News / 14 Jan 2025
Illustration graduate discusses new comic on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row
BA (Hons) Illustration
BA (Hons) Illustration graduate, Anna Readman, discussed the launch of Re-Live’s ‘Coming Home #2’ comic with Kirsty Wark on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row, along with Re-Live’s writer and veteran, Karin Diamond, Corporal Ruth Birch and Private Julia Currey.
‘Coming Home’ is a veteran’s mental health comic anthology which shares true stories of UK military veterans’ mental health. Veterans work online with Re-Live to explore and adapt their often-traumatic stories into comics in a co-creative and therapeutic process. The work invites each veteran to develop their own narrative, and work with a professional cartoonist to realise it as a finished story.
‘Coming Home #2’ has an LGBTQ+ focus. Anna Readman who won the Observer/Faber graphic short story prize 2023, was selected to bring to life the story of Corporal Ruth Birch and Private Julia Currey who met while serving in the British Army in the 1980s, fell in love and began a secret relationship.
"How Anna portrayed our characters in comic form blew me away. We feel so humbled to tell our story despite it being so painful to tell."
Private Julia Currey on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row
"It was a joy and honour to illustrate Ruth & Ju's story. It is a harrowing tale, but filled with strength and courage whilst brimming with love and laugher, so it was a real special and important project to work on."
Anna Readman, BA (Hons) Illustration graduate
The release of the comic on 8 January 2025 coincided with the 25th anniversary of the lifting of the ‘gay ban’ in the Armed Forces on 12 January 2000. 'Coming Home #2' can be purchased here.