PHIL STARR aka Arthur James Fuller Phil Starr, born Arthur James Fuller, was a gay cabaret comedian, singer, mainstay and regular feature of the London and English south coast gay scene during a career spanning from the 1950s, until his sudden and unexpected death. Famous within his genre and locale, Starr's act was typically old-school comic, lengthy shaggy dog stories , often culminating in a hilarious, unexpected twist. (March 31, 1932 - October 18, 2005)

Cinderella Script A simple fairy tale told by simple fairies! by Her Imperial Highness, The Grand Duchess, Regina Fong Pantomime. Play C inderella S cript A simple fairy tale told by simple fairies! by Her Imperial Highness, The Grand Duchess, R egina F ong

In the past, drag in the UK was often associated with traditional theatrical performances, such as pantomimes, where men would dress as women for comedic effect. The visibility of drag was limited, and it primarily existed in niche venues or within the LGBTQ+ community. The rise of the LGBTQ+ rights movement brought more visibility to drag culture. Performers like Lily Savage gained mainstream recognition, and drag began to be seen as a legitimate art form rather than just a comedic gimmick. UK DRAGACTS Past and present Drag Artists that have left a smile on our faces and fondness in our hearts. Dockyard Doris View More Titti La Camp View More Phil Starr View More Mrs Shufflewick View More Maisie Trollette View More Lola Lasagne View More Miss Jason View More Sandra Hush View More Dave Lynn View More The Vivienne View More Regina Fong View More Adrella View More Ruby Venezuela Millie Mopp View More View More Lily Savage View More Lee Sutton Millie Mopp View More Lily Savage

DAVE LYNN The drag queen of drag queens and star of stage and screen, Dave has appeared on TV shows, including Eastenders, Coronation Street, Silent Witness, The Weakest Link, Faking It and Doctors. With extensive, film and theatre credits as well as appearances in clubs, parties and dinners across the UK, Dave Lynn never fails to dazzle crowds. Dave Lynn has been bringing his distinctive cabaret shows to audiences in Brighton and around the UK for more years than he would care to remember. If Dave wasn’t already a household name, then by the time he’d finished filming for the Channel Four hit, Faking It, he must have known he would be. The episode followed the transformation of a Navy Officer to drag cabaret performer, Britney Ferry, under Dave’s close mentorship, and the show brought Dave to the attention of millions of homes. Other featured credits include a cameo in the highly acclaimed feelgood movie, Beautiful Thing. Dave has also given Anne Robinson a run for her money on three special episodes of the BBC flagship quiz, The Weakest Link, wherein one memorable moment he dished out some sound fashion advice on Anne’s hair during his walk of shame. Dave’s stage credits, both in and out of wigs and heels, include ‘Torch Song Trilogy’, ‘Rocky Horror’ and ‘Dragula’. He’s also a perennial favourite on the panto circuit, his latest being an Ugly Sister in Cinderella at the Wimbledon Theatre opposite a stellar cast. Dave Lynn - Victor Victoria (right hand side) Dave Lynn , birds of a feather 1 Dave Lynn 15 Dave Lynn - Victor Victoria (right hand side) 1/17

London photographer Jay Eff, with his unique view of the world was one of the most outstanding members of our community JAY EFF Photography by If you lived in London back in the 90s ,you would more than likely be familiar with the work of the legendary Photographer Jay Eff. His Flyers (for Clubs like Heaven/Garage/The Fruit Machine) were the stand-out flyers of the London scene. Many people over the years have told me they actually looked forward to going home after the clubs closed, just so they could get next the week's flyers. Every week his fresh new ideas would be admired throughout the club scene in London. Thanks to Jay Eff himself, Lost Gay London has been able to create this collection of Art for all to enjoy. 1/2

LEE SUTTON aka Leonard Sutch Lee Sutton (Leonard Sutch) was an English drag artiste (female impersonator) active in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly popular in London. He was known for billing himself as "Lee Sutton, a Near Miss" and was the only other female impersonator booked by the famous drag performer Danny La Rue to work at his hotel. He released several albums of his material. Lee died in August 1978. A rare recording of Lee Sutton @ the Union Tavern in 1968 Lee Sutton, Drag For Camp Followers (Full audio show)

