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Fortrose man's unusual adventure tale of militant bunnies escaping their oppressors and wreaking revenge is published more than four decades on


By Alasdair Fraser

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Hayden Jeffrey has had his long ago written novel, Operation Upset, published. Picture: Callum Mackay.
Hayden Jeffrey has had his long ago written novel, Operation Upset, published. Picture: Callum Mackay.

For Hayden Jeffrey, it represents a lifetime’s dream bound up in book form. It is also a dying wish fulfilled for the terminally-ill Fortrose writer.

The 81-year-old, who has fought prostate cancer for more than 20 years, felt time was of the essence and, prompted by loving wife Louise, finally set about finding a publisher for his novel Operation Upset, started way back in 1978, last year.

Gathering dust since the 1980s but revived and refined in lockdown, the book tells the charming, humorous and somewhat unusual tale of two talkative rabbits who break out of a clinical testing laboratory to become anarchic bunny freedom fighters.

Along the way, they join forces with other creatures, befriend a man of the road called Old George and take revenge on oppressors of captive animals, even managing to blow up the Forth Bridge.

What adds an extraordinary edge to a rich and lively plot is the knowledge that Mr Jeffrey himself is a lifelong animal lover who also worked in pharmaceutical industry animal testing and veterinary research.

In his career, he experienced both the disturbing sides of that science and some of the animal welfare benefits.

With echoes of classic novels such as Watership Down and Animal Farm, his unique story – aimed at adults and older children – was at last published by international firm Austin Macauley in January.

“It really has been a labour of love,” Mr Jeffrey said.

“I worked for many years in pharmaceutical industry research in Milton Keynes and they wanted to promote me to be the bridge between British immuno-diagnostics and production in Germany. As my mother was dying, I instead handed in my notice and moved back to Scotland to work in veterinary medicine at Penicuik.

“While my mother was ill, I started to write this book, but I shelved what was mainly a handwritten work as employment resumed.

“In later years, it followed my wife and I wherever we moved and she would ask: ‘What is this?’ and ‘Why don’t you get it finished?’

“About three years ago, an author friend Betty Sutherland from Rosemarkie suggested I really should try and get it published. I went to Austin Macaulay because they have outlets around the world and I felt it would have appeal to Scottish emigrants broad.”

After a great deal of to-ing and fro-ing with the publisher, the polished manuscript was published five months late. Thankfully, Mr Jeffrey’s health has held out to see his great ambition realised. Also a gifted artist, he illustrated the book himself.

Operation Upset by Hayden Jeffrey is available from the publishers at www.austinmacauley.com/book/operation-upset or on Waterstones' and Amazon's websites.


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