Drag queen retires to spend more time with family

Lady Wanda Why (centre) with fellow queens at her farewell show in Chester

A drag queen, who has been an integral part of a city's Pride movement, has retired after 21 years to spend more time with family.

Warren Lee Allmark, also known as Lady Wanda Why, has been entertaining in Chester and across the country since 2003.

During this time he established the Gender Blender LGBTQ+ night, which ran at Rosies nightclub every Tuesday from 2008 to 2024.

Warren said he created the club night to provide a safe space for people to enjoy a night out at a time when there were limited options in the city.

Lady Wanda Why raised funds for Chester Pride with her farewell show at St Mary's Creative Space in Chester

He said he was proud that Gender Blender had run for 16 years, going on to become the city's longest running club night.

The event was so popular it even expanded to other parts of the country.

It is a year of multiple changes for Warren as he retires Lady Wanda Why and also steps down as chair of the Chester Pride charity - which he will do after this year's event.

He has been chair since 2018 and is also one of the co-founders, having been a committee member since 2013.

Lady Wanda Why's farewell show involving a number of her fellow queens raised funds for the charity.

Warren Lee Allmark, seen here as Lady Wanda Why, is also stepping down as chair of Chester Pride

Wanda began life back in 2002, when Warren was working in a pub in Bangor, North Wales.

An act didn't show up and Warren offered to step in, leading to performances all over the country.

Warren said she had become a big part of his life, explaining that most people who saw him in the street called him Wanda.

"I find this a massive compliment", he added.

He said that as Wanda he had also become an "agony aunt", including when he switched to doing a weekly online performance via Facebook during the Covid pandemic.

Warren said people told him they really looked forward to the show as they were struggling due to having to isolate.

Reflecting on his retirement and stepping down from Chester Pride this year, Warren said: "As I approach 40, I feel I have earned my stripes and can sit back, allowing me to focus on other projects and my personal life.

"It is hard to leave something which has been a large part of my life for so long, but I will be passing the baton to the new director team at Chester Pride, which will enable them to continue to shape the future of Chester Pride."

He said he hoped now to be able to attend more family gatherings, which he had missed while constantly doing shows across the country.