David McCaddon provides professional talks to captivate, inform and entertain. He is an award-winning playwright and a published author of modern crime thrillers. Before becoming an author in 2016 David had been a computer software engineer for over 47 years and specialised in Police Computer Systems for over 35 years.

His work has involved him working throughout the UK’s Police forces and worldwide in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Botswana, USA and Canada.  He has worked in many major incident investigations throughout the world. This has involved him training police and prison officers in investigative analysis.

David is an accomplished and experienced presenter with a fascinating background in Crime and Technology. He is a regular speaker at Rotary, Probus, WI, Masonic and supper clubs throughout the UK.

A skilled presenter.  David uses humour, appeals to every audience, and has the skills to tailor his talks to the many regions and destinations he has travelled.  His first cruise as a speaker started that challenge by providing such a talk Costa Del Crime – shown below. This talk is ever popular throughout the UK today.

TRUE CRIME

A Step Change in Crime Investigations
David retells the dramatic true story of his own involvement in computerising the investigations of several high profile murder incidents including the very first Murder Case which was solved by genetic fingerprinting.

Manhunt: Evil beyond Belief
The killing of three little girls in the eighties, Susan Maxwell, Caroline Hogg and Sarah Harper worried the country for a decade. For eight years their murderer evaded one of the biggest police hunts ever seen. David was instrumental in setting up and developing the HOLMES computer system linking the police forces. In this talk he goes behind the scenes in what became the largest serial child murder investigation in the UK..

Costa Del Crime – the end of an era?
The end of the era when British criminals on the run can find sanctuary on Spain’s southern ‘Costas’ is now a reality. This talk looks at the changes that have happened since those days when some of the villains from a number of high profile cases including the Great Train Robbery & the Brink’s Mat Robbery attempted to escape there. There are quite a few surprises when comparing some of the crimes spanning the last 6 decades

Avoiding Cyber Crime – the Pitfalls, Dangers and Scams
The Internet plays an increasingly important role in our lives today but using this resource should be used with care. This popular talk considers the pitfalls, dangers and modern scams and how to overcome them.

Where’s the whodunit button? – Inspiring a Crime Author
Many events inspire Crime writers with their novels. David has worked with Police forces in many countries worldwide including Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Botswana, USA and Canada. This talk shares his experience and how it’s influenced his own novels including some of the more humorous moments he encountered in working abroad.

FAMOUS CRIME AUTHORS

The Life and Crimes of Agatha Christie
A fascinating talk and a look at the remarkable career of the most popular crime novelist of all times – Agatha Christie the indisputable “Queen of Crime”. David looks at her early life, her own real-life mystery disappearance and the creation of many of her characters including Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

The Life & Times of Hercule Poirot
This talk looks at the life and times of Hercule Poirot, the dapper moustache-twirling Belgian detective. David delves into those little grey cells and considers the creation and the background behind one of Agatha Christie’s most famous characters. Yet despite being familiar to millions Poirot himself has remained somewhat of an enigma – until now.

The Mysterious Miss Marple
David examines the creation and background of Miss Marple. What was it that inspired Agatha Christie to write about this surprising unlikely detective and who is the most faithful to the original character.

A Study in Sherlock
This entertaining talk looks at the creation and background of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Who is the character based on and who was Moriarty? Who is considered to be the most authentic Sherlock Holmes actor and who was possibly the worst? Why did Conan Doyle try to kill him off? All these questions are considered and many more are revealed. This illustrated talk provides a fascinating insight into one of the world’s most famous detectives in books, film and television.

The Golden Age of Murder
A look at how a number of famous crime writers including Agatha Christie formed a mysterious literary writers club setting puzzles and transforming crime fiction in the process. Their work also casting new light on unsolved murders whilst hiding clues to their own innermost darkest secrets and their complex private lives.

Exploring Nordic Noir from the Happiest Countries in the World
A talk which looks at the amazing global appeal in Nordic Crime Fiction. Yet once again the Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland reign supreme and appear in the top 10 list of happiest countries in the world.

