How I've lived with HIV for the last 35 years

KEVIN KELLAND HAS LIVED A NORMAL LIFE DESPITE 1980S DIAGNOSIS

- EVE WATSON

A CITY man has described how he has been living with HIV for 35 years.

Kevin Kelland, now aged 70, received a message from a lover in 1986 declaring that he was HIV positive.

He took a test, which came back negative. But after reading an article about AIDS, he decided to get another - and this time it was positive.

Kevin initially only told a select group of people, but later came out about his sexuality and having HIV.

He said: “I was always half in and half out with HIV. Then I came out and gradually grew; it's like little steps. It's like putting your feet in the water and seeing how deep you can go, and now I'm a fully out person with HIV."

Kevin was working as a photographer when he was first diagnosed.

He said: "When I had to come into work and tell them I had HIV, I thought they'd run a mile. But, do you know, they stuck by me, and that was so important in those days.