Through his books, the British-Swiss writer was able to introduce the Alpine nation to people across the world in a style that was equal parts engaging and accessible.

After what started as a move for love, Bewes began to be fascinated by all parts of Swiss culture and traditions, from the most compelling to the strangest and the most radical. Little surprise then that he was named the “Swiss Watcher” or “Swiss Observer” later in his life.

Arrival in Switzerland

Born in England in 1967, Bewes would start his career as a travel writer for Lonely Planet, among others, documenting and explaining countries for people from across the globe. However, having cemented a reputation for engaging travel guides for the masses, a move to be with his partner and a desire to recover from exhaustion after living in London brought him to Switzerland in 2005, taking up a position at the English bookstore in Bern.

According to his husband, Gregor Scheibelhofer, it was not long before he began to interact with Swiss people, both while learning German and working at the bookstore. “He looked at people, saw how they act, how they behave, and he discovered things,” he noted. He also managed to travel throughout Switzerland, visiting everything from graveyards to the Heidi House to St. Moritz.

From travel writer to “Swiss Watcher”

It soon became clear that his observations about life in Switzerland, from strict rules about curfews after 10 pm and not washing on the weekend to introducing yourself to everyone at parties, could form the basis of an excellent book. “I remember him asking me, should I write this… a book where all typical Swiss things are mentioned, special and negative things, doesn’t exist,” Scheibelhofer noted

So, after spending a few months by himself, dedicated to writing his book, in 2010, he published “Swiss Watching” in 2010. In the work, Bewes described the Swiss way of life, people and culture in as raw, honest and humorous a way as possible. Scheibelhofer described the work as “newcomers’ field notes.”

Swiss Watching was a hit, with the British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce labelling it “essential reading” for anyone coming to Switzerland. Indeed, expats today discover in its pages a guide which not only details Switzerland in an accessible way, but also makes light and fun of Swiss habits and traditions that many foreigners would see as inaccessible and confusing.

Learning Swissness

“He turned ‘Swissness’ from a set of clichés into something learnable: a lived system of habits, history and local variation. His special trick was making that learning process entertaining—without flattening the country into stereotypes,” Scheibelhofer explained.

Though he was often accused of being tough in jest about the Swiss, Scheibelhofer argued that this misread his intentions. “A common misunderstanding is to hear the humour as ‘mockery’; in his own framing, it’s much closer to affectionate translation: laughing with Switzerland while taking it seriously enough to learn how it works.” This is reflected in not only how successful Swiss Watching was among expats and internationals, but also among the Swiss themselves.

The success of Swiss Watching started what was a flourishing career as a writer, with Bewes writing a series of engaging works about the country. These ranged from children’s books and map collections to his historical travel narrative Slow Train to Switzerland. Throughout these books, Bewes maintained his thorough but light-hearted and engaging style.

Gradually over time, Bewes began to be seen as the “Swiss Watcher,” a British-born outsider who was able to articulate what it means to be Swiss to a global audience, arguably more eloquently than an actual Swiss person. This meant he was often consulted by Swiss media when a cultural issue needed dissecting.

Sadly, his career was cut tragically short. In 2025, Diccon Bewes passed away after a battle with cancer.

Diccon Bewes: A literary legacy

Bewes left behind a timeless and enduring legacy, connecting Swiss culture to the English-speaking world on a level that was not only accessible but engaging. It can be said that his works will continue to be valuable to not just newcomers to the alpine nation, but also to anyone around the world who wants an insight into this small nation nestled within the Alps.

For his husband, he will be “remembered as someone who loved Switzerland enough to do the work of understanding it—and generous enough to share that understanding.”