Join us for the launch of Silent Victims: Part One by Gary Millar!
In 1958 Thalidomide, marketed as a new ‘wonder drug’, was first used in the UK, promising relief from morning sickness for expectant mothers. It’s impact was devastating, leading to countless miscarriages and causing over 10,000 children to be born with a range of severe birth defects. Although it was withdrawn from the market in 1961, Thalidomide’s impact upon the lives tens of thousands of children and their families, who fought for decades for recognition and justice, continues to be felt to this day.
Silent Victims: Part One, focuses on the life of Margaret Marjorie Millar – Madge – a mother lost in the fog of the drug’s tragic legacy. Told through meticulously transcribed medical case notes and interwoven with deeply personal reflections from Madge’s son, Gary Millar, Silent Victims offers a raw yet factual exploration of Thalidomide’s impact through the lens of one family, and is a call to reflect on the untold stories of all of the silent victims of the Thalidomide Scandal.
Gary Millar, former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, has dedicated his life to helping others and turning adversity into positive action. Born in Scotland and raised in challenging circumstances, he overcame early hardships, including family tragedy and struggles with education, to build a successful career in Liverpool’s business and political landscape. As Lord Mayor from 2013 to 2014, he championed diversity and equality, raising nearly a million pounds for charitable causes supporting vulnerable children, the homeless, and cancer charities. Beyond politics, Gary co-owned Parr Street Studios, earned accolades for contributions to business and culture, and continues to support initiatives benefiting the care-experienced, people with disabilities, and others in need. His journey reflects resilience, compassion, and a lifelong commitment to ‘Paying It Forward.’
Published by Writing on the Wall
Writing on the Wall (WoW) believe in creativity, community, diversity, artistic excellence and social and economic justice. We are Liverpool’s longest-running writing festival. We celebrate and inspire creativity and writing in all its forms through inquiry, debate, performance and publishing. Our annual WoWFest brings together local audiences with the best local, national and international writers, artists and social commentators.
Doors open at 6pm, event starts at 6.30pm.
Location: The Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane Liverpool L1 3BT
Date: February 27, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm
Ends: 8:30 pm
Calling creatives, commissioners, health providers, community/voluntary sector organisations and individuals with lived experience connected to arts and health. Health inequities are on our doorstep – avoidable and unfair differences in health across the Liverpool City Region which, if left unaddressed, will only get worse, resulting in poorer health outcomes for the most vulnerable people in our region. Whilst these …
Date: March 18, 2025
10:00 am
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Writing on the Wall’s Pulp Idol 2025 Grand Final is Here! For seventeen years the Pulp Idol competition has uncovered the best new novelists the city of Liverpool has to offer and 2025 is no different. Many new novelists, including Ariel Khan (Raising Sparks, Bluemoose Books), James Rice (Alice and the Fly, Walk, Hodder and Stoughton …
Date: February 21, 2025
7:30 pm
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Join us for the launch of Silent Victims: Part One by Gary Millar! In 1958 Thalidomide, marketed as a new ‘wonder drug’, was first used in the UK, promising relief from morning sickness for expectant mothers. It’s impact was devastating, leading to countless miscarriages and causing over 10,000 children to be born with a range of severe …
Date: February 27, 2025
6:30 pm
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The Great War to Race Riots tour, delivered since our first Black History Month festival in 2016, explores anti-black race riots that occurred in Liverpool and other seaports across the country in 1919.
Date: October 6, 2024
11:00 am
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The Dorothy Kuya Walking Tour explores the impact of Dorothy Kuya's anti-racist activism in modern Britain as we explore the Liverpool and the L8 area.
Date: October 13, 2024
11:00 am
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We're thrilled to welcome Diane Abbott and Gary Younge to BHM 24 to discuss Diane's new book: A Woman Like Me
Date: October 23, 2024
7:00 pm
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Join us in remembering and celebrating the impact and legacy of sound system culture in Liverpool, with an evening of discussion, deejays and dancing. Featuring music from the original Strugglers' Sound System, from the days of The Frontline.
Date: November 23, 2024
6:30 pm
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