Jane recalls living two lives while working as a teacher in the Swinging 60s - when the climate of tolerance didn't always extend to the workplace.

Jane describes, in this short extract, the difficulties faced by homosexual teachers, even in the era of the Swinging 60s. Coming out at that time was inconceivable, impossible to even conceptualise, and lesbian teachers never came out to each other, let alone to other colleagues. Jane says one had to lead two distinct lives; the schoolteacher at work and the lesbian at home. On reflection, she sees this as wrong and ultimately damaging, as one cannot be a healthy person if one can't be that same person everywhere.

Today, Jane does know who she is and is very happy, but recognises that that isn't true for many other people. She also states that being inhibited regarding one's sexuality, meaning one had to hide one's own identity from others, meant many lesbian and gay teachers failed to live up to their true potential as educators. Jane also saw the same effect occurring in pupils who are also under immense pressure to remain closeted.

Regarding her relationship with Jacky, Jane observes that it was both 'terrifying and wonderful'. At first, she was scared of parental and social disapproval and reflects that all her efforts at concealment were a total waste of both time and energy. Even being seen going into the Gateways Club was a problem as there was always the risk that one of Jane's relatives, colleagues or straight friends might spot her in the nearby streets. Yet, once inside the club and the door was shut, the outside world no longer mattered.

Jane was born in 1945 to a family of shop keepers in London's Notting Hill. After passing her 11+, she attended a religious grammar school for girls. Becoming an atheist after a particularly annoying sermon, Jane decided to follow inclinations she already felt and develop her lesbian identity.

While studying at St Anne's College, Oxford, she met Jacky, who would become her life-long partner. After graduating Jane became a schoolteacher and lived with Jacky in both London and Oxfordshire. Together, they've published lesbian fiction under the pen name of Jay Taverner.

London's famous Gateways Club, which first opened to a bohemian clientele in the early 1930s, was located at 239 Kings Road. From the late 50s, Gina Ware, who was married to the original owner, ran the club. Always a popular 'night-spot' with gay people, the club became a women-only venue in 1967. Lesbians came from all over the country, and the world, to the Gateways Club and for many women their first visit to the 'Gates' was their first experience of the lesbian life.

The club and many of its regular clientele and staff also appeared in the 1968 feature film 'The Killing of Sister George' which starred Beryl Reid, Susannah York and Coral Browne.

During the late 70s and 80s, the 'Gates' still attracted butch and femme couples, which hard-ine feminists of the period loathed. Members of the Gay Liberation Front picketed the club and Gina, who wanted lesbian politics kept out of her club, asked the police to intervene. After many decades catering to the lesbian community the Gateways Club finally closed its doors to both public and members alike on Monday the 23rd of September 1985.