Together for ever
From decriminalisation and the Aids crisis to civil partnerships and equal marriage, Percy Steven, 78, and Roger Lockyer, 89, have seen it all — as a couple
AS TOLD TO: TIM HEAP / PHOTOGRAPHY: MARKUS BIDAUX
LIFETIME OF LOVE: Roger, left, and Percy
ERCY: I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in January 1939. Roger was born in England in November 1927. After growing up in my home country, I came to London to study in 1959, because it was the centre of the civilised world as far as acting — my profession — was concerned. Also, South Africa was under Apartheid at that time, making it intolerable.
We met in late February 1966 at a Sunday lunch hosted by a mutual friend. At the time, I was an actor while Roger was a university lecturer — both very tolerant professions. A friend of Roger, a distinguished music critic, came across me by chance when I was at a bit of a loose end, and he thought I might get on with Roger. But it wasn’t love at first sight, at least not on my side. Roger, however, knew from the outset that I was the person he would spend his life with. I was getting over an unhappy affair and didn’t want to be involved in a new one. In fact, I was considering returning to South Africa.