NICKY MARR: Mr Veacock’s scale drawing of his mysterious loch sighting – conclusive proof at last?
Regular readers will know I’m fond of dunking myself into lochs around the north of Scotland. Back in the good old days we used to call it swimming – it now seems to have attracted the tag “wild”. But whatever we call it, I like getting cold and wet, and in pretty much all weathers.
Loch Ness is one of my regular spots, so I’m well used to “hilarious” comments from friends about the Loch Ness Monster finally having been found. Ha, ha, ha. Very drole.
But those jokes can now stop. Because thanks to the eagle eye and impressive artistic talents of a Mr Veacock from the north-west of England, we now have conclusive proof that Nessie exists. Cynics, hang your heads in collective shame. Believers, rejoice. Nessie lives!
Mr Veacock’s conclusive sighting, witnessed by two other families in the layby at the time, took place on July 30 this year on the shores of the famous loch. Details of his sighting and this wonderfully detailed accompanying drawing were logged in the Register of Official Loch Ness Sightings and became the ninth recorded sighting of our elusive Nessie this year.
Adding to authenticity, the accuracy of Mr Veacock’s measurements was aided by comparing the beast to a passing Jacobite Cruises ship. Whether the vision was also seen, or indeed captured on film, by any of the boat’s passengers is unknown. What a pity Mr Veacock didn’t happen to have a camera on him at the time.
The legend of the Loch Ness Monster has captured the hearts of locals, tourists, tourism businesses and monster hunters since the sixth century AD, when Irish monk Columba banished a monster from the River Ness to the now famous loch.
Since then, there have been thousands of sightings and surveys, hoaxes and hunts, most of them collated by Gary Campbell on the wonderfully comprehensive www.lochnesssightings.com where there’s a Nessie webcam too.
Nessie is of fleeting interest to most, but to others is a passion or a boost to business. For one man, she’s his way of life.
I first met Steve Feltham in 2016, shortly after he celebrated 25 years of his full-time hunt. Steve is the world’s only full-time monster hunter, and the Official Guinness World Champion at not finding Nessie.
We had coffee in the cosy converted mobile library on Dores Beach that he calls home.
For Steve, it’s not so much about the monster, or the evidence, but about having spent the last 30 years living out his dream. Not many people have the courage to quit their job and live a life of adventure on the shores of the most celebrated loch in the world.
But are Steve’s days as a hunter now numbered?
Time will tell.
Read more from Nicky Marr here.