Peter describes some of the interesting by-ways of London's male 'gay scene' as well as the hazards of a sexually promiscuous lifestyle.

Peter describes, in this extract, how various male sub-groups arose on London's 'gay scene' in the 1970s and 80s. He recalls that, in previous decades, there wasn't much publicity about gay groups or organisations, though one often heard about an MP or celebrity who was gay. He read James Baldwin's 1956 novel, 'Giovanni's Room', which many gay men read because they knew about its gay content, though it attracted little interest generally.

Peter comments that the pre-Stonewall gay scene did cater to those who liked leather or S&M, but he never knew of any organised groups that served those more specialised tastes. By the 70s, however, pubs like the Coleherne, in Earl's Court, had become a world-famous venue for those on the 'leather scene', and Peter describes how the pub gradually evolved into a totally gay venue, with the 'leather-men', with their motorbikes parked outside, all standing on one side of the pub and everyone else on the other.

Peter also remembers one man, dressed in leather biker-gear and carrying a helmet, catching the bus home since he didn't actually have a bike. There was also a 'cottage' near the Coleherne which, Peter remembers, was notorious for all sorts of sexual activity. He attended private parties both at home and abroad, and was also a regular visitor to London's ostensibly straight bath-houses, now mostly gone, where gay men would meet for sex. Consequently, there were a great many cases of sexual transmitted disease, like gonorrhoea, syphilis, non-specific urethritis or NSU, and, as Peter describes, the 'famous' crabs. These necessitated a visit to the 'Clap Clinic', where, Peter recalls, patients were only known by numbers and most of the medical staff were neutral and non-judgemental about the cases that came before them.

Born in 1936 to parents of Italian origin, Peter grew up in London. From an early age he was attracted to older men and was having sex with them from the time he was 12. Neither Peter nor his older lovers associated with 'rent-boys', nor did Peter have any sexual encounters with any of his school-friends.

During the latter part of the 60s, Peter who went to the Central School of Arts & Crafts, as it was then called and now called Central Saint Martins, dressed in hippy clothes and had long hair, but remained disengaged from the liberation movements that were emerging at the time.

He became interested in the 'leather-scene' that was centred on the Coleherne pub in Earl's Court and in the early 1990s was a co-founder of Bearhug, a club that catered for husky, hirsute men and those who admired them. His partner is David, whose skills as an accountant, are greatly appreciated by other members of the club.