AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Bob Beveridge reveals to Michael Alexander why he’s written a crime book ‘full of rubbish’

When retired Scottish Crime Squad detective turned violin expert Bob Beveridge published his “extraordinary autobiography” last autumn, it was packed with factual stories about his varied encounters over the years.

These ranged from rubbing shoulders with killers to his encounters with the Johnny Cash family, featuring on the Antiques Roadshow and being asked to play guitar for the BBC Scotland documentary Brief Encounters.

Now, in a change of mood, the Falkland Violin Shop owner has written a light-hearted non-profit follow-up called The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing Like the Truth, which, as well as factual stories, he admits, also contains a “load of rubbish”.

“During lockdown, and an air of everyone feeling a bit fed up, I wrote this little book in the hope that some of the silly, light-hearted stories would add a little bit of cheer,” explains Bob.

“Although the stories are pure fiction, there are some which are true, and hopefully interesting.

“My autobiography book was a great success and attracted interest from TV companies, namely Channel 5, STV and BBC.

“However, the Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing Like the Truth book is totally different, because of mainly fiction stories.”

Fictional stories in the book include The Bluebell Polka Mystery, paying tribute to Auchtermuchty’s late great accordion player Sir Jimmy Shand.

There’s a story about a Ladybank bank robbery in the 1970s which Bob describes as “true – with a few silly bits thrown in”.

However, Bob also recounts a number of true stories. They include the tale of a habitual small-time crook in Methil known as “the professor” who never lived up to this illustrious title because he repeatedly bungled every crime and spent the bulk of his criminal career in and out of jail.

He recalls the time bank robbers spent weeks preparing to rob a bank in broad daylight – only to barge up to the bank they had been observing to find the bank had closed!

When they robbed the next nearest bank they could find, they drove into a cul-de-sac during their panic and had no choice but to turn around and drive past the bank they had robbed – by which time police and witnesses spotted their car and arrests were quickly made. To add insult to injury, having only secured a few hundred pounds in the robbery, they later learned the weapon they used was a rare collectable antique that could have made them thousands at auction!

Bob recalls the true story of local teenagers getting lost in the abandoned limestone mines at Cults, near Cupar, in the 1990s.

The book also includes some interesting snippets, ranging from John Lennon and Yoko to HRH Duke of Edinburgh and the Carstairs murderer who made fiddles.The most serious true story in the book is Bob’s comment on the murder of Nairn banker Alastair Wilson in 2004.

The book is available from Falkland Post Office priced £5 with all proceeds going to charity.

Bob Beveridge