Liverpool HIV charity Sahir is launching a major public appeal to trace the families, friends and stories of five men remembered in its historic AIDS Memorial Quilts.

The quilts were lovingly made by friends and relatives during the height of the AIDS epidemic. But more than 25 years later, much of the history behind them has been lost.

PICTURES OF THE QUILTS BELOW

Now, ahead of World AIDS Day on 1 December 2026, Sahir is asking Merseyside — and beyond — to help find the people who knew and loved the men so their lives and stories can be properly remembered.

The five men are:

• Gary Crabtree – currently nothing more is known.

• John McNeight – currently nothing more is known.

• Gerard ‘Gerry’ Murphy – a hairdresser, born 19 February 1968. Gerry died on 29 March 1993, aged just 25.

• David Robert Brewer, known as ‘Bopper’ – born on 18 February. His quilt may have been made by friends called Dean and Graham, and there are indications he may originally have come from Wales.

• Eddie Boyne – 1960–1999.

All five men either came from Liverpool or died in the city.

Sahir Chief Executive Simon Harris said:

“These quilts have been packed away for years, but when you unfold them you realise immediately that they are not simply historical artefacts. They are people.

“Someone chose every photograph, every word and every stitch because they loved the person whose name is on that quilt.

“We know so little about some of these five men that, at the moment, we have little more than a name. I want to change that.

“Somewhere in Merseyside, and perhaps further afield, there will be brothers, sisters, cousins, old friends, former colleagues and neighbours who remember Gary, John, Gerry, Bopper and Eddie.

“We want their photographs. We want their stories. We want to know what made them laugh, where they worked, where they went out, who they loved and what they dreamed about.

“HIV history must never become simply a list of statistics. These were people with lives, families, friendships and futures. This World AIDS Day, we want to put the people back into the history.”

Sahir hopes to involve relatives and friends in its World AIDS Day 2026 commemorations, ensuring the five men are remembered for the lives they lived, rather than simply for the illness that took them.

Simon added:

“If you recognise one of these names — even if you think what you know is insignificant — please contact us. A nickname, a workplace, a pub they visited or the name of an old friend could be the piece of information that reconnects us with a family.

“Merseyside has an extraordinary memory. We are asking people to help us use it.”

Anyone with information about Gary Crabtree, John McNeight, Gerard ‘Gerry’ Murphy, David ‘Bopper’ Brewer or Eddie Boyne should contact Simon Harris at simon.harris@sahir.org.uk.

• Photographs of the five memorial quilts are attached to this press release.

• Simon Harris is available for media interviews about the appeal, the quilts,

• Sahir’s World AIDS Day plans and the importance of preserving Liverpool’s HIV and AIDS history.