Folklore Frontiers - No 007

Magazine Overview

Title: Folklore Frontiers
Issue: No. 7
Date: July 17, 1987
Publisher: Independent Non-Profitmaking Magazine
Editor/Publisher: Paul Screeton
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Language: English

Cover Story: 'Buggerallmoney' and Newcastle Brown Ale

The cover features a man in a t-shirt proclaiming 'I DRINK BEER, ME,' identified as 'TOUGH NUT: It's Buggerall against the world.' The accompanying text discusses the stereotype of the hard-drinking North Eastern man, particularly in relation to Newcastle Brown Ale. It mentions a legend about a special ward in a Newcastle hospital for those brain-damaged by excessive drinking. Scottish & Newcastle breweries deny rumors of beer causing brain damage. The article also touches on the 'Shamen' group scam and the HMS Newcastle swapping its 'gin' flag for the Newcastle Brown Ale symbol.

Cover Headlines and Other Features

Additional cover headlines include 'Sockburn mysteries,' 'Snakes,' 'Autocash guilt,' 'Durham Cat,' 'Broon ale,' 'Submerged lands,' and 'Newspaper taken for ride.' A drawing of a snake is also present on the cover.

Main Articles and Features

Cover Story: 'Buggerallmoney' and Newcastle Brown Ale (Continued)

The article delves into the cultural association of Newcastle Brown Ale with a certain stereotype. It references a legend about a hospital ward for those with alcohol-induced brain damage, a story whispered in Tyneside bars. Scottish & Newcastle denies the truth of this rumor. The piece also notes recent news involving the brewery, such as the 'Shamen' group scam and the HMS Newcastle displaying the brewery's symbol.

'Slimey, Bruce!' - Cane Toad Slime Cocktail

A brief item reports on a new Australian cocktail made with cane toad slime, which is said to have an effect similar to LSD, causing 'vivid colours and a burning feeling.' Zoologists warn that the slime can be fatal.

Porn Note - McEwans Lager Advert

A £1 million TV advert for McEwans Lager was shelved due to controversy surrounding the music supplier, 'The Shamen,' who reportedly show pornographic videos at their concerts and have a self-confessed drug user in the band. Scottish & Newcastle stated their strong policy for social responsibility, while the band retorted that the brewery shouldn't be in the alcohol business if they were so responsible.

Contributors

• Guy Ragland Phillips: Sadly deceased, his posthumous contribution is featured. He was the author of 'The Unpolluted God' and had received a positive review from the magazine.
• Jake Williams: Lives in Aberdeenshire, interested in self-sufficiency, electronics, and writes for magazines, including a column on 'The Night Sky.'
• Eddie Bell: Police Constable and community liaison officer in North-West Durham, offering talks on alien big cat sightings.
• Paul Screeton: Feature writer and senior sub-editor for The Mail, Hartlepool, author of books on earth mysteries and folklore.

Taxi Raid Backfires

This story details an incident in Hartlepool where a taxi driver, after taking a couple to the airport, returned to their home to steal valuables. The couple returned unexpectedly for their passports and caught the thief. The article highlights the rivalry between taxi firms and the subsequent demand for the rogue driver's name. Ian Cameron, secretary of the Hartlepool taxi proprietors association, expressed dismay at the incident, emphasizing the trade's commitment to honesty.

Concern over taxi article

A letter to the editor from 'Lil's Taxis' expresses concern about the 'Taxi Raid Backfires' article, stating it unfairly cast suspicion on all taxi firms in Hartlepool and requesting that Mr. Hudson reveal the name of the firm involved.

Forteana

• This section rounds up brief, bizarre incidents:
• A motor-cyclist in Barnet asked women to sit on his head.
• A phantom blonde in Hampshire flashed at other women.
• Shoppers in Stroud were pelted with pink frogs.
• A wallaby was spotted in Poole.
• Fishermen in Northumberland encountered octopuses raiding lobster pots.
• Builders in Piddlehinton found unfinished work mysteriously completed.

The Pattern of Sockburn

By Guy Ragland Phillips, this article explores the folklore of Sockburn Peninsula, near Darlington. It mentions a lewd carving in Croft Church, the legend of the 'Worm' slain by the Champion Conyers, and the presentation of a Saracen falchion. It also discusses the 'Hell's Kettles' sulphurous springs and a large stone associated with the Worm's demise. The article notes the preservation of the Conyers falchion at Durham Cathedral and an interesting abbreviation on a brass monument in Sockburn chapel.

Autocash Machine Legends

By Jake Williams, this piece discusses the emerging folklore surrounding cash-dispensing machines, comparing them to 'Perverse Machines' like the TV that wouldn't switch off. It recounts a story of a friend-of-a-friend finding a cashcard, attempting to return it by using it with a random PIN, and inadvertently triggering the machine to keep the card. The author questions why the person didn't simply use the bank's letterbox. Another story from The Sunday Post mentions a malfunctioning machine dispensing two cards.

