Difference between revisions of "Clifford Williams"

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Williams studied History and Social Anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, [[University of London]], graduating with First Class Honours <ref> His first published work was "Asante: Human sacrifice or capital punishment? An assessment of the period 1807–1874" in The International Journal of African Historical Studies. 21 (3): 433–441. doi:10.2307/219449. JSTOR 219449.(1988) </ref>. He then went to study Criminology at [[Trinity Hall, Cambridge]] ([[University of Cambridge]]) before embarking on research for a PhD based at the University of [[Bradford]] and doing part-time work for the Home Office Research Unit <ref> Phd Offenders and Victims of Crime 1997 . A copy is held in the [[Rotherham]] Archives </ref>.
 
Williams studied History and Social Anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, [[University of London]], graduating with First Class Honours <ref> His first published work was "Asante: Human sacrifice or capital punishment? An assessment of the period 1807–1874" in The International Journal of African Historical Studies. 21 (3): 433–441. doi:10.2307/219449. JSTOR 219449.(1988) </ref>. He then went to study Criminology at [[Trinity Hall, Cambridge]] ([[University of Cambridge]]) before embarking on research for a PhD based at the University of [[Bradford]] and doing part-time work for the Home Office Research Unit <ref> Phd Offenders and Victims of Crime 1997 . A copy is held in the [[Rotherham]] Archives </ref>.
  
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Williams served as a police officer from 1987-2012, witnessing a transformation of the police relations with lgbt peoples. An article published in the Journal of the Police History Society captures this remarkable turnaround <ref> Clifford Williams (2019) 'Gay men and the police 1950-2010' in the Journal of the Police History Society no 33 pp56-60 </ref>. While serving as a police officer Williams came out as [[bisexual]] and was the most senior ''out'' male officer marching at [[Brighton]] Pride in 2007 <ref> the first year Hampshire police officers were allowed to march in uniform at a Pride event </ref>. In 2025 part of Williams' research into police and gay men was published in the Journal Policing and Society <ref> A complete turnaround: police and gay men 1950–2010 https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2024.2437019 </ref>.
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Williams served as a police officer from 1987-2012, witnessing a transformation of the police relations with lgbt peoples. An article published in the Journal of the Police History Society captures this remarkable turnaround <ref> Clifford Williams (2019) 'Gay men and the police 1950-2010' in the Journal of the Police History Society no 33 pp56-60 </ref>. While serving as a police officer Williams came out as [[bisexual]] and was the most senior ''out'' male officer marching at [[Brighton]] Pride in 2007 <ref> the first year Hampshire police officers were allowed to march in uniform at a Pride event </ref>. In 2025 part of Williams' research into police and gay men was published in the Journal Policing and Society <ref> A complete turnaround: police and gay men 1950–2010 Williams, C. (2025) Policing and Society, 35(5), 624–645. </ref>.
  
 
Williams has documented the LGBT history of [[Hampshire]] in a booklet 'A Queer A-Z of Hampshire' <ref> Published in 2019, went into two editions in that year, and a third edition was published in 2024.The [[Bishopsgate Institute]] and Hampshire Record Office hold a copy </ref>.
 
Williams has documented the LGBT history of [[Hampshire]] in a booklet 'A Queer A-Z of Hampshire' <ref> Published in 2019, went into two editions in that year, and a third edition was published in 2024.The [[Bishopsgate Institute]] and Hampshire Record Office hold a copy </ref>.

Latest revision as of 13:06, 24 February 2026

Clifford Williams is a researcher and historian. Clifford grew up as a gay teenager in the London Borough of Sutton in the 1970s and discovered the London Gay Teenage Group in 1978 [1]. He wrote about that experience in his book 'Courage to Be' published by the Book Guild in 2021. The book is a comprehensive history of the early gay and lesbian youth groups in England (1967-1990) at a time when gay sex was still illegal for, or with, anyone under 21 years of age [2]. Whilst at school he joined the local Young Liberals and canvassed for the party at elections, including for Michael Steed. He was also a member of the Anti-Apartheid Movement and C.N.D. [3].

Williams studied History and Social Anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, graduating with First Class Honours [4]. He then went to study Criminology at Trinity Hall, Cambridge (University of Cambridge) before embarking on research for a PhD based at the University of Bradford and doing part-time work for the Home Office Research Unit [5].

Williams served as a police officer from 1987-2012, witnessing a transformation of the police relations with lgbt peoples. An article published in the Journal of the Police History Society captures this remarkable turnaround [6]. While serving as a police officer Williams came out as bisexual and was the most senior out male officer marching at Brighton Pride in 2007 [7]. In 2025 part of Williams' research into police and gay men was published in the Journal Policing and Society [8].

Williams has documented the LGBT history of Hampshire in a booklet 'A Queer A-Z of Hampshire' [9].

Clifford Williams giving a talk in Finsbury Library February 2020

Williams has given numerous presentations on lgbt history, both in person and online. Some of these presentations are available on You Tube [10].BBC Radio interviewed Williams about gay liberation on the 50th anniversary of the GLF [11]. In February 2024 Williams led a Mr George Lucas walking tour of the West End and Soho. His current research includes policing gay men 1950-2010 [12], the life of Gabriel D'esty (1895-1968) a gay man who lived in Bishop's Waltham, and the Southampton gay scene 1960-1999 [13].



References

  1. ↑ Interviewed 17 July 2017 for Voices for Heritage Project; interview recording held in Wessex Film and Sound Archive in Winchester https://archivescatalogue.hants.gov.uk/records/AV1637/1/S1/19
  2. ↑ https://www.gaystheword.co.uk/product-page/courage-to-be-organised-gay-youth-in-england-1967-1990-by-dr-clifford-williams
  3. ↑ On the Record deposited in the Bishopsgate Institute 5CR/3/6 Audio recording, video recording and transcript from an oral history interview with Clifford Williams, conducted as part of the 5 Cally Road project by On The Record (2020)
  4. ↑ His first published work was "Asante: Human sacrifice or capital punishment? An assessment of the period 1807–1874" in The International Journal of African Historical Studies. 21 (3): 433–441. doi:10.2307/219449. JSTOR 219449.(1988)
  5. ↑ Phd Offenders and Victims of Crime 1997 . A copy is held in the Rotherham Archives
  6. ↑ Clifford Williams (2019) 'Gay men and the police 1950-2010' in the Journal of the Police History Society no 33 pp56-60
  7. ↑ the first year Hampshire police officers were allowed to march in uniform at a Pride event
  8. ↑ A complete turnaround: police and gay men 1950–2010 Williams, C. (2025) Policing and Society, 35(5), 624–645.
  9. ↑ Published in 2019, went into two editions in that year, and a third edition was published in 2024.The Bishopsgate Institute and Hampshire Record Office hold a copy
  10. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ima9GZjw_Nw is an example of a recorded talk
  11. ↑ 50 years on since the formation of the Gay Liberation Front. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08v45nc (accessed 23.12.2024)
  12. ↑ Article in Policing and Society issue 5 2025
  13. ↑ https://godshousetower.org.uk/eventer/talk-capturing-southamptons-gay-scene-1960-1999-by-clifford-williams/edate/2025-08-24/
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