Folklore Frontiers - No 041

Magazine Overview

Title: Folklore Frontiers
Issue: No. 41
Date: August 2002
Publisher: Paul Screeton

Folklore Frontiers is an independent magazine dedicated to exploring various facets of folklore, with a particular focus on contemporary legends (urban myths), ancient traditions, and modern culture. This issue, No. 41, dated August 2002, is edited and published by Paul Screeton from Hartlepool, UK.

The Diary: Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes: What a nickname!

The issue opens with an exploration of the nickname of the late singer Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, a member of the chart-topping trio TLC. The article delves into the confusion surrounding the origin of her nickname, presenting various accounts from different media sources. The Daily Mail suggested a man told her her left eye was more beautiful, while friends cited a childhood lazy eye. The Sun echoed the admirer theory. The Daily Mirror proposed a sex-related origin, linking it to condoms used to promote safe sex, while The Times suggested a habit of replacing a spectacle lens with a condom. The article notes TLC's success despite a later declaration of bankruptcy due to flawed record contracts, and their status as the highest-selling girl group in pop history.

The 'Diary' section, written by the editor, recounts a series of personal dreams experienced around June 14-15, 2002. The editor questions why he dreamt of Anne Robinson, speculating if it was triggered by a Daily Sport article on men's nightmares, which featured Christine Hamilton, Ann Widdecombe, and Anne Robinson. The article mentions a Tesco survey on sleeping habits and lists celebrities dreamt of by men and women. The editor's dreams included Anne Robinson reviewing a play, and recurring themes of being back at the Hartlepool Mail, dealing with deceased colleagues, his late parents, his granddaughter, a dog attack, and an unpleasant leaving do. He ponders the significance of dreaming of Anne Robinson, who was mentioned in an interview with writer Jilly Cooper.

Big Jimmy

This section recounts the death of an acquaintance, James Harrison, aged 44, from Legionnaires' disease. Harrison, a shot-blaster and former sea-coal gatherer, died at the University Hospital of Hartlepool on August 5th after being on life support. The night of his death, the editor experienced a vivid nightmare involving shoplifters and a vanishing dark figure. He later learned that Jimmy Harrison had passed away around noon the previous day, prompting reflection on the dream's possible connection.

And Here's To You Mrs Robinson

This piece discusses police action taken by North Wales police regarding a BBC show where Anne Robinson made comments about Wales. It mentions 427 complaints from the first broadcast and unknown figures for a repeat. The author shares negative experiences in North Wales, including a hostile encounter in Newport-on-Usk and a pub sign declaring 'THE ANNE ROBINSON SUITE'. The section concludes with a quote from Glyn Davies, a Welsh Assembly spokesman, calling the police move 'political correctness gone mad'.

Sea-coaling: A Burning Issue

This article by Paul Screeton addresses the ongoing debate about sea-coaling at Hartlepool. It highlights the impracticality of banning the practice and dismisses the proposed licensing system by Hartlepool councillors as futile. The author expresses respect for the sea-coalers, viewing them as providing a valuable service. The article examines the argument that nature will resolve the sea-coal problem, questioning if it's a finite resource. It references a 1898 news item about an 'Extraordinary Eruption of Coal' on the beach between West Hartlepool and Seaton Carew. The piece also introduces a radical theory by Thomas Gold of Cornell University, suggesting coal, oil, and gas might be products of constant upwelling of carbon-based compounds from deep underground, rather than solely from fossil remnants.

Rumours of Names

This extensive section, also by Paul Screeton, details the complex and often chaotic history of naming locomotives in various British Rail classes, including Class 59/2, Class 60, Class 73, Class 86/2, Class 90, and Class 91. It highlights instances of broken naming rules, name changes, thematic inconsistencies, and the use of notable people, places, and fictional concepts. For Class 60, it describes the initial plan for 'vale' names, the breakdown of a 'Steadfast' theme, and the eventual adoption of diverse names. It notes the confusion over 'William Bramwell Booth' and the substitution of 'William Booth'. The article details the misallocation of names like 'Elizabeth Fry' and 'Florence Nightingale', and the disappearance of others. For Class 86/2, it covers themes of cities and Scottish clans, and the use of 'Glenfiddich'. The section also touches upon the use of 'Lord Stamp' nameplates and the rumoured reapplying of 'Fury' to a Class 90. The naming of Class 90 locomotives is discussed, including Richard Branson's 'Mission: Impossible' theme and the abandoned 'Ben Line' plates. Class 91 naming is mentioned, with 'David Livingstone' being chosen over 'David Beckham', and the commemoration of heritage sites and personalities.

Articles Elsewhere

This section provides brief summaries and commentary on various news items and articles from other publications:

• E-mails that changed the world: A warning about a scam involving a woman asking for help with a broken-down car, costing callers £250.
• Freedom fighter Mary!: A claim about porn star Mary Millington's alleged encounter with a Prime Minister.
• The Dawn of Magic: A reference to a book and the discovery of miniature figures in coffins on Edinburgh's Arthur's Seat.
• Glen Lyon figures: A discussion of garden gnomes as successors to household gods and guardian spirits.
• Oldies But Goodies: An anecdote about a prank involving a prawn and a telephone.