Donations How you can help? Donations help us cover ongoing running costs associated with running a website, and ensure this valuable resource remains accessible to all, and for our future generations. Support us in keeping the history alive! For your convenience, we give you a few options on how you would like to make a Donation. L ost G ay L ondon Donations How you can help Donations help us cover ongoing running costs associated with running a website, and ensure this valuable resource remains accessible to all, and for our future generations. Support us in keeping the history alive! For your convenience, we give you a few options on how you would like to make a Donation . Paypal Direct WIX Donations Donation 10 GBP 20 GBP 30 GBP 50 GBP 100 GBP First name Email Company name Submit

FIST opened in February 1994 at the Chunnel club in London’s Vauxhall. Underground and avant-garde, the hardcore fetish club enforced a strict leather/rubber/skin gear dress code. Back in the 90s, fetish was considered underground and taboo! FIST broke boundaries, challenged people’s beliefs about sex, and made clubbing hard, sexy and dirty – never forgetting the infamous playroom. F ist Suzie Krueger presents FIST opened in February 1994 at the Chunnel club in London’s Vauxhall. Underground and avant-garde, the hardcore fetish club enforced a strict leather/rubber/skin gear dress code. Back in the 90s, fetish was considered underground and taboo! FIST broke boundaries, challenged people’s beliefs about sex, and made clubbing hard, sexy and dirty – never forgetting the infamous playroom. FIST was the mother of all fetish clubs that followed. DJ’s regularly cut their teeth at FIST. The club’s hard techno sound track was supplied by the likes of E J Doubell, Jack Chang and Brent Nicholls , and the monthly meet featured live pervy performances from American extreme performance artist Ron Athey, Italian performance artist Franko B and porn star Buck Meadows, to name a few. FIST grew quickly, attracting a worldwide audience, moving to Denmark Place then SubStation South in Brixton and on to Imperial Gardens in Camberwell. Finally, after 9 years, and over 100 parties, the police closed the club down. The final FIST FAREWELL was in December 2002. But Queen of kink, Suzie Krueger returned with Hard On , off spring from the infamous club, opening in September 2003 at Cynthia’s in London Bridge. HARD ON is still London’s sexiest gay fetish club, and one that continues to challenge fetish clubbing into the 21st century. Suzie put the funk into fetish, adding sports gear to her dress code and creating what we now know as ‘Your Dirty Dance Club’. Embracing the new, and keeping the old, has seen Hard On reach its decade of keeping London hard. www.qxmen.com/feature/fist-fact-file/

