Life will, on occasions, remind us how we impact and touch each other.
Last evening, I had spent after work drinks with two colleagues and in our talking recalled to them how the 1980’s was a particularly significant time on the London gay scene. I described how a documentary made at the time; ‘Framed Youth’, captured the politics and connectedness that provided a strong sense of identity and community.
My efforts to explain what that time was like were no longer needed for within seconds a mobile phone was produced and suddenly ‘Framed Youth’ was there in the bar with us capturing the period so well. Faces and voices including my own from that time came alive again and for me it could have been just yesterday.
One of the faces from that time and from that documentary has always filled me with happiness and wonderful memories was the face of Royce Ullah. Seeing him once again, the recall and experience was none the less and just as powerful. I left the bar, came home very much with him and that period forefront in my mind.
Royce was still on my mind a little later when I logged on to check my messages and was stopped short as there was Royce once again looking out at me from the screen. His photo along with a tribute had been posted just moments before. Yes, Royce had completed his life on this earth and had died.
The many comments and tributes the post enabled were beautiful, moving and such a powerful reminder of how some people touch us deeply, not just in the moment, but across decades. Royce was, and in many ways continues to be, one of those people. I was 21 when we met and could never have imagined at that time I would be here, in the early hours of another day, almost 4 decades later writing and thinking of him in this way.
I was going to say that we are all less without Royce, but no, that is not correct. We are all more because of Royce and the way that he touched our lives and continues to do so.
Royce was gentle, kind, warm and generous with his ability for fun and laughter. He was also powerful and magical. In his presence you were able to sense his confidence,self belief and peace of mind. Royce was and remains a beautiful soul and he touched many with all that he was.
Today, l too will touch and impact on others lives. Will I do so in a way that will cause me to be remembered and still present even after my passing, maybe not. But Royce has reminded me and is reminding me to be more conscious of this fact and I am so grateful to him for that and of course for all his beauty and spirit.
Br Stephen Morris fcc
