Andy Clements: ‘Very sad to hear of Tim Cleeves passing, a passionate and generous birder & conservationist – great memories from Fair Isle Bird Observatory in 1975 when he and Ann met – thoughts are with you’ Lee Evans: ‘Sad to wake up to the devastating news that long-standing keen birder Tim Cleeves has died overnight. This move may have been the most important move of Cleeves life, as it was where her love and talent for writing started. I love Shetland so much it's criminal! Tim Cleeves was born on the south-east side of Bristol in 1951 and he retained his Bristol accent, the voice of a pirate, all his life. His sudden death in December, aged 66, was yet another grievous blow to Northumbrian birding, coming so soon after the equally untimely deaths of Eric Meek and Jimmy Steele. The island is a bird lover’s dream and therefore the move was perfect for her husband, but this was never Ann’s interest. Therefore, it was on this remote Island, away from civilization that Ann Cleeves began writing. Detective writer Ann Cleeves reveals how a chance encounter led to marriage, eight novels and a lifelong passion for the Scottish islands SHETLAND creator Ann Cleeves has revealed she’s plotting the ultimate whodunnit — killing off telly ‘tec Jimmy Perez.