FAMOUS AUTHORS AND SONGWRITERS

The Secret of Treasure Island
Join David as he looks at how this classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel was created. Inspired by real pirates and hidden treasure but where is the location that is described so accurately in the novel? This talk which will appeal to all ages is informative, humorous and entertaining.

Secret Agent, Secret Plots – the story of the real James Bond
The amazing background of Ian Fleming – from covert assaults and wild code-breaking schemes, His real-life wartime exploits were arguably just as heroic than anything dreamed up in his Bond novels

Hans Christian Andersen – the fairy tale of his life
One of the great figures of world literature, the Danish author renowned for his children’s tales. Yet comparatively little is known of his rise from poverty. He once said “To travel is to live” and this fascinating talk looks at his worldwide travels, the background of his career, his stories and how his works have reached all corners of the globe.

The Life and Tales of the Grimm Brothers
Known primarily today for their fairy tales, the brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were university scholars in the early 19th century, famous worldwide also for their works in philology and lexicography but what was their rebellious streak?

The Life of Joseph Conrad – the Polish/British writer
Joseph Conrad was a Polish-British novelist and story writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language and, although he did not speak English fluently until his twenties, he became a master prose stylist who brought a non-English sensibility into English literature.

Thank you for the Music – the history of ABBA
The creation of this most famous Swedish band, their backgrounds, early careers, how they first met. The stories behind some of their biggest hits such as the event which inspired their hit “The Winner Takes It All”.

The Life of Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was an Irish author, poet and playwright. After writing in different literary styles throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular and influential dramatists in London in the early 1890s.

TRAVEL

The Mystery of St.Kilda – the island on the edge of the world
The archipelago of St Kilda is an extreme Atlantic outpost, and is one of the few World Heritage Sites in existence which has been awarded dual status for meeting both the natural and cultural criteria for the classification. This fascinating talk looks at the history of the people on St.Kilda, how they survived on this beautiful island in the North Atlantic ocean before their final evacuation to the Scottish mainland in 1930.

Agatha Christie and the influence of the Mediterranean
Agatha Christie loved travelling and the crime writer’s life was full of mystery and adventure, her novels even more so. This talk takes a closer look at the Mediterranean destinations that shaped the life and inspired the works of the legendary Queen of Crime.

Legends & Tales of Alhambra.
Hear about the origins, history, legends of this world famous palace and fortress located in Granada.

HISTORY

The History of Fred Olsen
David has cruised with Fred Olsen many times and his talk looks at the fascinating history of the Fred Olsen family business which exceeds 170 years of seafaring heritage. Since it’s origins back in 1848 the company has gone from strength to strength, sailing cargo vessels and cruise ships around the world. This talk in particular looks at the Fred Olsen links with La Gomera and the Canary Islands.

Secrets of the Bletchley Park Codebreakers
Discover the history of Bletchley Park and how a team of Polish mathematicians also played a vital role in WWII.

Barnum & Bailey – the real story of the greatest show on earth
This talk looks at the history of this world famous circus, the struggles and the triumphs, the successes and the failures. Examining the origins and the background of the people involved, the world tours and the merger into the most famous circus of all. Some may know the background of P.T.Barnum but how many know the life of his partner James Anthony Bailey and his wife Ruth McCaddon who inherited the circus?

FESTIVE

The making of “It’s a Wonderful Life”
David looks into the story behind one of cinema’s greatest Christmas films and how it was made in the summer of 1946. Revisiting Bedford Falls, the creation of the film set and the casting choices that Frank Capra considered as the Director of this well loved festive film.

Merry Christmas Mr Dickens
This festive talk tells the story of Charles Dicken’s amazing life and how he came to write the novella, ‘A Christmas Carol’ back in 1843. The book was written in a very short timescale and inspired by aspects of the Victorian Christmas that have continued to this very day. The talk looks at the many TV, film and stage versions that have been created from this popular story.