The kindness of strangers: drunk, alone and lost, a legendary drag queen helped me get home safe | Life and style

I grew up within the English countryside, watching Queer as Folks on TV and dreaming concerning the day I’d transfer to the town and get to be a part of the homosexual world. At age 18, within the mid-noughties, I packed up and left for Manchester, transferring into the college halls of residence. I used to be thrilled.On my first night time out, I went to a well-liked homosexual membership night time and acquired stupendously drunk. The college halls have been solely a five-minute stroll away, however I used to be alone. Round 2am, I discovered myself propped in opposition to a wall exterior a takeaway, unable to recollect find out how to get again to my mattress.Recognizing me in hassle, Nana, who was lovingly often known as the oldest drag queen in Manchester, got here as much as me and requested: “‘Are you OK, hen?”Nana was a Manchester establishment. She had campaigned quite a bit in the course of the HIV/Aids disaster within the Eighties and 90s. Within the 2000s she’d typically present up late at night time at hand ice blocks out to drunk younger partiers to assist sober them up. She’d say: “Right here’s one thing to suck on, boys,” which made everybody snort.I instructed Nana I lived on the college, however that I’d simply moved right here and didn’t know the place I used to be going. With out hesitation, she replied: “Come on love, let’s get you dwelling.”Nana escorted me again, acquired me safely into my room, tucked me into mattress and noticed herself out. All of this, wearing drag. Her parting phrases have been: “Nana loves you – now watch out.”Trying again now, I can see how a lot of a weak scenario I had put myself in, as an 18-year-old in an unfamiliar surroundings. However Nana, who was most likely in her early 60s at that time, took me beneath her wing. She acquired me dwelling safely then simply disappeared, like a homosexual fairy godmother.Nana died about three years in the past. Canal Avenue, the homosexual strip in Manchester, successfully went into mourning. Nana had touched so many lives however it wasn’t till after she handed and all of us began buying and selling tales of what Nana had carried out for us that we realised how great she actually was. For years there had been this fabulous individual within the background who was taking care of her neighborhood however not anticipating any thanks for it. Vale Nana.What’s the nicest factor a stranger has ever carried out for you?Share your experienceWhat’s the nicest factor a stranger has ever carried out for you?From making your day to altering your life, we wish to hear about  likelihood encounters which have caught with you. Your responses, which might be nameless, are safe as the shape is encrypted and solely the Guardian has entry to your contributions. We’ll solely use the info you present us for the aim of the characteristic and we are going to delete any private information once we now not require it for this objective. For true anonymity please use our SecureDrop service as a substitute.Present moreIf you’re having hassle utilizing the shape click on right here. Learn phrases of service right here and privateness coverage right here