Sailesh Ram, the editor and founder of this website, pays tribute to a writer who always inspired him…
VERY SHOCKED and saddened to hear the news of writer Alex Wheatle’s passing.
Known commonly and affectionately as the ‘Brixton Bard’, he succumbed to an aggressive form of prostrate cancer and more recently was a campaigner for better and increased screening for the condition.
I had the pleasure and honour of meeting and befriending Alex through the writer’s development agency (now Immersive Change Agency) Words of Colour* – Alex like myself was on the board brought together by Joy Francis, the co-founder of the organisation, created in 2005.
I had known vaguely about his story before meeting first him – his early life plagued by physical abuse, bullying and racism and then his short spell in prison, before being ‘educated’ by a Rastafarian inside, acquiring a passion for reading and then writing and the award winning Young Adult novels that would follow and be treasured.
To me, he was a living embodiment of how one should follow and fulfil one’s potential; overcoming enormous and plentiful challenges. Though we didn’t speak extensively, we enjoyed an easy camaraderie, strengthened by our mutual instinct (I think) to encourage people to strive for the best, and be the very best that they could be, whatever the challenges and problems – others might not ever understand or appreciate.
I was always in awe of him and it was hugely thrilling when I got the chance to write about his story for this website – as Oscar winning director Steve McQueen made a TV film about Alex’s life as one of the episodes of the acclaimed Small Axe series that was broadcast on the BBC in 2020. Alex had worked with the original Small Axe writing team and his life ended up being made into the TV drama – ‘Alex Wheatle’.
Alex, I will miss you – for your warmth, humour and ability to inspire and the example you set as someone who had a passion for storytelling and the community from which you emerged.
Your legacy is immense and there is a quiet corner of www.asianculturevulture.com you will always reside in and your story will only grow and serve to inspire many, many others.
And of course huge gratitude to Joy for enabling me to befriend him in the first place.
