The HIV Readings (in aid of Lunch Positive)
Thu 12 Mar 2026, 6.30pm
Venue: The Queery
Address: 46 George Street, Brighton and Hove, BN2 1RJ
Simon Maddrell, Robert Hamberger & Jonathan Blake will be reading poems for a fundraiser event for Brighton charity, Lunch Positive.
As part of the launches for Simon Maddrell’s debut poetry collection, lamping wild rabbits, this event is dedicated to its poems about HIV and Derek Jarman.
Simon will be joined by Jonathan Blake and Robert Hamberger.
Brighton-based poet Robert Hamberger will read his own poems in memory of Clifford Haseldine and Andrew Copus, plus other HIV/AIDS-themed poetry.
Jonathan Blake, diagnosed with HIV in 1982, will read from his verse memoir, Patient L1, plus other new poems (all written in Jonathan’s voice by Simon Maddrell).
