Alex was a hugely talented author who channelled his life experience through his writing and his activism, and became a powerful voice for the people of Lambeth and for the black community as a whole.
He leaves a rich legacy, including his children’s writing and the award-winning Crongton series, read and loved by young people around the world. He also worked hard throughout his career to support educational initiatives targeted at young people.
Alex will also be remembered for his fearless work condemning injustices, including the Windrush scandal. As a survivor of abuse while in the care system in Lambeth, he courageously spoke out about the systematic abuse that he and many others suffered, notably at the council-run Shirley Oaks children’s home.
Word from the Cabinet
Lambeth Council’s Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, said: “It is devastating to hear of the loss of Alex Wheatle. He was a giant of storytelling and a formidable and authentic voice for his community.
“Alex was a hugely successful, trailblazing author who never forgot where he came from. He remained a campaigner to the end – raising awareness of prostate cancer, particularly among Black men, and urging the government to introduce a prostate cancer screening programme.
“He will be sorely missed; we offer our sincere condolences to all Alex’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
Many of Alex’s novels – and the episode named for him in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe TV series – are based on his early life. That included being a founding member of the Crucial Rocker sound system and a short prison stay for involvement in the 1981 Brixton uprising, where he discovered his love for literature and coined the name ‘The Brixton Bard’. His debut novel Brixton Rock earned him the London Arts Board New Writers Award in 1999.
He had often worked with Lambeth Libraries since that first book in the 1990s, including book launches and meet the author sessions, Black History Month readings and talks to school groups. Lambeth hosted his one-man performance piece Uprising and a reading of Cane Warriors with accompaniment from Rasta drums, and the launch of his memoir – Sufferah – at Brixton Library to a sell-out crowd, accompanied by favourite tunes from his extensive reggae collection.
He was awarded an MBE for services to literature in 2008. News of Alex’s death comes just days before a BBC adaptation of his Crongton books begins.
