My father was infamous for his stories and anecdotes. My favourite was the one about his brush with the KGB. 
 
When he was a detective in Derry in the 1960s, Russian ships would use the port and often mysterious crew members would  be seen suspiciously close to American ships and military facilities near the city. Dad and his colleague were tasked with following two particular Russians and were given training in surveillance techniques by MI5. 
 
Using their comprehensive knowledge of Derry and their new training, Dad and his mate, hid, crossed streets and swapped places so the Russians would never know they were being followed. Eventually the suspects went into a cinema and sat together in the front row. The two detectives slipped quietly into the back. One of the Russians summoned the ice cream girl and gave her some money. She came straight to the back row and gave Dad two ice lollies. “These are from the two men down there”.
 
The KGB officers turned and give Dad the thumbs up.