From pop star to crime fiction writer, dog lover Rev Richard Coles has given Dachshunds starring roles in his murder mystery books. Elizabeth Denholm discovers why.
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The Rev Richard Coles’ life has been more diverse than most — from singing in ‘The Communards’, a hugely successful pop duo in the 1980s, to becoming an Anglican priest and a national treasure on TV and radio, including showing off his dance steps in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, and demonstrating his culinary skills in ‘Masterchef’.
A KEY PART OF HIS LIFE
Now he has taken on the mantle of crime fiction author, following in the hallowed steps of such legends as Agatha Christie. His second book in the Canon Clement Mystery series, ‘A Death in the Parish’, is published this month and, once again, Dachshunds Cosmo and Hilda play detective, helping their owner, Canon Daniel Clement, to investigate the latest murder in his parish.
Charming and erudite, Richard explained how dogs have played a key part in all aspects of his life.
“I had my first dog when I was four, a Dachshund called Caspar, and I’ve had various Dachshunds ever since,” he reminisced. “When I was a curate in Knightsbridge an eccentric millionaire, who I had met only once, gave me Daisy and she’s still with us.”
Currently Richard has two Dachshunds, the aforementioned Daisy, who is 14, and Pongo, who is 12. But, at one point, an ever-expanding pack meant that seven Dachshunds were sharing the vicarage where he lived with his husband, David. “It was insane,” he admitted. “I think I would be very good at picking my way through a minefield because I’m so used to picking my way through squirming Dachshunds.”
In 2019 David died, and Richard was faced with a difficult decision. Having cared for his husband during his illness and looked after all the animals, he decided to rehome three of their five dogs.
“I just couldn’t manage them,” he said sadly. “David was very good at all the training so when he died they had to rely on my poor parenting instead,” he confessed.
The dogs went to people he knew; David’s mother, David’s brother, and their dentist.
“It was awful for everybody,” Richard reflected, “including the dogs, but there was no nice way of doing it and I wanted them to adapt to their new homes as quickly and smoothly as possible. And they do. Dogs aren’t sentimental; they get on with things, but I miss them.”
He continued: “You go mad when someone dies like that and I was worried I hadn’t made
