A New Face for Leprosy at Colchester Library

The Colchester Library Exhibition

This October, the 'New Face for Leprosy' exhibition comes to Colchester library for a free, month-long public event. There is no need to book and tickets are not required.

In addition to the photographic exhibition, we will also be exhibiting artefacts from Lepra's archives, detailing the organisation's long history and achievements throughout the 20th century as we worked to improve the lives of people affected, and find new life-changing treatments for leprosy.

 

A New Face for Leprosy

The 'New Face for Leprosy' project, was conceived in 2019 by Emeritus Professor Diana Lockwood, to help challenge the myths and misconceptions behind this widely misunderstood disease. 

Together with photographer Tom Bradley, the project has visited Lepra's programmes in India and Bangladesh, to meet people affected by leprosy and record their inspirational real-life stories, as they seek to overcome the physical, social and emotional impact of their diagnosis.

Tom Bradley's intimate portraits help to reframe the aesthetic often associated with leprosy, instead sensitively portraying people affected as independent and empowered individuals who lead dignified and fulfilling lives, with the same hopes and aspirations we all share.

Tom explains:

I wanted to capture honest portraits…one of the foremost things was to photograph people as human beings before people affected by leprosy. Even if someone has a disability as a result of leprosy, the photos don’t always show that.

Sometimes the people photographed were diagnosed early and have absolutely no problems, which is a very important part of the story.

Event Talks

We will also be joined at 4pm on Wednesday 21 October 2026 by Lepra historian, Irene Allen who will lead an informative talk on the history of the charity titled, ‘From BELRA to Lepra’.

And for the children, during half-term week, on Friday 30 October, Irene will also be hosting a children’s storytelling session focussed on the novel, 'Maria’s Island' written by award winning author and Lepra Ambassador, Victoria Hislop. Beautifully illustrated by Gill Smith and published by Walker Books, the compelling story set in 1940’s Crete follows a family impacted by leprosy, examines the challenges they face, and how they overcome them.