AIDS Memorial sculpture – New Steine Gardens The cast bronze AIDS Memorial Sculpture situated in New Steine gardens stands four metres high. It depicts two intertwined figures, one male figure and one androgynous figure, soaring up towards the sky. The sculpture which forms a shadow in the shape of the red ribbon was unveiled by Mr David Furnish on the 9th October 2009.  Artist & sculptor Romany Mark Bruce said:   “My starting point was the internationally recognised Aids ribbon, perhaps not original but poignant. My idea was for two figures, touching at the base as their paths crossed, soaring upwards, intertwining, with no certainty if they would meet again. Many of those affected by HIV and Aids in Brighton is the result of the union of two men, but the disease is not confined to gay men. Two figures would represent all those affected, one male, one genderless. My inspiration was memories of my friend Paul Tay who died of Aids in the 1990s. I wanted the Memorial to represent not only the tragedy of Aids but also hope for the future with the advancement of medical treatment.”

World AIDS Day 1996 – Brighton You can still see a World AIDS Day memorial in Brighthelm Gardens. It’s positioned at the base of a silver birch tree adjacent to the entrance doors on the North Road side. The plaque was unveiled on the 01 December 1996, in the presence of people with and affected by HIV, and representatives from local community groups and charities.