Tony Grogan

Tony Grogan, a founder member of the 1 in 12 Club passed away on 12 January 2026. He died peacefully after several days being cared for by the wonderful staff at the Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford. Chris, the love of his life was by his side to the end.

From everyone at the 1 in 12 Club we send our sincerest condolences to Chris and Tony’s family.

His passing is a huge loss to Chris, family and of course everyone who knew him.

Tony was a huge influence on many of us who got to know him through our involvement with the 1 in 12 which he described as “family aside, the most important thing in his life.” Despite his illness he continued to support the club and everyone who had its best interests at heart and endeavoured to help as much as he was able right to the end, attending meetings last year about the renovation and refurbishment of Albion Street last year.

Tony preferred to work quietly, and in the background. He absolutely hated the limelight and being subject to any public attention. He shaped the democracy of the 1 in 12, was responsible for the club constitution and negotiated the application for a registration certificate for Albion Street despite determined police opposition.

Tony was the driving force behind 1 in 12 Publications, Knee Deep in Shit magazine and the published investigations into Bradford Freemasons, The Economic League, and Eric Pickles, the then leader of the Council.[1] Everything he did was always impeccably researched and carefully presented and the impact on local (an on occasion national) politics was profound.

He was integral to coordinating the Clubs’ solidarity and support for the Miners in 1984 and the 1 in 12 publications first book was Striking Stuff, a book of poetry by miners’ wife Jean Gittins to raise money for the NUM Solidarity Fund.[2] 

Tony was integral to the creation of the Club Library, the trip to Spain, Reclaiming May Day, numerous WEA evening classes, the club website. His influence is impossible to describe.

He demanded high standards from all of us and had high expectations of what we could all achieve together through the Club. And yet he was always encouraging and supportive of everyone who tried to make the club the best it could be. That approach and its ambition ensured we achieved mighty things. Albion Street will forever be a testament to his importance. I think it’s fair to say that the club would not have started, developed, survived, and thrived without his influence, inspiration and example.

Tony Grogan – Thank you for what you gave all of us. You will be greatly missed.

KSL Notes

1, The comrades at The Sparrows’ Nest have digitised: An issue of Knee Deep In Shit (1985) 
https://www.thesparrowsnest.org.uk/collections/public_archive/11879.pdf  
Doing Business : A Mischief-Makers Handbook by Dirk Spig (1 in 12 Publications, 1987). https://www.thesparrowsnest.org.uk/collections/public_archive/705.pdf 
Against Democracy : The True Story of the Economic League - 1919-Present Day by Spig
(1 in 12 Publications, 1988). https://www.thesparrowsnest.org.uk/collections/public_archive/13106.pdf 

2, See https://libcom.org/article/striking-stuff-jean-gittins