Alfred Edmeades "Fred" Bestall, MBE (1892 – 1986) - British artist

With thanks to Historian Debbie Cameron for this information  

 

Alfred Edmeades Bestall wrote and illustrated the “Rupert Bear” cartoon stories for the London “Daily Express” newspaper from 1935 to 1965.   The original creator of the Rupert Bear stories was British artist Mary Tourtel (born Mary Caldwell on 28 January 1874 – 15 March 1948). In 1900 she married an assistant editor of “The Daily Express”, Herbert Bird Tourtel. 

The initial purpose of the Rupert Bear stories which began on 8th November 1920, was to win sales from rival  newspapers “Daily Mail” and “Daily Mirror”.

Alfred won a scholarship to the Birmingham Central School (later College) of Art and later attended the London County Council (LCC) Central School of Arts and Crafts in Camden. He served in the First World War as an MT (motor transport) driver in the British Army in Flanders, transporting troops, ammunition and stores in a range of vehicles including converted double-decker London B-Type buses, often under enemy fire. Following the war, Bestall finished his studies at the Central School of Art and was hired to illustrate books by Enid Blyton

Additional information from

https://www.beddgelerttourism.com/Rupert/