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Inspector Morse Exhibition

The Inspector Morse exhibition reported in the last newsletter has now just about completed its tour of England. Feedback received indicates that it has been a success; particularly in Abingdon where additional displays were included in the form of an assortment of items ranging from Victorian leg irons found at Marsham to examples of truncheons dating from the ‘life preserver’ model circa 1831 to the side-handled baton now in use by the Thames Valley Police.

Colin Dexter In The House Of Commons

In January this year, Colin Dexter and Antony Richards were invited to be speakers at the Sherlock Holmes Society of London’s annual dinner at the House of Commons. Unfortunately, the society was not allowed a tape of the speech to be reviewed here, but reproduced below with permission is the report which appeared in the Sherlock Holmes Journal. Suffice it to say Colin was on sparkling form and it was a very enjoyable evening.

“I hope you’re not disappointed in me,” said Colin Dexter. “People usually expect me to be John Thaw ! I do feel awfully gratified to be asked to talk here. Years ago, you know, The Sunday Times published a long list of famous couples. Holmes and Watson were at the top, of course, and way down at the bottom of the list -Morse and Lewis. In between were names like Marks and Spencer, Laurel and Hardy, and even tripe and onions!

I admit that I don’t idolise Arthur Conan Doyle. Perhaps I’m a little jaundiced, because the story that I introduced in the facsimile manuscript edition, The Lion’s Mane, is the worst thing he ever did. But he was a wonderful storyteller. At his first appearance Sherlock Holmes is complete and individual, like Athena springing from the brow of Zeus. The characterisation, and the partnership of Holmes and Watson, transcend the sometimes creaky plots.

Too much of my life has been spent on crossword puzzles. You’ll recognise that a clue to the name of Watson might be, “He had eyes and saw not”. But a more ingenious clue -and it’s not one of mine -is, “As a change from the homes of patients, I often tried the reverse, so to speak”. Clever, isn’t it? If you’d like to win something, have a go at this one: “Despondency, Reichenbach’s effect, unsolved crime, could have led Holmes to this”. Ten letters.

Conan Doyle knew much more about the police and forensics than I do. My only close encounter with the police was one Christmas Eve, 15 years ago, when a car drove through my garden fence, across the lawn, and out again. The policeman who finally came to investigate told me that his name was Detective Constable Watson! Not a very good start, was it? The car had left clear tyre marks, and I’m sure Holmes would have said, “That’s a Pirelli. Done about 18,500 miles. Probably driven by a left handed Irishman.” D.C. Watson just said, “Made a bit of a mess of your lawn, hasn’t it?” My wife said, “Before you go, officer, here’s a big, fat clue,” and she gave him the number-plate, which had fallen off the car. He said, “Yes, that might be of some assistance.” A few weeks later he called to check that the insurance was going through alright. I said, “What about the crook? Have you arrested him?” He said, “No. We’ve called twice, but each time he was out!”

Has anyone solved that cryptic clue yet?”

One person had. Jean Upton had worked out that the answer was ‘hypodermic’, and for her ingenuity she received a signed copy of Colin Dexter’s latest novel, NEIG.

Colin concluded, “I have little in common with Conan Doyle or Sherlock Holmes, except that I try to solve puzzles and to dispense justice. Many people have tried to write about crime and detection, but the greatest figure in the field is undoubtedly the person we’re here to honour tonight - Mr. Sherlock Holmes!”