Towards the end of my drinking, I had a TV show on Sky, sang their 5-year-anniversary song, and had not long left the Cherry Bombz. The TV bosses mentioned getting deals with clothes shops, meaning free clothes, who wouldn’t like free clothes? Me! Because I can’t go and wear someone else’s because I’ll be invisible. … More Anita’ story

The story of the SSO and the London telephone office Just to let you all know, this is being updated. However, there had been a telephone helpline for alcoholics in London since 1948 – August 1948, to be precise – and from its humble beginnings grew the present-day service. The story really begins February 1948, … More History of London Telephone Office

In 1948 Alcoholics Anonymous of Great Britain got its first helpline, some believe it to be the first helpline in this country, it pre dated the Samaritans. How did this happen? I hear you shout….well, that was Bill H, the alcoholic Greengrocer, as he is called in A.A. comes of age. Bill was 12 stepped … More Bill H – The Alcoholic Greengrocer

My name’s Ken. I’m an alcoholic. I was born in Romford on a council estate with my brother. Our parents would take us on holiday to Clacton-on-Sea in a caravan. While other families went into the clubhouse at night, we would go to bed early, as my parents weren’t drinkers. I wasn’t interested in school, … More Ken’s story

I’m Alison, and I’m an alcoholic. I found out I have a nickname, ‘Spiky’ Alison, because of my hair, not my personality. On 30th June 2024, I will have 33 years of continuous sobriety. I came to A.A. with no hope. I came in after two years of trying on my own, and I spent … More ‘Spiky’ Alison’s story.

My sobriety date is January 2nd 1989. I made the phone call to A.A. on that day. Peter answered the phone. We had a chat; I don’t remember much, but he said he would have someone contact me, and someone did that night. He said he would come round, take me to a meeting tomorrow, … More Roger the Plum’s story.

My sobriety date is 1st January 1986. I always knew about A.A. I’ve no idea why, but I knew there was an A.A. and it wasn’t for me, because total abstinence just was not possible. My grandmother told me about alcoholism. She said that for an alcoholic, one drink is too many and a thousand … More Maxine’s story

My first encounter with Alcoholics Anonymous was in Bermondsey. I was 19 years of age, homeless and attending a day centre after a few suicide attempts. Alcohol has always been in my life; I found it released me from fear, took away my inhibitions. I thought it was freedom, but I became dependent on it.  … More Jimmy Mac’s story

In 1984, I was singing in a choir in Tipperary, and a friend of mine, a Franciscan friar and a drinking partner, stopped drinking. He had been going to Alcoholics Anonymous for the past three months, and he 12-stepped me. I stayed but only for three months because I suffered from another convenient disease: amnesia. … More Denis’ story

I was in a very bad state, mentally and emotionally and wanted to die; I was dying. I was useless to everyone around me, pushing them away. I come from a big family, and no one would come near me. I have learned a lot about that since. Speaking for meself, I was suffering from … More Kevin’s Story