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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