Barry Duke

Life and career

Born in apartheid South Africa, Duke began writing as a trainee journalist in his teens for The Springs Advertiser in 1964. After completing a course in photojournalism in 1967, he moved to The Star (South Africa) newspaper in Johannesburg working as an investigative journalist and The Star's chief court reporter. In 1973, Duke moved to the UK, where he continued to write anti-apartheid pieces for Argus Newspapers (now Independent News and Media). In 1974 Duke joined publishing company Broadstrood Press whilst beginning to write regularly for The Freethinker. Leaving publishing in 1980, Duke began working as a public relations executive for British Transport Hotels. When the company was privatized, Duke left in 1983 to work for Citigate Publishing and pursue freelance work. In 1996, Duke left Citigate to look after a terminally ill partner, but continued to write freelance. In 1997, Duke took over as the interim editor of The Freethinker, following the death of previous editor Peter Brearey. After six months, Duke was confirmed as the editor, and remains so to this day.

Activism

Duke was involved in the Anti-Apartheid Movement and on arriving in the UK continued supporting the African National Congress.

Duke strongly opposed the Nationwide Festival of Light, and worked alongside The Freethinker and National Secular Society to try to counter its effects and influence. In 1979, Duke was a founding member of the Gay Humanist Group, (now Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association) after Mary Whitehouse began a private prosecution for blasphemous libel against Gay News (see Whitehouse v Lemon. After the founding of the Gay Humanist Group, Duke was very active in the promotion of gay and atheist rights and was also briefly the treasurer of the National Secular Society.