The Durham Cat - The Story So Far

By P.C. Eddie Bell, this article details sightings of a large, cat-like creature in the Durham area. The first sighting occurred on September 17, 1986, near Thinford Inn. Subsequent sightings include one at Fishburn Coke Works and numerous reports of sheep kills attributed to the creature. The author notes the difficulty in distinguishing between cat and dog sightings and discusses possible explanations, including an endemic population of wild cats, a hybrid between Scottish wild cat and feral domestic cat, or misidentification.

Newslines

• Homing Returns: Thieves stole racing pigeons that flew back to their owner.
• Platform End Rumour: A recurring story about a buried steam locomotive beneath Wembley Stadium.
• Miracle of the Sea of Sharks: A boy floated for two days after a ferry sank.

The Hissing of Autumn Lawns

By Paul Screeton, this article compiles a 'calendar of curiosities' related to snakes in the media and public consciousness. It includes incidents such as a python terrifying the Princess of York, snakes stolen from a pet shop, a snake found at a school sports field, a snake behind a radiator, a snake found in an Italian visitor's underpants, a python flooding flats in Bremen, and a snake's head found in a family's peas. It also mentions a pet shop girl offering 'snake-o-grams' and a case of alleged spiritual healer fraud involving 'killer snakes.'

Worms and Spiders

Brief mentions of a gardener claiming Britain's biggest worm and a venomous Trinidad Chevron spider found in a box of bananas.

Contemporary Legend

This section discusses the basis of press stories in fact versus contemporary legends, citing the dubious tale of a Russian peasant girl swallowing snakes and the alleged emergence of rats from Malmo lavatories.

Wife in Concrete

A man was arrested after his wife was found entombed in concrete on the 7th floor of a newspaper office in Dayton, Ohio.

Belt up darling!

Chastity belts are making a comeback, with medieval passion killers costing £860. Artist Angelo Camerino creates these for jealous husbands. Pet shop owner Helen Kelly sells leather chastity belts for lady dogs.

Snake

Actress Marla Sole was bitten by a snake while filming a video.

Letters

• From Rob Skinner: Discusses the 'Jack' baboon featured in a previous issue, detailing its role as a signalman and its close relationship with its disabled master, referencing a Chambers Journal article from 1897.
• From Mick Goss: Comments on the 'Irish labourer/terrapin affair,' likening it to an old joke about a tortoise pie.

The Cruel Sea - Britain's Changing Coastline

By Paul Screeton, this article discusses the impact of the sea on coastlines and the folklore surrounding lost lands and sunken cities. It references Nigel Pennick's book 'Lost Lands and Sunken Cities' and details how Britain's coastline has changed over historical times, including the loss of land bridges, crumbling cliffs, and vanished ports and communities.

When St Hilda's received a push

An anecdote about fishermen in Hartlepool pushing St Hilda's Church inland to protect it from the sea, only to find their coats had disappeared, leading them to believe the church had been moved sufficiently far to bury them.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores urban belief tales, local legends, and unexplained phenomena, often with a focus on the British Isles. There is a clear interest in cryptozoology (the Durham Cat), strange occurrences, and the intersection of folklore with modern life (cash machines, media reports). The editorial stance appears to be one of documenting and presenting these stories, often with a degree of skepticism or a call for further investigation, as seen in the 'Forteana' sections and the questioning of eyewitness accounts. The magazine also highlights the role of local newspapers and press clippings in disseminating these tales.

This issue of the magazine, identified by the number '20' on the cover, appears to be a review of various niche publications focusing on paranormal phenomena, folklore, earth mysteries, and ancient legends. The cover itself features a headline about 'Night the circus came to town' and an illustration related to a local legend.

Local Legends and History

The issue begins with a piece titled 'Night the circus came to town,' which delves into the history of Hartlepool. It recounts the story of the Elephant Rock, a geological formation that resembled an elephant and was a local landmark until it toppled into the sea in the 1890s. The narrative connects this event to the arrival of a circus and the unusual death of an elephant on the same night. The article also touches upon the historical names for the area, such as 'heopru' or 'heoprea,' meaning 'the place where harts (deer) drink,' and mentions the existence of large oak forests and the discovery of deer antlers and acorns, suggesting ancient submarine forests. It references Nigel Pennick's book 'Lost Lands and Sunken Cities' for further information on such phenomena.

Another section, 'Spy cliff hanger!', reports on the relocation of radar equipment used to track shipping in the Thames estuary to prevent its loss to the sea. It also notes subsidence on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, due to erosion. A geographical error is highlighted in 'Mistake, Surely,' where the town of Beccles is incorrectly placed on the coast in new Suffolk phone directories.

Magazine Reviews

The bulk of the issue is dedicated to reviewing a variety of specialized magazines:

Northern Earth Mysteries

This journal covers topics related to earth mysteries, including terrestrial zodiacs, pagan communities, lunar standstill experiences, and alignments in North Yorkshire. It also features discussions on dragons and local folklore.

New England Antiquities Research Association Journal

This publication focuses on New England stone structures, ley lines, and ancient sites. Reviews mention pieces on Tartessus, New England stone structures, the Anubis Panel in Oklahoma, and Scottish megalithic sites.

