Millie describes being a 'grandma' on Bristol's vibrant gay scene but also the sedate pleasures in Pink Herrings - the club for older lesbian ladies.

Millie comments on the 'cult of youth' and ageing in this extract from her interview. She observes how she envies the ability of younger lesbians to be open on the street and having far fewer inhibitions than her generation did. Some younger lesbians look up to her as a 'mother-figure' and find it interesting to talk to someone who once had to lead a closeted 'pantomime-life dressed as another character'. However, there are still a few younger lesbians who have little time for the 'grey haired old trout'.

Millie observes how older lesbians, if they put in the effort, can be well served by social groups, saying that there is much going on but it is always left to the 'energetic few' to organise events and activities. Many older lesbians are apathetic and there are a significant number who do nothing to help organise activities but who are the first to complain when things go awry. Determination is needed to get older people together.

When Millie arrived in Bristol, she rang Gay Switchboard to see what social groups might be available to lesbians, but the response, unfortunately, was very male- centred. So, Millie bought a copy of 'The Venue' - Bristol's version of London's 'What's On?' magazine, and found an advert for a group called ELSIEE - 'Elderly Lesbians who want to Socialise In the Early Evening'.

Through ELSIEE, Millie made contacts with other social groups, eventually becoming a member of 'Pink Herrings' through which she met her lifetime partner. Meetings are held in homes or pubs and walks, theatre visits, camping holidays and even a mini-bus trip to France have been organised. However, Millie observes, there are still plenty of moaners amongst those who do little to help with the organising of activities.

Born in North Wales in 1939, Millie lived alone with her mother and sister after her father left the family when she was still very young. Her mother remarried but Millie did not get on with her stepfather.

A while after leaving school, she trained to be a nurse, eventually being hired as a ship's nurse by the Union Castle Line, which travelled between Southampton and Cape Town.

Millie would later adopt a straight lifestyle when she migrated to Canada but returned to the UK in 1969. Millie rose with the nursing ranks eventually becoming a director of nursing in London during the 1980s. Moving into the private sector she ran several operating theatres at an exclusive hospital in London.

In 1975 Millie enjoyed her first proper relationship before having a shorter affair with another hospital matron. In the late 1990s she met her current partner and both received a blessing from a local priest at Christmas-time in front of all their family members.