“Hi, my name is Rachel, and I have been a TV /CD /T-Girl for as long as I can remember, at least from my early teens (I’m now 70ish). Like most of us, I suppose I went through all the periods of self-doubt, purging of clothes and shoes, and all the other things we girls collect through life.

Eventually, a sense of self-acceptance sets in, and at least in my case, the enjoyment begins. Being married with children, I was dressing for only short periods of time, a matter of a few hours, very occasionally.

My wife knew about my little hobby. She never really understood but tolerated it, and when the children had left home, I could indulge a lot more. It wasn’t until the last few years of her life that she actually met Rachel, as I had become her full-time carer.

Now, I try to live in female mode as much as I can; it wasn’t until I attended a girl’s weekend at Chesterfield, after being encouraged to go by some very good friends I had met in Manchester and actually appeared in public as a woman that I realised the level of contentment it gave me.

I now attend every girls’ weekend I can; I go shopping and to restaurants with friends, both TV and real girls, who have been very supportive and encouraging of my efforts.

If I can help, support, and encourage any of the girls out there who are struggling to come to terms with their true selves, I would only be too happy to help even a little bit. We all need to express our inner true selves, even if it’s just dressing in the privacy of our own homes or making that first move to go out and socialise as a woman.”. Joining the Beaumont Society has been life-changing. The support and resources available have helped me embrace my true self.

Rachel Dee President

“Hi, I am Michelle, a committed crossdresser from glorious Devon. I’ve been dressing for more years than I care to remember, but Michelle was only “born” in 2008. Before that, my dressing up had been confined to the closet. Like so many others here, I spent many years with my guilty secret, thinking it was “just me”. The arrival of the internet opened my eyes to the world that the Beaumont Society supports, and I began to explore. I was very naive in those days – on the StockingsHQ website forums was one entitled “CD/TV Issues” – what, I puzzled, had compact discs and television got to do with stockings?!

Fortunately, I’ve come a long way since then, and I am happy to be able to use my professional qualification to support the Beaumont Society, its members and the trans community. My wife still finds it difficult to accept Michelle as a frequent presence around the house, but we get along together as long as I don’t use all her long hanging in the wardrobe for Michelle’s dresses! As Michelle, I try to dress to blend in, although, at 6’3”, I am always likely to stand out in a crowd. I’ve been a regular at Exeter’s Southwest Girls group since 2008, and I am happy to be out and about as Michelle and always get a positive reaction in the shops in the southwest.

I haven’t managed to get to many girls’ weekends – they seem to clash with my choirs or with holidays – but I’m hoping to get to more now I’ve taken on the role of treasurer. Sadly, Michelle doesn’t get to go on holiday – too much extra stuff – but she has turned up at choir several times, and I have the perfect black outfit if she is ever brave enough to perform in a concert.

I love Michelle’s time and the chance to experiment with the colours that are so absent from menswear clothes racks, and I find that it leaves me feeling inwardly relaxed. I hope that by being involved with Beaumont Society, I can help others to feel safe being who they want to be and help to achieve wider acceptance of us in society”.

Michelle Devon Treasurer

“My name is Andrea Brookes, and I am the Pride Events Liaison and Political lead for the Beaumont Society.  I am a trans-woman and have lived full-time since early 2020, enjoying life as my authentic self.  During this time, I have enjoyed the experience of learning the best way to be and to present the woman I am; I have also derived enormous satisfaction from meeting so many other trans people on my travels around the South of England, visiting as many of the events and venues that happen in this area of the country.  I have met many wonderful people and pride myself in having been able to help some of them come to appreciate their true selves.  And that is one of the reasons I joined the Beaumont Society.

I have worked in the IT industry for my entire working life – I am not going to say just how long that is – and fully appreciate the way that modern technology can improve our lives, but also how much of a barrier it can be at times.  However, I feel that the ability that it provides for us to communicate between ourselves at all times and without needing us to travel to meet up somewhere are tremendous benefits that do outweigh the problems that it may cause at times.

I passionately believe that education is the only way of getting people to understand the issues that we, as transgender people, face on a daily basis, and I actively seek out opportunities to address organisations and groups to try to illustrate some of these issues and to show others that we are just ordinary people trying to live our own lives in the best way we can.  There is no right way to be transgender; everyone is an individual, and labels are really not that useful. Trying to help people come to terms with this and to help them overcome any guilt they may be feeling is important to me, especially when there seem to be so many critical comments sent our way”.

Andrea Brookes Pride and Political Liaison Lead

“I am Karen Barrie, a Trans girl from Scotland, and I am the Membership Secretary of the Beaumont Society, which is a rather meteoric rise to an elevated position, as it were because I only joined two years ago.

I had heard about the Beaumont Society some years ago as a young T-Girl but got the impression that it was for old, boring people who liked knitting and gardening. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Since joining, I have attended so many wonderful weekends away, seeing cities I had never been to before and enjoying the nightlife in these vibrant places enormously, visiting nightclubs and pubs as my authentic self. Liverpool is, without doubt, my favourite venue, a wonderful, welcoming city, followed closely by York.

However, I would never have been able to do so if it hadn’t been for the support of the many wonderful new friends I have made within the Society. It’s quite an amazing club to be a part of!

Why don’t you contact me to find out more about the countless benefits and support, both personally and socially, that you will encounter as a member?”

Karen Barrie Membership Secretary

My name is Karen Cobham. I am the Scottish contact for members seeking

information though my brief also covers Northern Ireland and Eire.

In addition I’m a member of the One Voice committee, currently assist in the preparation of the

Beaumont Magazine, organise the society weekend scheduled for May 2025, hold small events for Beaumont members and

help run a number of other trans groups. In my spare time ….!

I regard myself as non binary though I prefer to present en-femme. If that’s not appropriate it’s not a big deal. Throughout

my life I’ve always known that I was a bit “different” but I’ve always found that easy to accept and to adapt according to circumstances.

I suppose that the only real issue was that I could never enter a long term relationship without my prospective partner knowing and loving me for what I am.

So I’m extremely fortunate in having found my soul mate some thirty years ago and have a wide circle of trans friends. Much of the latter is due to my membership of the

Beaumont Society which I joined in 2020. I’d retired the previous year and, as most of the events I’d attended in the past had now ceased, found myself at a loose end.

I was immediately warmly welcomed and I can now honestly say that the majority of my closest and dearest friends are members.

Some are girls who had never been outside their own homes before but have now blossomed; a hugely rewarding experience.

Karen Cobham Scotland RC

about the beaumont society

The Beaumont Society is a charitable organisation dedicated to supporting the transgender community. Founded in 1966, our mission is to provide a safe and inclusive space for transgender individuals to connect, share experiences, and access vital resources. We aim to promote understanding and acceptance of transgender people through education, advocacy, and community outreach. Our efforts have had a profound impact on the lives of many, helping to foster a more inclusive and supportive society.