Visitor hopes to be reunited with ‘precious’ pics

On returning to the United States Sheila Flanagan realised she had lost her camera

A US woman who is proud to say she was “made in Scotland” – and has the tattoo to prove it – is hoping Scots can help her find precious photos of what she thinks may be her final trip here.

Sheila Flanagan, 70, from Argyle in Texas, was visiting Scotland with family earlier this summer and had taken a host of photos of her “beloved Scotland”.

However, when she got home she realised she had lost the camera.

Now, three months on, she has issued a “crazy” online plea in the faint hope that someone might have found it.

Sheila said: “I had the most fantastic trip to Scotland in May with my son and other family.

“We had left the Isle of Skye on our way to our last night in Glasgow and had stopped at Loch Lomond.

The battery ran out in my camera and I thought I put it in the rental car. When I got back to Texas, I realised I didn’t have my camera.

“I tried the rental car agency and the hotel we stayed in our last night in Glasgow – no luck.”

Sheila says many people have already tried to help, with her appeal being shared online thousands of times.

“My camera is a red Canon Powershot SX280HS.

“I really don’t care if I get the camera back – it is all the memories that I so want to find,” she said.

“I turned 70 in July and it was probably my last trip to Scotland until my son and daughter-in-law take my ashes back.

“I hope that is still years away but, when you’re 70, it’s just reality!”

Sheila is holding on to hope that Scots’ willingness to help might just reunite her with her precious photos.

But even if the appeal ultimately proves unsuccessful, Sheila says she’ll never feel anything other than love for Scotland.

She added: “My mother was seven months pregnant with me when she came to Texas after marrying my dad during the war.

“I got a tattoo on my arm that says “made in Scotland” when I made my first trip in 2013!”

If you think you can help, please email Sheila at mishe74@verizon.net. rrooney@thecourier.co.uk

Texas woman Sheila Flanagan, right, with family members at Urquhart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness.