Sanders claimed he was initiated into witchcraft at age seven by his grandmother, Mary Bibby, who he said surprised him in her kitchen while she was performing a ritual.

Born Orrell Alexander Carter in Birkenhead, England, Sanders grew up in a working-class family that eventually moved to Manchester. Much of his early life is shrouded in colorful, sometimes contradictory, stories he told later:

Sanders' career was often dogged by accusations of plagiarism and fabrication. Critics pointed out that much of his "secret" material was actually drawn from existing sources: Alex Sanders at the John Rylands Library - Manchester Hive

Unlike other secretive practitioners of the time, Sanders actively courted the press. He appeared in documentaries, tabloid exposes, and even performed public rituals, which earned him the "King of the Witches" title but drew sharp criticism from other Wiccans who preferred to remain hidden.

Alex Sanders (1926–1988) was a prominent and often controversial figure in the world of modern paganism, best known as the founder of . Proclaimed "King of the Witches" by his followers, he played a crucial role in bringing witchcraft into the public eye during the 1960s and 70s through deliberate showmanship and media engagement. Early Life and "Initiation"

In the 1960s, after briefly being involved with Gardnerian Wicca, Sanders founded his own tradition, which came to be known as . Along with his wife, Maxine Sanders , he established a coven that focused heavily on training and formal ritual structure.