Remembering Alex Wheatle MBE: celebrated writer, lecturer and mentor

It is with deep sadness that Manchester Metropolitan University shares the news of the passing of Alex Wheatle MBE, Lecturer in Creative Writing. Alex passed away on 16 March 2025 after a courageous battle with prostate cancer.

Known to many as the ‘Brixton Bard’, Alex was one of the UK’s most important writers for children and young adults. His award-winning novels, including the Crongton series, brought to life the experiences of young people growing up in urban Britain. It is particularly poignant that the BBC’s adaptation of these novels, Crongton, will begin airing on 24 March.

Alex’s journey to becoming a writer was remarkable. After growing up in care and being imprisoned following the 1981 Brixton uprising, he discovered literature through a fellow inmate who introduced him to works by James Baldwin, CLR James and others. This transformative experience fueled a lifelong commitment to storytelling, social justice, and youth advocacy. His life was powerfully portrayed in Alex Wheatle, an episode in the BBC drama series Small Axe, which chronicled black resilience and triumph in London’s West Indian community and was directed by Oscar winner Steve McQueen.

Alex’s work was deeply embedded in Manchester Met’s community. His books are studied on English modules and his innovative use of dialect has been explored by the University’s Linguistics researchers. His connection to the University began as a patron of the Manchester Children’s Book Festival before joining the Manchester Writing School in 2017 as a Lecturer in Creative Writing. His passion for education, mentorship and expanding opportunities for young people made him an inspiration to students and colleagues alike.

Alex’s loss is a devastating blow, but his incredible legacy lives on – through his writing, the students he taught, and the many lives he touched. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing him.