Children´s author and illustrator Shirley Hughes dies…
Shirley Hughes, author and illustrator of much-loved children’s books Alfie and Dogger, dies aged 94
Hughes, best known for Alfie series and children’s picture book Dogger, died ‘peacefully at home’ last monthTributes flooded in for writer, with fans remembering the ‘stories of our childhood’ that ‘will continue forever’Author Michael Rosen said she ‘delighted and moved us for years and years and years and will go on doing so’And fellow writer Malorie Blackman added that ‘Shirley was a class act, always friendly, warm and welcoming’
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Beloved children’s author and illustrator Shirley Hughes has died after a short illness at the age of 94, her family said today.
Hughes, best known for the Alfie series – about a boy called Alfie and his little sister Annie Rose – and children’s picture book Dogger, died ‘peacefully at home’ on February 25.
Her family said the writer had ‘gained an enormous amount of pleasure from reading your messages’ and asked for people to share their favourite stories or pictures she created.
Tributes flooded in for the legendary writer and artist this morning, with fans remembering the ‘stories of our childhood’ that ‘will continue forever’.
Author Michael Rosen said she had ‘delighted and moved us for years and years and years and will go on doing so’, while fellow writer Malorie Blackman added ‘Shirley was a class act, always friendly, warm and welcoming’.
A post on Hughes’ Twitter on the day she died quoted a passage from her book on Alfie Weather, showing illustrations of his mother helping him through a stream.
Dogger, which was first published in 1977 and is about a little boy who loses his stuffed dog toy, went on to win her the Kate Greenaway Medal.
The website said the award was only handed out for ‘an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people’.
It was an achievement Hughes would obtain again, winning the prize a second time for Ella’s Big Chance, a reimagining of Cinderella, in 2003.
Only two years ago, in her nineties, she revived the heartwarming tale more than 40 years after the original book with Dogger’s Christmas.
Beloved children’s author and illustrator Shirley Hughes has died after a short illness at the age of 94, her family said today. Pictured: Ms Hughes receiving a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) from the Duke of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace in 2017
Hughes, best known for the Alfie series – about a boy called Alfie and his little sister Annie Rose – and children’s picture book Dogger, died ‘peacefully at home’ on February 25
Dogger, which was first published in 1977 and is about a little boy who loses his stuffed dog toy, went on to win her the Kate Greenaway Medal
Her family said in a statement: ‘Shirley’s books about everyday family life are adored by generations of families and she is held in the highest esteem by her peers.’
They added on Twitter: ‘It is with deepest sorrow that we announce that Shirley died peacefully in her sleep at home on Friday 25th February. Ed, Tom and Clara Shirley’s children.
‘Shirley gained an enormous amount of pleasure from reading your messages and replies. She often said how Twitter had brought her closer to her fans and readers. Please do enjoy sharing your favourite of her books or illustrations here, at home and in school.’
On the day she died, a post quoted a passage from Alfie, saying: ”’Now we’re real explorers” said Mum. The stream was shallow. Alfie and Mum took off their shoes and waded in.
‘They sat there without talking for quite a long while until it was time to go home. And neither Alfie nor Mum ever forgot that time and that place.’
Tributes flooded in for the writer online. Author Mr Rosen tweeted: ‘Shirley Hughes has gone. Long live wonderful, lovely Shirley. You’ve delighted and moved us for years and years and years and will go on doing so.’
Fellow writer Ms Blackman said: ‘I’m so sorry to hear this. Shirley was a class act, always friendly, warm and welcoming. This was reflected in her stories and particularly in her illustrations. RIEP Shirley.’
Historical fiction novelist Hazel Gaynor put: ‘Thank you, Shirley Hughes, for so many precious hours with your stories and my small boys.’
She added on Twitter: ‘They are strapping teens now, and still remember dear Dogger. What an incredible legacy you leave.’
Writer Cressida Cowell added: ‘Deeply saddened to hear of the death of magnificent Shirley Hughes, a true legend in our field. Her warm, wise work captures the essence of childhood and will continue to inspire generations of children to come. What a legacy she leaves.’
Features editor at Penguin Alice Vincent posted: ‘Saw Shirley Hughes at Oxford Literary Festival, ages ago, with my mum.
‘Sat and watched her draw Dogger. Probably the greatest book event I’ve ever been to, tbh.’
Liberal Democrat Councillor Hina Bokhari wrote: ‘My children and I love reading @ShirleyHughes_ books.
‘The simplicity and everyday pleasures we all enjoy illustrated beautifully in words and pictures.
She added on her Twitter page: ‘When Alfie laughed, we laughed.
‘When Alfie cried, we cried. #ShirleyHughes A British treasure.’
