We did this Interview with Zita, at Forest Gate, Durning Hall, October 2019 In 1997 my brother took me to my first A.A meeting because my husband and sons were getting fed up with me. My husband called my brother who lived in Surrey, I lived in East Ham. My brother drove up one Sunday … More Zita’s story.

I was born in 1942 in Sunderland. My father came from there, sadly he passed away in 1948 when I was six. When we moved to London, Custom House, my Mum was left with four children and later remarried and had two more kids. We lived in a two-up, two down-home. My aunt lived downstairs, … More Mick’s story.

My sobriety date is 31st March 1984, but, my first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting was in 1973.An American Psychiatrist 12 stepped me, his name has left me, he took me to the St Vedest lunchtime meeting in St Paul’s. I hadn’t eaten for days, washed or shaved. The bloke doing the chair said he drinks a … More Joe’s story

I was born in The London hospital, lived on Cable Street and went to Vallance Road School. Growing up I felt part of even as a sick child, in and out of hospital with asthma and eczema. I felt love and could do no wrong in my Mum’s eyes, who was a dinner lady and … More Harry’s story.

Being young was tough. Mum was a psychopath and hated me. She terrorised me. Sometimes she’d be ok, other times she’d be in a rage. It wasn’t a nice place for me and my two sisters, it was mental torture. The physical side stopped when I was big enough to stick up for myself, but … More ‘Fireman’ Tony

It was around February of 1982 I called Alcoholics Anonymous. I’m not sure where I got the number from, but I had it as during this this time my 4-year-old nephew was sick in and Whipps Cross Hospital and I needed to drink to visit a child, a child I love; I knew I was … More Chris’ Story

My last drink up to today was Christmas Eve 1967. I used to be called ‘Young’ Peter. I dare not announce myself as Young Peter these days as the laughter will be too much for me. I believe I was always an alcoholic, growing up in a drinking environment with an alcoholic mother and a … More ‘Young’ Peter’s story

All I knew about A.A was an uncle of mine was sober for a few years, we knew he needed A.A as he was mental with the drink. A family friend called Jimmy Mac had found A.A. and he came to twelve-step the whole family, once he started talking about God, we thought he’s gone … More Angie’s Story