It became one the world’s most recognisable pictures and sparked a global interest and curiosity over the Loch Ness Monster’s existence.
This month marked 90 years since the most famous picture of Nessie was taken. It has inspired generations of Nessie Hunters from the 1930’s through to the present day, but the story of how it came to be is not as well known.
On April 21, 1934, the Daily Mail published what is now known as the ‘Surgeon’s Photograph’.
Just a year before that, there were a number of sightings reported that got the local public excited and attracted many more visitors to the Loch. One woman was with her husband passing through the Scottish Highlands, when they both claimed to have spotted a large unfamiliar creature pass in front of them and disappear into the nearby Loch Ness, while a motorcyclist made similar claims just weeks later.
READ MORE: Nessie at 90: How Scotland's monster captured imaginations around the world
Although the earliest sightings of “Nessie” date back to St Columba in the 6th century this picture went on to become iconic in the legend of the monster.
The Daily Mail report said the photo had been captured by a doctor named Robert Kenneth Wilson as it showed the famous long neck of Nessie emerging from the water.
However, in 1994, it was verified as a hoax after Christopher Spurling admitted his involvement in its production. Spurling was the stepson of Maramaduke Wetherell, a famed big-game hunter who had been hired in 1933 by the Daily Mail to find the Loch Ness Monster.
It might have been de-bunked, but the entire myth of Nessie has driven the local economy ever since. Reports have suggested that the number of visitors flocking to the area generate more than £40m to the local economy each year.
Still to this day, local businesses capitalise on Nessie. Coinciding with 90th anniversary of the ‘Surgeon’s Photograph’ Black Isle Brewery are releasing a new beer to celebrate the Loch Ness story.
The IPA, titled ‘Mr Loch Ness IPA’, is named after Willie Cameron, a leading figure in the development of tourism in the Loch Ness area.
READ MORE: Biggest hunt for the Loch Ness Monster in over 50 years gets underway
The design on the can shows and illustration of Mr Loch Ness front and centre standing in front of the famous body of water.
Bosses behind the new drink say Willie was the clear choice to promote its production as it brings two local legends together.
Lawrie Wotherspoon, of the Black Isle Brewery, said: “There is no-one better placed to tell the Loch Ness story than Willie Cameron, known affectionately as “Mr Loch Ness” both within the Highlands and all over the globe.
“Willie has been at the forefront of promoting the Highlands’ wonderful history, hospitality, food and drink to thousands of visitors over the past three decades, through countless films, publications and talks.”
Willie Cameron, aka Mr Loch Ness, said: “It was both an honour and a privilege to have been asked by Lawrie at Black Isle Brewery if they could use my nom de plume of Mr Loch Ness for a new IPA which is both organic and gluten free and reflects the genuine taste of The Highlands.
“As I have been associated with tourism at Loch Ness for many years it is both a toast to this iconic area and a reflection on my contribution to my community It goes down very well with some good Highland cheeses.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here