Radio Times columnist Jane Garvey put: ‘So sorry to hear this – wonderful woman who brought joy and comfort to so many of us.’
Booktrust put: ‘All of us at @Booktrust are devastated to hear the news that Shirley Hughes has passed away at the age of 94.
‘Shirley’s incredible stories and illustrations, from Dogger to Alfie and Lucy and Tom, have touched so many generations and are still so loved. Thank you, Shirley.’
Irish writer Jane Casey posted: ‘The magical thing about Shirley Hughes was that she understood the specific solemnity of childhood and how large small adventures (like a leaking roof) can loom.
‘She left us beautiful, tender, insightful books.’ Author Piers Torday said: ‘Farewell the incomparable Shirley Hughes.
‘Such kindness, warmth, love, humour and grace, radiating in such glowing detail from every page, for decade after decade of tireless service to children and their futures. A beacon of publishing joy and always will be.’
Throughout her career, Hughes illustrated some 200 children’s books and accrued lifetime sales surpassing more than 10 million copies of her books.
She was appointed a CBE in 2017 for her services to Children’s Literature, having been made an OBE in 1999.
Another first in her career was being awarded the inaugural BookTrust Lifetime Achievement award in 2015 by a panel which included Sir Michael Morpurgo.
She said at the time: ‘Being chosen for the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award is a tremendous honour which I appreciate more than I can say.
‘I have derived so much fulfilment from my long career, first as an illustrator of other artists’ stories and then creating my own.
‘Best of all has been perennially encountering very young children who are learning to look with such rapt pleasure and follow a story visually long before they are able to read.’
Sir Michael added: ‘She is also a national treasure to parents, because many millions of them too have grown up with Shirley Hughes, and are now passing on their affection for her stories, her characters and her illustration, to their own children. BookTrust’s first Lifetime Achievement Award could not be more richly deserved.’
The author was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2000 and in 2014 she was awarded the Simon Wiesenthal Centre/Museum of Tolerance Children’s Book Award for Hero On A Bicycle, her first novel published in 2012.
The Dogger peeking out from the pages of Shirley’s newly-released sequel to her 1977 original is just as readers will remember him, as is Dave, his tousle-haired owner
So seamless has the flow of 43 years been in the life of Dogger that barely a day seems to have passed since he was lost — and found — on a stall at the school fete where he is snapped up by a little girl for the princely sum of 5p
Without giving too much away, it is safe to say that in Dogger’s Christmas, Dave is as prone to carelessness as small boys ever were
Dogger was 18 years old when the book bearing his name was first published
While Dogger the toy was never lost, thank heavens, my life has had its moments,’ says Shirley, whose husband, architect John Vulliamy, died in 2007.
Born in West Kirby, she was the daughter of TJ Hughes – who founded what would become a successful chain of department stores that first originated in Liverpool.
She studied drawing and costume design at the Liverpool School of Art and also studied fine art at Oxford’s Ruskin School of Art.
Her early work included illustrations for Dorothy Edwards’ My Naughty Little Sister, with the first picture book she created being Lucy And Tom’s Day in 1960.
In 2017, asked about her inspiration for Dogger, she said: ‘The inspiration behind it was another lost toy. We did look everywhere, but we never found it. (The actual) Dogger was a present to our son when he was two years old.
‘At that time, both his ears flopped over, but (Dogger) was pressed so lovingly against his owner’s face that one ear was pushed upwards, so when I came to do the story I used him as a model.
‘When the book was finished, I was told it was too English to be popular abroad, however, it proved to be my big breakthrough and has been published in many different languages all over the world.’
Hughes also said at the time of her favourite children’s book growing up: ‘I remember being given wonderful fairy tales, especially the editions illustrated by Arthur Rackham, whose collections had wonderful colour plates with tissue paper over them.
‘I remember his edition of Peter Pan In Kensington Gardens. Another illustrator whose fairytale books I enjoyed was Edmund Dulac.’
She went on to collaborate on the Dixie O’Day series with her daughter Clara, who is also an illustrator and guest edited an edition of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour in 2017.
She was married to architect John Vulliamy and the couple had three children – Clara and sons Ed and Tom.
Dogger has no thoughts or agency of his own, which at first might seem like a limitation. But his ordinariness is part of his appeal
Dogger’s Christmas by Shirley Hughes (left) is published by Bodley Head, £12.99. Pictured right: The much-loved original
Hughes, best known for her much-loved books in the Alfie series, about a boy called Alfie and his little sister Annie Rose – as well as children’s picture book Dogger, died ‘peacefully at home after a short illness on Friday 25th February 2022’, her family said
