Alfred Burgess Sharrocks P.R. Cam. A. was born in Stockport in 27 November 1919, the son of Alfred Sharrocks (1893-1963) and his wife Mary Ellen (nee Burgess, 1897?-1955?), who were married in Stockport in 1917. Alf had a number of younger siblings, including Joan M (1921), Edward F. (1923), Winifred Beryl (1927), Sybil P. (1931) and Roy Alan (1934).He studied at Stockport School of Art and the Royal Academy Schools. Exhibited regularly at the Royal Cambrian Academy and painted a great many landscapes of the Welsh hillsides.
A. Burgess Sharrocks is probably best known for his dustjackets and illustrations for the Secret Seven series by Enid Blyton, taking over from previous illustrators George Brook and Bruno Kay in 1956. Elsewhere, he was often called upon as a nature artist, especially in annuals.
I believe he was married twice: firstly to Alisimon Strange (1917-1967) in Manchester in 1949; and, following her death at the age of 49, to Catherine E. Milner in Conway, Wales, in 1973. He had a daughter from his first marriage, Alisimon J. Burgess Sharrocks.
He died in late 1988, aged 69, at Bangor, Caernarvonshire.
Illustrated Books
Adventures and Escapes, ed. E. W. Parker, M.C. London, Longmans, Green & Co., 1953.
Essential English for Foreign Students by Charles Eckersley; illus. with others. London, Longmans, 4 vols., 1955-63.
Three Cheers, Secret Seven by Enid Blyton. Leicester, Brockhampton Press, 1956.
Secret Seven Mystery by Enid Blyton. Leicester, Brockhampton Press, 1957.
Yma a thraw by Eirwen Jones & Hannah Davies. London, Macmillan & Co., 1957.
The Great South Sea by Roger Pilkington (London, Macmillan & Co., 1957).
Knights of St. John [Kreuzritter] by Gerhart Ellert; tranlated by J. Brockett-Pugh. London, Lutterworth Press, 1958.
Puzzle for the Secret Seven by Enid Blyton. Leicester, Brockhampton Press, 1958.
Nature Detectives by Donald G. Cunningham. London, Macmillan & Co., 1959.
Secret Seven Fireworks by Enid Blyton. Leicester, Brockhampton Press, 1959.
Good Old Secret Seven by Enid Blyton. Leicester, Brockhampton Press, 1960.
Warriors' Hoard by Hugh Collinson. London, George G. Harrap & Co., 1960.
Shock for the Secret Seven by Enid Blyton. Leicester, Brockhampton Press, 1961.
Look Out Secret Seven by Enid Blyton. Leicester, Brockhampton Press, 1962.
On the Ball! by Gordon Jeffery. London, J. M. Dent & Sons, 1962.
Athletics, ed. G. F. D. Pearson. Edinburgh, Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1963.
Fun for the Secret Seven by Enid Blyton. Leicester, Brockhampton Press, 1963.
(* Expanded from it original appearance on 13 February 2007.)
i used to live in stockport and came across what look like water colours in old picture frames the name with pictures but not signed are a burgess
ReplyDeleteMy father Gordon Shawcross used to hang out with Alf and his brother Eddy during the 1950's in Stockport and one summer in Wales. He recounted many humourous tales of the Sharrocks. I didn't realize Alf was a well-known illustrator.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI think his name is probably known to Enid Blyton collectors, but I suspect he's an otherwise fairly obscure artist. I must admit that I wasn't able to find out very much about him (hence the quite brief column). Any memories would be very welcome.