British Kids in The 1980s – Brilliant Photographs of Carefree Days

Dave Sinclair's fantastic photographs of children playing on the streets in 1980s Britain

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.

 

British kids in the 1980s

Dingle lads, Liverpool

British kids in the 1980s

 

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.

 

Liverpool School Strike 1985 YTS

The school strikers

British kids in the 1980s

British kids in the 1980s

Leeds Liverpool Canal, early 80’s

British kids in the 1980s British kids in the 1980s

British kids in the 1980s

Boys on Grifters in Vauxhall

British kids in the 1980s

Joe on anti poll tax demo in Glasgow 1988 Joe McLaughlin, of Kling Klang and other discordant, electronic Liverpool bands.

British kids in the 1980s

After watching the Tate and Tate & Lyle, factory demolition, Vauxhall, Liverprool

British kids in the 1980s

Smoking in Croxteth

 

British kids in the 1980s

Boy playing cricket in Bradford, 1987

British kids in the 1980s

Hanging out in Liverpool 8

British kids in the 1980s

Girls in Anfield, Liveprool

British kids in the 1980s

Boys collecting bonfire wood in Liverpool

British kids in the 1980s

Playing in Fontenoy Gardens

British kids in the 1980s

In the park in Brixton, London in 1986

British kids in the 1980s

Newcastle 1982

British kids in the 1980s

Belfast 1987

British kids in the 1980s

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.

 

British kids in the 1980s

Back of Princes Road, Liverpool

British kids in the 1980s

‘F off’ Walton – mid 1980s

British kids in the 1980s

Belfast 1980s

British kids in the 1980s

Kids in Dingle, Liverpoool – 1980s

British kids in the 1980s

In the fountain, late 1980s

British kids in the 1980s

Playing on the rubbles – Liverpool, 1980s

British kids in the 1980s

Belfast kids

British kids in the 1980s

4 boys by Tate & Lyle on Vauxhall Rd, Liverpool – early 80’s

4 boys by T&L on Vauxhall Rd,early 80's

Kids in Vauxhall, Liverpool

4 boys by T&L on Vauxhall Rd,early 80's

5 Everton girls, mid 1980s

4 boys by T&L on Vauxhall Rd,early 80's

Mobile shop, Croxteth, Liverpool

4 boys by T&L on Vauxhall Rd,early 80's

Norris Green – These boys had just built a bonfire and where sitting down to watch.

Norris Green These boys had just built a bonfire and where sitting down to watch.

Belfast

Norris Green These boys had just built a bonfire and where sitting down to watch.

Claudia Street, Liverpool

Norris Green These boys had just built a bonfire and where sitting down to watch.

Norris Green These boys had just built a bonfire and where sitting down to watch.

Toxteth, Liverpool

Norris Green These boys had just built a bonfire and where sitting down to watch.

Liverpool

Norris Green These boys had just built a bonfire and where sitting down to watch.

Boys on BMX bikes in Port Talbot – 1983

Norris Green These boys had just built a bonfire and where sitting down to watch.

Liverpool

Norris Green These boys had just built a bonfire and where sitting down to watch.

Shadwell, East London in the mid 1980s

Livepool kids

School strike in Liverpool

On the school strike in Liverpool

Kids on the school strike in Liverpool

British kids in the 1980s

 

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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