Magonia

Magonia is described as an independent journal exploring anomalous phenomena and their interaction with society. It features editorials on UFO abduction experiences, the MJ-12 documents, and critiques of books by authors like Whitley Streiber and Budd Hopkins. It also includes discussions on American UFO cases and the work of researchers like Manfred Cassirer and Roger Sandell.

F.L.S. News

This is a newsletter from the Folklore Society, covering topics such as private brewings, the origin of the term 'silly season,' and appeals for information. It also reports on correspondence and future events.

Pendragon

This journal investigates Arthurian history and archaeology, as well as the Matter of Britain. Articles discuss Arthur's resting place, Glastonbury's claim, and Arthurian art.

Amanskaya

This newsletter is characterized as uncritical and belief-oriented, focusing on flying saucerology, Wilhelm Reich's orgone theory, and personal UFO sightings. It also includes book reviews and notes.

Touchstone

This magazine covers earth mysteries, including ley hunting, mysterious Royston, and local folklore. It also features notes and news related to these topics.

Fortean Times

Highly recommended, this journal covers strange phenomena, including lake monster traditions, cryptozoology, and unexplained events. It features articles on the Tasmanian tiger, Brazilian spooklights, and unusual impregnation cases.

The Ley Hunter

This magazine focuses on earth mysteries, with articles on Greek axial alignments, comparative geomancy, earth energies, and megaliths. It also includes discussions on Pennine earthlights and UFOs.

UFO Brigantia

This journal from the Independent UFO Network covers recent UFO cases in the UK, including investigations in Northern England and the South Pennines. It also discusses UFO cover-up doubts and the analysis of photographic UFO cases.

Book Reviews

The issue also includes several book reviews:

• 'The Giant of Penhill' by Ian Taylor: This book explores the legend of the Penhill giant, connecting it to Celtic, Saxon, and Norse mythologies, and the Burning of Bartle folk custom. It also discusses alignments, geomancy, and ancient sites.
• 'Nineteen Centuries of Wrong: The History of Christian Persecution of Other Faiths' by Nigel Pennick: This pamphlet examines the history of persecution of pagans, witch-hunts, and various religious and social groups throughout history.
• 'The Cosmic Axis' by Nigel Pennick: A new edition of a booklet on the Northern European Tradition of the Elder Faith, focusing on the Tree of Life and paganism.
• 'Tony Wedd: New Age Pioneer' by Philip Heselton: A biography of Tony Wedd, who is credited with linking ancient landmarks and UFO sightings. The book covers his life as a designer, artist, teacher, writer, and psychic, and his involvement with the STAR Fellowship.
• 'The Seed of Avalon' by Rupert Benjamin and 'Jesus Lived in India' by Holger Kersten: These books present controversial theories about Jesus's origins and life, suggesting a connection to Celtic forefathers and a period spent in India.
• 'Needles of Stone Revisited' by Tom Graves and 'Spiritual Dowsing' by Sig Lonegren: These books explore earth mysteries, magical technology, and dowsing. Graves's book is a revised edition summarizing Dragon Project research, while Lonegren's offers a guide to ley lines and dowsing.
• 'Devas, Fairies and Angels' by William Bloom: This book offers a modern approach to elementals, discussing their form, evolution, and interaction with humans.
• 'The Soul of Things' by William Denton: An 1853 work examining psychometry and the belief that everyone possesses this power.
• 'An English Figure: Two Essays on the Work of John Michell' by John Nicholson and Laurel Schreiber: These essays provide an overview of John Michell's published writings, focusing on his ideas about paganism, ancient sites, and UFOs.
• 'Secret Wisdom' by David Conway and 'The Science of the Paranormal' by Lawrence Le Shan: Conway's work is dismissed as lacking credibility, while Le Shan's books are described as difficult but potentially meaningful.
• 'Earth Energy' by J. Havelock Fidler: This book, subtitled 'A Dowser's Guide to Ley Lines,' is criticized for its questionable grasp of leys and megalithic archaeology.
• 'Phantom Aerial Flaps and Waves' by Nigel Watson: This booklet examines airship panic case studies and their historical context, suggesting they are products of social and cultural explanations.

Other Features

The issue also includes short notes on 'Munxified Moggies' (animal ordeal stories), 'Pete's cat brings the house down' (a rescue story), and 'Tomb Ordeal of Cat' (a cat surviving in a confined space). There is also a mention of 'Magazines Extra' covering topics like contactees and 'free energy' machines, and 'Touchstone' reviewing medieval pilgrimages and healing.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFOs, folklore, earth mysteries, ancient history, and paranormal phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical engagement with these subjects, offering reviews and analyses of various publications and theories. There is a clear interest in local legends, historical accounts of unexplained events, and the exploration of alternative belief systems. The reviewer of 'Folklore Frontiers' expresses a strong, albeit somewhat dismissive, opinion on academic approaches to folklore research, preferring a more accessible and less stuffy style.