Anthony Joseph Lloyd (Tony) was born in 1950 in Stretford to Sydney Lloyd, a lithographer, and Ciceley (nee Boatte), an administrative officer at the same printing company.
Throughout his life, Tony was first and foremost a family man. He was the fourth of five children and was known affectionately to his family as ‘Joe’, a name passed down over generations.
Tony’s educational journey began at Moss Park and Seymour Park Primary Schools before he progressed to Stretford Grammar School, where his academic talent quickly became evident. He excelled in his studies, earning high grades and receiving several academic awards. Beyond the classroom, Tony was a choir boy and participated in the 17th Stretford (1st Lostock) Scout group as a Cub and St Bride’s in Old Trafford.
Tony grew up in a household deeply engaged in politics and social justice. His family were ardent supporters of Manchester United, but their passion extended far beyond football. His parents were politically active—his father, Sydney, was a dedicated trade unionist, and Tony grew up listening to lively family debate about the Government of the day, party politics and trade union activity. His paternal uncle, Willy, lost his life in the Gallipoli Campaign during the First World War.
Tony’s mother, Ciceley, and her sister played a role in the historic Kinder Scout mass trespass of 1932, a defining moment in the campaign for public access to the countryside. She also lost friends in the Spanish Civil War, a conflict Tony later described as a “simple battle of good versus evil,” shaping his belief in the fundamental morality of politics: “If not fighting for what’s right and just, then what is politics for?”
Public service runs in the family. Tony’s maternal aunt, Florence, and her husband, Jack, were influential figures in local government, serving as Councillors and later Aldermen on the Great Grimsby Borough Council—honoured in 1990 with the naming of Franklin Sixth Form College. His sister, Viv, followed a similar path, serving as a Councillor in York, Lead Member for Housing, and later as Deputy Leader. Members of the family continue to contribute to public service.
When Tony was just 13, his father Sydney passed away, leaving Ciceley as the guiding political force in his life. Inspired by her influence, he joined the Labour Party at 14, actively campaigning in the 1964 General Election—his first steps into a lifelong commitment to politics and social change.
Tony Lloyd 