Harry Benson: part two

IF picture editors are not unanimous in their appreciation of Scottish photographer, Harry Benson’s work, they should at least be 100 per cent agreed on his remarkable timing and access.

The Manhattan-based septuagenerian is in Scotland promoting his latest book, Harry Benson’s Glasgow.

This is the photographer who took some of the most iconic shots of The Beatles and whose pictures of the assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy are among the most powerful images of the 20th century.

His knack for perfect timing was evident on his first assignment for the now defunct Daily Sketch newspaper, based in London.

He was asked to photograph the crime scene involving the murder of a young girl in East Kilbride, who was to prove one of a number of victims who died at the hands of serial killer, Peter Manuel.

But he was late, turning up. He yesterday told allmediascotland.com: “All the police and press had been there, but when I turned up, there was only one cop. Before, all the press had been kept on the other side of a cordon, about 300 yards back. So, I was the only one, on the spot, where she was murdered.”