Meet the Committee / Lorna McArdle

When did you become a committee member?
I joined Reading Pride in January 2004.

What other volunteering work have you done?
I used to play trumpet in a band travelling the country; I played as a child to adult where I went on teach music and dance, to them. As well as be director of that too. I did this for over 25 years.

When/Where did you hear about Reading Pride?
I was googling and looking for placing to go in Reading when I came across an advert on one of the venues website wanting a web designer for Reading Pride. I had just gone freelance so this was an opportunity to keep learning and do something worth, while.

What have you done for Reading Pride in the past?
I have been Webmaster, Market Place Booking Administrator (and still am, unless someone would like the role), Media and Sponsorship. I have also attend diversity related programmes and training days.

What do you do for Reading Pride now?
My main role is chairperson so keeping the peace as nerves get frayed as we get nearer the day of pride. It’s been known as early as 2 month before the festival when people can feel the pressure. I have even got the meetings down to 1 and half hours and sometimes half hour on low season. I do quite a bit of community liaison as the role can mean meeting other diversity groups and networking. I don't mean just the LGBT groups but all diversity strands. I also take the bookings for the marketplace and invoicing in general.

How has volunteering for Reading Pride benefited your personal/professional development?
It's opened my eyes to see that I can achieve anything. Put the challenge in front of me and I'll be able to it. But don't make my challenge anything to do with heights, don't do heights.

Would you recommend volunteering for Reading Pride?
Absolutely, the rewards on the day of Pride you can't explain. When you look around the field and you see 1,000s of people walking around, having fun.

What is your best Reading Pride moment?
It was this year 2008. The day was almost over we were closing down. When I say hello to someone I had briefly met before and they thank me for a great day, as it was their first pride. They told me it was the first time they felt like it was ok to be able walk around outside with their partner. It felt right, they didn't feel they needed to pretend today they were straight because even if your out to family and friends you still feel that you can't be like other couples and hold hands, peck a kiss now and again like other couples, here you can. This is why I do Pride, it's because I feel the same way. It's a place where I can hold hands safely with my partner without the worry of confrontation.