A proud RAF veteran from Watford made a powerful statement when he laid a wreath to honour the LGBTQ+ community who served in the Armed Forces on Remembrance Sunday.
On Sunday, November 10, Bryan Timberlake, 91, became the first openly gay man to ever lay a wreath at Watford’s Remembrance Sunday parade.
Bryan is a member of Proud Watford, a group which aims to create an inclusive place without prejudice where self-expression is celebrated.
Bryan served in the RAF in the 1950s, and was one of two men who represented the Proud Watford group for the first time at the town’s parade last month.
A spokesperson for Proud Watford said: “This will be the first time LGBTQ+ people who defended and died for our country will be specifically remembered by Watford.”
Bryan said he was “very honoured” to represent people who “fought and died the same as everybody else”.
He added: “They should be recognised as much as anybody, if not more, because not only did they have to fight those battles, but had to fight their own battles as well.”
During his time in the RAF, Bryan took on a range of important duties including standing guard at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953.
After leaving the RAF, the Watford resident worked in a variety of roles including retail and hospitality.
He was also a drag performer under the name of Tina Lake, right up until the age of 85.
To find out more about Proud Watford visit www.proudwatford.com
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