Travel in Time

TRAVEL IN TIME REVISITED

Iain Ferguson In last December’s Lochaber Life, we carried a story appealing for information on ‘Thomson the photographer’ who lived in Cameron Square, Fort William.

The appeal came from Belgian historian, researcher and writer Estelle Slegers Helsen who had discovered the work of Thomson in a series of books ‘The Highlands in Colour’ dating from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Her intention was to produce her own book on his work, travelling across the area reproducing as exactly as possible his images in the present day.

One year on, after having tracked down a few people who knew him and his work as well as a member of his family - the result is a book prepared, published and available for purchase in time for Christmas.

‘Travel in Time, Revisiting Places from the Past’ with images from around Lochaber is available in The Highland Bookshop and West Highland Museum.

Estelle said: ‘It has been a very interesting journey, meeting many people who have been so helpful with my research, which I am delighted to say has come together in book.

‘It was fascinating finding the locations and working out the exact position from where he took his picture, then reproduce it as closely as possible. Many of the places were still similar, but others had changed completely over time, but I did my best to make sure things were as accurate as possible.

‘Thank you to everyone who played a part in this. I hope they like the final result.’