Life's a Drag. UK Drag Queens of the past. From Lily Savage and Regina Fong to Adrella and Zsarday Life's a Drag, UK Drag Queens A brief history of U K drag The transcension of drag queens in the UK from the past to the present reflects a significant evolution in cultural acceptance, artistic expression, and media representation. **Historical Context:** In the past, drag in the UK was often associated with traditional theatrical performances, such as pantomimes, where men would dress as women for comedic effect. The visibility of drag was limited, and it primarily existed in niche venues or within the LGBTQ+ community. **1980s to 1990s:** The rise of the LGBTQ+ rights movement brought more visibility to drag culture. Performers like Lily Savage gained mainstream recognition, and drag began to be seen as a legitimate art form rather than just a comedic gimmick. Clubs and bars started to embrace drag shows, and events like Pride celebrations included drag performances. **2000s:** The advent of reality television, particularly with shows like "RuPaul's Drag Race," popularised drag culture globally. UK performers, such as Bianca Del Rio and later UK queens like The Vivienne and Baga Chipz, gained fame, further bridging the gap between underground drag and mainstream entertainment. **Present Day:** Today, drag queens in the UK are celebrated figures in popular culture, with many achieving celebrity status. The art form has diversified, encompassing various styles and performances, from comedy to high fashion. Drag is also increasingly recognised for its role in activism, addressing issues like gender identity, sexuality, and social justice. Overall, the transcension of drag queens in the UK showcases a journey from marginalization to mainstream acceptance, highlighting the vibrant, transformative nature of drag as both an art form and a means of self-expression. Lily Savage aka Paul O'Grady Paul James O'Grady (14 June 1955 – 28 March 2023) Paul was an English comedian, broadcaster, drag queen , actor, and writer. He achieved notability in the London gay scene during the 1980s with his drag persona Lily Savage, through which he gained wider popularity in the 1990s. Lily Savage was the stage persona of British entertainer Paul O'Grady. A beloved drag queen and comedian, Lily gained fame for her outspoken personality, sharp wit, and trademark Scouse accent. Her career spanned decades, taking her from underground gay clubs in London to prime-time television. O'Grady subsequently dropped the character and in the 2000s became the presenter of various television and radio shows, including The Paul O'Grady Show and For the love of dogs . Regina Fong aka Reg Bundy Her Imperial Highness, The Grand Duchess Regina Fong Last of the Romanovs Her Imperial Highness was born to the Russian Imperial Family of St Petersburg in 1905, but was almost immediately hidden away on the orders of the Czar due to her startling mane of flame red hair. During the storming of the Winter Palace in the uprising of 1917, she escaped due to the quick thinking of her nanny, who flung her, clutching three Faberge Eggs, from a third floor window. With great presence of mind and an ability to survive everything the world threw at her, she commandeered a Troika, and after a long and perilous journey, ended up in the Forbidden City in China. She began teaching flower arranging to the Dowager Empress, who so taken with her skills, refused to allow her to leave. In order to secure her escape from the enclosed city, she married a Chinese courtier called Wing Wang Fong. With her newly found freedom she moved to the stunning gothic mansion 'Fong Towers' in the Royal County of Berkshire, Great Briton, under the patronage of her imperial cousins, The Windsor' Rumours and urban myths followed Her Imperial Highness through out her life, some say she called herself 'Reginald' and impersonated a man from 1967 onwards in order to become a well respected dancer, appearing in the films "Oh What a Lovely War" and "Slipper and the Rose". She appeared in "The Rolf Harris Show", as well as numerous performances in London West End and the Royal Court. Not to mention Panto and Rep around the country. She hosted "Club X" on channel 4, and completed another motion picture entitled "AKA". There are stories also about an infamous and hugely popular all girl troupe called The Disapointer Sisters, one of whom had a startling mane of flame red hair! Many people also swear that for a six-month period there appeared in various "bars" and seedy venues a mysterious man in black leather with an enormous black mascara coated moustache who after his fourth "pint" would regale fellow patrons of life in The Winter Palace! None of these "stories" were ever confirmed (nor denied) by Her Imperial Highness, but we do know that in 1985 she filled in for one week for a dear friend and hosted a show at The Black Cap. One week turned into over 17 years, and so the legend of Her Imperial Highness, Grand Duchess Regina Fong was born. She passed away peacefully on 15 April 2003. R.I.P Regina the Grand Duchess Dockyard Dorris aka Colin Devereaux Colin Devereaux was a performer best known for his popular drag persona, Dockyard Doris. Performing in Islington was in his blood, as he was a direct descendent of Marie Lloyd, a very popular music hall singer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He studied at the Italia Conti Stage School as a teenager. The character of Dockyard Doris was a music-hall inspired pantomime dame known for her outrageous sense of humour. Doris was incredibly