Nessletter - No 010 - August 1975

Magazine Overview

Title: Nessletter
Issue: No. 10
Date: August 1975
Publisher: Ness Information Service
Country: United Kingdom

This issue of the Nessletter, a bi-monthly publication from the Ness Information Service, focuses on "Holidays '75" and recent events and sightings related to Loch Ness and its famous inhabitant. The newsletter provides updates on research, personal accounts, and related literature.

Holiday Experiences at Loch Ness

The Hepple family recounts their holiday from July 26th to August 9th in a caravan on the shores of Loch Ness. They describe the weather conditions, including calm waters and warm temperatures, which allowed for enjoyable canoe trips. While the experience of paddling on the loch at sunrise is described as magnificent, the practicalities of photography and equipment stowing from a canoe are noted as difficult. The author attempted baiting experiments with a fishfood concoction hung from the canoe but saw no success. Despite not seeing Nessie themselves, they note a sighting was reported in August. During their stay, they met with three other N.I.S. members: Graham Snape, Bob Ballard, and Ricky Gardiner, all of whom were actively involved in monitoring the loch. Graham Snape watches from Strone, adjusting his location based on water conditions, while Bob Ballard was based in Inverness. Ricky Gardiner was camping on the south shore, conducting watches. The newsletter also mentions that Vicki and Murray Barber, also associated with L.N.I., planned to be at the Loch from September 21st to October 4th.

Reported Sightings

Several sightings are detailed from July 1975:

• July 7th, 1975: The skipper and chief engineer of the boat 'Scott II' reported a large object moving through the water about three-quarters of a mile ahead, off Abriachan on the North shore opposite Dores. The object moved swiftly from north to south across the loch within a minute.
• July 10th, 1975: Two young Canadian women hitch-hiking down the lochside watched something swimming northwards in a zig-zag manner with an up and down motion for almost three minutes. It submerged opposite the Clansman Hotel, still heading towards Lochend.
• July 18th, 1975: Mr. Alan Wilkins, a schoolteacher from Annan, and a group of other people at the caravan site at Invermoriston saw something appear and disappear multiple times. Mr. Wilkins took photographs and some 16mm film at long range, which are expected to be published in 'Field' magazine.
• August 4th, 1975: Approximately 18 people at the Altsigh Youth Hostel near Invermoriston reported seeing three dark humps in mid-loch, preceded by what appeared to be a head. The humps exhibited undulating movement and moved at a fair speed, creating waves that reached the shore minutes later. Mr. Alex Campbell, who had interviewed some witnesses, considered it a good sighting by genuine people. Ricky Gardiner had logged a large vessel passing earlier, leading to speculation that the wake pattern might have caused the sighting.

Bob Rines and Underwater Search Efforts

As reported in a previous issue (N.I.S. No.9), Bob Rines of the Academy of Applied Science had prepared equipment for an underwater search of Loch Ness. Newspapers in late July and early August carried reports about "American Scientists had hush hush film of Nessie." Bob Rines stated that they wished to keep plans and results confidential for now, but "we are planning jointly to present photographs and other new materials, never before released, at a scientific lecture this fall with the hope that we can now get official British 'sciencedom' to come aboard and make the final identification." The newsletter encourages readers to wait and see the results, hoping they will gain traction with the scientific community.

Odds & Ends

• Rowing Record: On August 25th, a team of eight schoolboys from Ballikinian School, Balfron, set a new rowing record for Loch Ness, completing the length in 2 hours 35 minutes 38.2 seconds, beating the old record by nearly 10 minutes. They were heading to the World Rowing Championships in Nottingham and then preparing for a long race on the River Witham.
• Model Monster: Firemen from Hemel Hampstead launched their model monster on Loch Ness on August 10th. While it did not attract the real Nessie, the event raised about £1,500 for their Benevolent Fund, with plans to raffle the model.
• Betting Odds: A local newspaper article mentioned betting odds on unusual events, with Nessie being rated at 100 to 1 against being found in any one year. The newsletter playfully suggests that convinced individuals might consider a side bet.

Books

• Penguin Books is set to publish Nick Witchell's "Loch Ness Story" in paperback in November, which has been revised and includes a new final chapter, potentially featuring Bob Rines' new pictures.
• Tim Dinsdal's new book, "Project Water Horse," which focuses on experiments and the work of monster hunters, was published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd in June, priced at £2.50 in paperback.

Editorial Stance and Contact Information

The newsletter concludes by reminding readers that their news and views are welcome. It is published bi-monthly by Ness Information Service, with subscriptions costing £1 per year in the UK and $5.00 in the USA and Canada. The address for correspondence is R.R.Hepple, Huntshildford Cottage, St. Johns Chaple, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham, DL13 1RQ.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing fascination with the Loch Ness Monster, the reporting of recent sightings, and the continuous efforts by researchers and enthusiasts to find definitive proof. The editorial stance appears to be one of active engagement and information sharing within a community dedicated to investigating the phenomenon. There is a clear emphasis on documenting sightings, supporting research initiatives like Bob Rines', and keeping the public informed about related publications and activities. The newsletter encourages reader participation and aims to foster a sense of community among those interested in Loch Ness.