In 1985 Dave Sinclair was staff photographer for The Militant newspaper. In Liverpool to photograph the school strike against Margaret Thatcher’s Tory government’s Youth Training Scheme, Dave took pictures of the thousands of students, and their homemade placards and banners on a protest that was enthusiastic, boisterous, very funny and good humoured. “There were speeches back at the pier head,” one former pupil who was there recalls, “but I can’t remember a single one of them. I was just filled with the feeling that being on strike was far better than being in school.”
Like many places in the UK, Liverpool in the 1980s was a time of turmoil and upheaval. Unemployment and economic instability led to widespread disquiet which culminated in public shows of resistance.
Dave took pictures of British kids playing on the streets of Belfast, Newcastle, London and Bradford. The way they look at the camera, and by way him, shows his skill in letting them be. As with all the best journalism, Dave’s pictures show rather than tell. The result are photographs full of warmth. These are the carefree days of youth, when your only responsibility was to get out and have fun with your friends.
Dingle lads, Liverpool
We’re prints of Dave Sinclair’s wonderful photographs in the shop. You can see a selection of them here.
If like to own one of the photographs in this gallery as a print, please get in touch.
The school strikers
Leeds Liverpool Canal, early 80’s
Boys on Grifters in Vauxhall
Joe on anti poll tax demo in Glasgow 1988 Joe McLaughlin, of Kling Klang and other discordant, electronic Liverpool bands.
After watching the Tate and Tate & Lyle, factory demolition, Vauxhall, Liverprool
Smoking in Croxteth
Boy playing cricket in Bradford, 1987
Hanging out in Liverpool 8
Girls in Anfield, Liveprool
Boys collecting bonfire wood in Liverpool
Playing in Fontenoy Gardens
In the park in Brixton, London in 1986
Newcastle 1982
Belfast 1987
4 boys on a VW Beetle, Vauxhall Rd area, Liverpool early 80’s
We’re prints of Dave Sinclair’s wonderful photographs in the shop. You can see a selection of them here.
If like to own one of the photographs in this gallery as a print, please get in touch.
Back of Princes Road, Liverpool
‘F off’ Walton – mid 1980s
Belfast 1980s
Kids in Dingle, Liverpoool – 1980s
In the fountain, late 1980s
Playing on the rubbles – Liverpool, 1980s
Belfast kids
4 boys by Tate & Lyle on Vauxhall Rd, Liverpool – early 80’s
Kids in Vauxhall, Liverpool
5 Everton girls, mid 1980s
Mobile shop, Croxteth, Liverpool
Norris Green – These boys had just built a bonfire and where sitting down to watch.
Belfast
Claudia Street, Liverpool
Toxteth, Liverpool
Liverpool
Boys on BMX bikes in Port Talbot – 1983
Liverpool
Shadwell, East London in the mid 1980s
School strike in Liverpool
Kids on the school strike in Liverpool
All images copyright of Dave Sinclair.
We’re prints of Dave Sinclair’s wonderful photographs in the shop. You can see a selection of them here.
If like to own one of the photographs in this gallery as a print, please get in touch,
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