popular all over London in the 1980s and 1990s, and appeared often in pantomimes and shows all over the city. She was also well known for her impression of the Queen Mother, which she performed at Central Station during the Queen Mother’s birthday celebration in 2000. In the Islington’s P r i d e Archive at the Islington Local History Centre, is correspondence from the Queen Mother, politely declining an invitation to visit Central Station during her birthday celebration. Devereaux was known as a fairly quiet person off-stage, but his loud and fun on-stage personality made him incredibly popular and he had a wildly successful 30 year career with appearances on TV shows and in movies along with his regular cabaret and stage performances. Devereaux passed away aged 50 after a long battle with cancer. Danny La Rue Danny La Rue OBE (Daniel Patrick Carroll, 26 July 1927 – 31 May 2009) Danny was an entertainer best known for on-stage theatrical productions, television shows and films where he customarily performed in drag. Adrella aka Peter Searle/Peter Steadman Peter Searle, professionally known as Peter Steadman, who as ‘Adrella’ was a huge star of the cabaret circuit from the mid-70s and directly inspired many of those who are part of the current drag revival, died at the age of 56 after many years of illness. Adrella worked both solo and with partners such as Lily Savage, David Dale, Ebbonknee and Ruby Venezuela. An old-school drag act, who mostly mimed to show tunes, he was best known for his Liza Minnelli routine. He was also a Eurovision fanatic and even juror for the UK’s judging panel in 2008. For a while, during the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, he was one of the most adored performers on the gay scene and did so much charity work that in 1987 he was given an award by the Terrence Higgins Trust. Tragically his ill-health resulted in an early retirement and less recognition than he deserved. He made a comeback, delighting new audiences with his almost undiminihed star quality. The son of a policeman, Searle claimed that he was raised in a police station in the middle of Hyde Park and that he was still living there in 1975, when he entered a talent competition at the Black Cap. He popped briefly into the West End in 1982, when he appeared in La Vie en Rose at the La Vie, formerly the Windmill Theatre. But he will be remembered by most as one of the great gay scene acts, especially for his work at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. There are many recordings, notably of Adrella’s Nativity at Christmas, 1987, a show that drove the crowd wild. He also made numerous TV appearances on game shows, including Treasure Hunt, Talkabout, the Weakest Link and 15 to 1. Adrella’s last big success was ‘Camp Camp’, which he produced at Butlin’s, Skegness, in 1991. A follow-up was abandoned. Searle later wrote, “The second one collapsed after Butlin’s withdrew, due to negative press affecting their bookings [reports linked the event to the AIDS scare], and in-fighting between the two companies who produced the first event.” Adrella continued to host the RVT’s Sports Days. But subsequently Peter’s health deteriorated. (Text from QX Magazine 2012) Divine on a river boat at Pride London 1985, for Heaven Night Club copy Reproducir video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copiar Enlace Enlace copiado Zsarday aka Zsarday Forde/Skinny Bitch “I knew Zsarday from when she performed at Regina Fong’s Monday Madhouse at the Black Cap. The ‘And I am Telling You’ number, which was known as the ‘fur coat’ routine was iconic at the time.” – Sandra Zsarday was a black trans performer in the circuit in the 80s and 90s in London, who sadly is no longer with us. She was legendary throughout the London and UK scene for her performance in the Regina Fong show signing 'and I'm telling you'. When she took to the stage in her fabulous Leopard skin coat and white pearls around her neck, she commanded everyones eyes. With her shaking hands she would pull her coat off and throw it at the audience, then the pearls would be ripped off and where they would go is anyones guess. Despite a career that included modelling for Alexander McQueen and Vivienne westwood, she lived a precarious life that tragically ended on her 40th birthday weekend in 2009. Zsarday’s coat was donated to the Museum of Transology by her friend Mzz Kimberley 5 Drag Divas and a Duo 5 Drag Divas and a Duo was originally sold to support SUSSEX BEACON in 1998. Making a Difference for People Living with HIV CD features David Raven (Maisie Trollette,) Jimmy Trollette, Dockyard Doris, Dave Lynn & Phil Starr accompanied by Michael Topping, Stan Baines, Tracy Davenport and Glenda. TRACK LISTING 0.15 David Raven I'm Still Here 5.22 Phil Starr No Regrets 9.08 Jimmy Trollette Love Is All 13.03 Dockyard Doris Ring Them Bells 17.00 Dave Lynn With Michael Topping Sweet Georgia Brown 19.43 Tracy Davenport Fly Me To The Moon 21.55 Stan Baines Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You 25.33 The Trollettes The Impossible Dream 27.50 Dockyard Doris No Matter What 31.46 Tracy Davenport Who Can I Turn To 34.19 Phil Starr With Glenda The Old Bazaar In Cairo 37.10 Dave Lynn Wind Beneath My Wings 40.13 David Raven If Ever I Would Leave You 42.52 Stan Baines Sam45.54 Jimmy Trollette And I Love You So 49.50 Five Drag Divas And A Duo United We Stand If you wish to visit their website and make a donation please visit: https://www.sussexbeacon.org.uk Maisie Trollette, Jimmy Trollette, Phil Star, Dockyard Doris Fudges Final Curtain

