I have to end on an up-note here.... it was a good day to die AND a good way to die......Just much too soon for me."
Originally from Manchester, Alan Norburn was many things in his lifetime. He was an actor and singer and did TV and West End work but most notably he was a fine writer. As well as his columns for PN, Alan also worked at ATP and Body Positive and contributed much to the HIV sector, especially when it came to treatment information.
In 1996, when the Aids Treatment Project (ATP) was born, Alan was one of the first to become involved. Leonard Hughes and Geoff Brand remember his commitment to the project:
 He will be deeply missed. |
"He cared passionately, not only about positive people's wellbeing, but also about their being empowered and able to make informed treatment decisions, in partnership with their doctors. ATP's was the first volunteer phoneline dedicated to providing up-to-date treatment info. Alan was energetic and enthusiastic in learning and volunteering for the phoneline as well as in the training of other volunteers.
"ATP also developed outreach roles, for example, training days with groups such as Positively Women, and providing individual sessions on a one-to-one basis when requested. Alan was closely involved in these activities.
"Alan joined the Board of Trustees in 1998 until the merger of the ATP phoneline with THT in 2000. (He continued as a volunteer for some time with THT.) He was an invaluable Trustee - professional, scrupulous in his dealings with other members and volunteers; he gained a lot of respect from health professionals and fellow community activists alike. He contributed much to ATP, to the empowerment and knowledge of his "local" community as well as to the international HIV community.
A cheerful, compassionate colleague."
