By now you will have heard the heartbreaking news that our beloved Alex Wheatle, author, playwright, screenwriter, columnist, DJ, activist, mentor, creative writing lecturer, ally, collaborator, father, husband and force of nature has joined the ancestors.
Born on 3rd January 1963 he passed suddenly, aged 62, on 16th March 2025. Alex, aka the Brixton Bard, was a Words of Colour Steering Advisory Group member for over 10 years, until his recent passing.
A co-conspirator in devising plans to support and sustain underrepresented writers, especially Black writers, he worked with us to inspire the next generation of readers and writers, hold mainstream publishers to account and collaborate with the independents.
His debut novel Brixton Rock was published to rave reviews in 1999. This was followed by East of Acre Lane, The Seven Sisters, Island Songs, Checkers, and The Dirty South, Home Girl, Cane Warriors and Crongton Knights, to name but a few. Alex has written no less than 18 books.
He inspired Academy Award winning director Steve McQueen to devote a whole film on his story as part of his acclaimed anthology series Small Axe, screened on BBC. McQueen said: “Alex Wheatle writes from a place of honesty and passion with the full understanding that change can only happen through words and actions.”
On Monday 24th March 2025, a 10-part comedy-drama Crongton, based on his best-selling novels, will launch on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer, written by award-winning writer and comedian Archie Williams Maddocks.
Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time who in a public statement said: “Alex has 26 years of legacy for you all to continue and enjoy by reading his novels, watch again the self titled episode from the Small Axe TV series and also watch the new upcoming Crongton TV series as he looks over us in spirit.”
As we are still in shock from our collective loss, we are planning a more detailed online and in person tribute to Alex.
Thank you all for your support, beautiful messages and condolences, showing just how extensively he touched your lives.