Kathryn Bell obituary

"In 1976, Kathryn and her partner, Elsa Wallace Beckett, a wheelchair-user, set up Gemma, a support and social network in London for lesbians with disabilities, which went on to become a national group, with more than 100 members at its peak. Kathryn and Elsa were also involved in Action and Rights of Disabled People in Newham, east London, joining activities such as blocking the local high street in East Ham to draw attention to the lack of anti-discrimination legislation."

"Gay Authors Workshop was founded in 1978; Elsa and Kathryn joined other LGBTQ+ writers in shaping and running the group and regularly hosted meetings, which ended with a vegan buffet. Eventually, Kathryn became the GAW secretary, treasurer, newsletter editor and membership liaison. Kathryn was a fine writer of short stories and poetry. Examples of her work appear in anthologies, but she was more concerned with promoting Elsa's work and also encouraging and nurturing others with feedback and advice."

Kathryn Bell died aged 91. She co-founded Gemma in 1976 with Elsa Wallace Beckett, creating a London support network for lesbians with disabilities that became national. Kathryn and Elsa joined Action and Rights of Disabled People in Newham and ran Docklands Drop In providing activities and outings. They helped run Gay Authors Workshop from 1978; Kathryn later served as secretary, treasurer, editor and membership liaison. She wrote short stories and poetry and helped found Paradise Press in 1999, which has published over 40 books. Born in Glasgow, she moved to Northern Rhodesia in 1951, became a police officer, won a bravery award and in 1959 became the first female inspector.

Read at www.theguardian.com