Alan Clawley

Tributes paid to Birmingham author and community activist.

We were saddened to hear of the recent death of former Birmingham Press contributor Alan Clawley at the age of 74.

Brought up in Small Heath, Alan was lately a community activist in the Balsall Heath area wher he lived and a regular Green Party candidate in local elections. He will, though, be chiefly remembered for his unflagging support for the Brutalist school of architecture throughout the city and his championing of architect John Madin, whose biography he wrote in 2011. Alan spent his later years campaigning against the closure and demolition of the Central Library and much of the writing he did for us was on this topic.

So well-informed and passionate about the subject was Alan that even those who disagreed with him could respect his opinions, which seemed to be based around his core belief that buildings should be re-used rather than torn down. Once such piece from April 2016 is published here

Our sympathies are extended to Alan’s widow Hazel, his family and friends.