Michael Groce
Encyclopedia
Michael Groce is a poet
, community worker and former criminal. His name is remembered by many in connection with the Brixton riots of 1985
when his mother, Cherry Groce, was shot by police during a dawn raid on her home. He is now a published poet, having won the Cheltenham Poetry Prize, and actively engages with young people to inform them of his own experiences.
in Vauxhall
, England
. Much of his early life was spent in residential care. He was involved with street gangs, and had been exposed to gun
s from his childhood. He fluttered in and out of prison
- through his life, he accrued 50 convictions and 15 different spells in prison.
Following this incident, Groce fled his mother's house, and took up residence with his sister. After three days of hiding, when he turned on the television
, he was presented with a picture of his mother accompanying a news story about her shooting and subsequent paralysis
from the waist down. She had been shot in a police raid in search of him.
Her shooting triggered the riots
. Groce handed himself in to the police shortly afterwards.
team, trying to provide a fun alternative to crime. However, he was not entirely reformed: he continued to deal in cocaine
and commit other crimes while ostensibly doing public service
. It was not until he was confronted with a rebellious teenager, whose despairing mother had asked Groce to talk with, that he made a commitment to abstain from all criminality.
He now runs poetry, personal development and motivational workshop
s in schools, and gives talks to dissuade others from making mistakes similar to those he made.
. He wrote poetry in prison, often at the request of other inmates to send in letters to partners or family. He won the Cheltenham Festivals
, and owns his own performance club.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, community worker and former criminal. His name is remembered by many in connection with the Brixton riots of 1985
Brixton riot (1985)
The Brixton riot of 1985 started on 28 September in Lambeth in South London.It was the second major riot that the area had witnessed in the space of four years....
when his mother, Cherry Groce, was shot by police during a dawn raid on her home. He is now a published poet, having won the Cheltenham Poetry Prize, and actively engages with young people to inform them of his own experiences.
Early biography
Michael Groce was brought up in Tinworth House, on a rough housing estateHousing estate
A housing estate is a group of buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Accordingly, a housing estate is usually built by a single contractor, with only a few styles of house or building design, so they tend to be uniform in appearance...
in Vauxhall
Vauxhall
-Demography:Many Vauxhall residents live in social housing. There are several gentrified areas, and areas of terraced townhouses on streets such as Fentiman Road and Heyford Avenue have higher property values in the private market, however by far the most common type of housing stock within...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Much of his early life was spent in residential care. He was involved with street gangs, and had been exposed to gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
s from his childhood. He fluttered in and out of prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
- through his life, he accrued 50 convictions and 15 different spells in prison.
Role in the riots
A few days before the riots, Michael Groce was involved in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend. In frustration, he fired a gun. Shortly afterwards, he heard a knocking on the door, and went down to answer it, believing it to be a neighbour complaining about the gunshot. Instead, he found a police officer, enquiring if he was Michael Groce. Groce attempted to close the door, but the police officer would not let him, and only left after Groce put the gun into the officer's mouth.Following this incident, Groce fled his mother's house, and took up residence with his sister. After three days of hiding, when he turned on the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, he was presented with a picture of his mother accompanying a news story about her shooting and subsequent paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
from the waist down. She had been shot in a police raid in search of him.
Her shooting triggered the riots
Brixton riot (1985)
The Brixton riot of 1985 started on 28 September in Lambeth in South London.It was the second major riot that the area had witnessed in the space of four years....
. Groce handed himself in to the police shortly afterwards.
Community work
Following the riots, Michael Groce attempted to help the community recover - he ran a youth footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team, trying to provide a fun alternative to crime. However, he was not entirely reformed: he continued to deal in cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and commit other crimes while ostensibly doing public service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
. It was not until he was confronted with a rebellious teenager, whose despairing mother had asked Groce to talk with, that he made a commitment to abstain from all criminality.
He now runs poetry, personal development and motivational workshop
Workshop
A workshop is a room or building which provides both the area and tools that may be required for the manufacture or repair of manufactured goods...
s in schools, and gives talks to dissuade others from making mistakes similar to those he made.
Poetry
Groce is also a poetPoet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. He wrote poetry in prison, often at the request of other inmates to send in letters to partners or family. He won the Cheltenham Festivals
Cheltenham Festivals
]Cheltenham Festivals is a registered charity that organises four festivals every year in the spa town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: the Jazz, Science, Music and Literature. In addition to this it promotes the use of several venues for private and commercial use ]Cheltenham Festivals is a...
, and owns his own performance club.