If you would like to contact Lost Gay London, please contact via this page. CONTACT US If you'd like to share photos or other memorabilia with L ost G ay L ondon, please complete the form below. We look forward to hearing from you and when required, will get back to you as soon as possible. We can also be contacted at: info@lostgaylondon.com First Name Last Name Email Message Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Send Thanks for submitting!

Join us on an amazing journey through the vibrant tapestry of our past, a playful parade of colours, characters, and unforgettable moments that danced through London's heart. We celebrate the London gay scene of yesteryear that we’ve loved and lost, honoring everyone. This is a space to reminisce, laugh, and embrace the diversity that made our world so wonderfully vibrant. This page is a celebration of good times, great friends, and unforgettable nights. About us Remember the Nights and days-out that took our b reath away? Join us on an amazing journey through the vibrant tape stry of our past, a playful parade of colours, characters, and unforgettabl e moments that danced through London's heart. Each story is a glittering gem, wai ting to sparkle in your imagination and bring back memories of joy, love, and frie ndship. We celebrate the London gay scene of yesteryear that we’ve lov ed and lost, honouring everyone—boys, girls, transgender, gay, le sbian, bi, poly, straight—who made those times so special. This is a space to reminisce, laugh, and embrace the diversity that made our world so wonderfully vibrant. We love sharing stories, photos, and memorabilia—so feel free to celebrate with us and use the contact page to get in touch! This page is a celebration of good times, great friends, and unforgettable nights. Thank you for being part of this journey—let’s enjoy and cherish every colourful moment together! My Story and how L o s t G a y L o n d o n came to be. Born in Perth, Western Australia in the 70s, I spent my childhood immersed in music (mostly Bananarama and Culture Club) and dreaming of living in London. In 1988, at just 17, I made the dream a reality and moved to London with just £2000 in my pocket. Within a few months, I discovered my first gay club, Bang @ Busbys, which opened the door for me to embrace my true self and finally 'come out'. Soon, I was dancing proudly on the Bang podium every Saturday night, decked out in my black PVC outfit and patent Doc Martens, celebrating my new found gay identity. In 1998 I made the hard decision to head back home to Australia, this time I thought I would give Sydney ago. It wasn't too long before I found myself craving to be around that amazing London gay scene again. No matter where I lived, I never felt that strong sense of community that I had experienced in London. In 2011, just after relocating back to London from Melbourne this time, I noticed that the community spirit had changed. Maybe it was because I was older and now perceive things differently, or that the clubs, pubs and dance parties we used to haunt were no longer there. Or it may even be the fact that there is now a whole new generation out there doing it in their own new style. Whatever it was, I felt a sense of urgency to recreate and capture what was no longer there, before it was too late and the memories would be lost for ever.. Since 2012, I have been using Facebook as my platform for the page, however the page was constantly being cautioned over it's content (which was usually caused by innocent '90s Heaven club' flyers). The Facebook autobots became so bad that Facebook eventually moved my page to 'Unpublished', so only I could see it. With over 22k followers, thousands of photos and numerous videos, I decided to create this website before all hard work that had been put in was lost for ever. Lost Gay London has become a very important archive of our wonderfully colourful LGBTQI+ scene of the past. We, with this new page, are also hoping to create an online forum for you all to chat on. Our community brings together such amazing diversity, news, views, and essential information, all written by passionate and knowledgeable community members. Once up and running, please feel free to start new topics or contribute to an ongoing discussion. Browse our posts and join the conversations and share. Sharing is caring and the more people that know about us, the better. If you have photos, flyers or memorabilia that you would like to contribute to this page, please feel free to contact me, using the email below, or use our sites contact form. lostgaylondon@outlook.com We hope you love the new page! Gage Öhrn Founder & Creative Director Meet the team. The Lost Gay London Team is a dynamic group dedicated to celebrating and preserving the rich history of the LGBT+ community in London. Through various experiences, social gatherings, and advocacy efforts, we aim to foster inclusivity, promote visibility, and create a welcoming space for all. Our work highlights the rich diversity and resilience of London's LGBTQ+ history. Gage Öhrn Founder Lost Gay London Lewis Oswald Associate Content Advisor Product and Merchandise David Associate Website Design Advisor Pickles Öhrn Office Support Supervisor Pippa Associate Website Design Advisor Could this be you? Associate Lost Gay London