Exclusive: THEY arrive in offices by e-mail

This article by Ricky Sutton discusses the spread of bizarre e-mail 'reports' that are often treated as fact. Examples include:

• Forensic findings from a London Tube train: Detailing various biological samples found on seats.
• Wipe: A story about a cattleman and his son dying after wearing boots previously worn by a rattlesnake victim.
• The frogman in the forest fire: A surreal tale of a diver being accidentally dropped from a helicopter into a forest fire.
• Petrol Chump: A motorist driving off with a petrol nozzle still attached to her car.
• It's a Man Thing / It's a Woman Thing: Contrasting images related to gender stereotypes.
• Osama Bert Laden: A humorous juxtaposition of Osama supporters and a Sesame Street character.

Exclusive: The 'crime ring' warning

This e-mail warning describes a crime targeting business travellers, where victims wake up in a hotel bath tub with their kidneys harvested.

Scoop

A post-mortem examination reveals a diver died from massive internal injuries after being scooped up and dropped from 300m during a forest fire-fighting operation.

Steam Era Winners and Losers

This piece discusses the history of naming locomotives, noting that the allocation of names is not new to the modern era. It mentions examples from the London and North Eastern Railway and the London Midland and Scottish Railway, including horses that won races and notable figures.

Mis-spellings

This section highlights instances of mis-spelled names on locomotives, such as 'Western Legionaire' instead of 'Western Legionnaire' and 'Highland Chieftan' instead of 'Highland Chieftain'. It also notes errors in Class 60 names like 'Humphry Davy' and 'James Clerk-Maxwell'.

Update

This section provides updates on various topics:

• Anoraknophobia: Commentary on James Whale's negative views on planespotters.
• Broken Rails: A review of a book that argues against the privatization of railways.
• 'Anorak' as crossword clue: The word 'anorak' being used as a solution in a crossword.
• Cassandra column: Criticism of the British National Party and trainspotters.
• Film Four: A mention of the film 'Trainspotting'.
• Pina's 'Quick Look': A reference to trainspotters in relation to a musical performance.
• Dubious Transmissions: An X-rated tonic received by hospital patients due to a satellite receiver cock-up.
• Tattoo Cock-Ups: Examples of poorly executed tattoos, including a musical stave with incorrect lines, an incorrectly translated Japanese tattoo, a Mickey Mouse tattoo, and a tattoo of an ex-girlfriend's name.

Books

This section reviews several books:

• Haunted Land by Paul Devereux: Praised for its serious approach to ghosts and spirits in the landscape, urging science to take apparitions seriously.
• The Summer Solstice by John Matthews: Celebrates the sun's journey through the year with descriptions of global customs, myths, and activities, lavishly illustrated.
• Aspects of Teesside edited by Maureen Anderson: A collection of local history pieces, including legends and industrial history.
• In Brief: Reviews of self-help books from Thorsons, including 'Directions for Life' series, 'NLP Workbook', 'Mind Body Spirit Internet Guide', 'Spiritual Fitness', 'Way of Crystal Healing', and 'Straight from the Horse's Mouth'.

Earth Mysteries

This section covers various unexplained phenomena and folklore:

• Hare's a Mystery: An account of a large hare seen near a stone circle in Aberdeenshire, with theories of shape-shifting.
• Star Temple: A new terrestrial zodiac revealed in Cornwall, etched across the Lizard landscape.
• Echoes of the Past: The theory that stone circles like Easter Aquhorties and Camster cairns were used as 'echo chambers'.
• Well-Healed: An anecdote about a healing stone at Killin Tourist Office.
• Simon Broadbent: A tribute to a statistician interested in megalithic monuments.
• Autothenge: Ten Cadillacs planted nose-down in a field in Amarillo, Texas, being repainted.
• Series of Dreams 2: A continuation of a dream-monitoring program, with a warning from a tourist office about seeing a 'very tall man' camping on a hill.
• Merlin's Grave: The supposed burial site of Merlin in the forest of Broceliande, Brittany, with sightings of a white-footed stag.
• Bath Time: A bizarre comedy tour in Bath, following a blindfolded tour guide.
• Alien Big Cats: An account of a woman being mauled by a black panther-like beast.
• Other sightings: Mentions of black cat sightings in various locations in Scotland and England.

Proto-Legends

This section presents various unusual anecdotes and stories:

• Great Balls of Fire: A patient's bum fart igniting surgical spirit during surgery.
• Red Light District: Allegations of traffic light timings being altered to increase waiting times.
• Itchy Subject: A flea circus owner killed by his own performers.

Alex (Cartoon)

A cartoon depicting an efficiency expert suggesting the Cost Control Manager be fired for not recommending his own dismissal.

Other Anecdotes

• Went Mental: A bus driver in Zimbabwe leaving mental patients at a bar and picking up random passengers.
• No Laughing Matter: A man awarded damages because his brain damage causes him to laugh continuously.
• Not in the Script: A suspect in a police line-up altering his statement.
• Ashen-Faced: A woman receiving the wrong ashes for her mother's funeral.
• Scallies' Disappointment: Burglars leaving a note after finding nothing in an office safe.
• No Flies on Him: A man fined for indecent exposure to shame his wife.
• Aural Sex: A hospital barber suspended for shaving off the pubic hair of three young women.
• Bog Standard: A woman complaining about a lavatory window on a plane.
• Plane Nuts: An airline hiring psychiatrists to report employees showing signs of mental instability.
• Karma Chameleon: A pet detective tracing unusual missing animals.
• Whacko Paddies: A gang stealing microwave ovens instead of televisions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the unusual, the unexplained, and the anecdotal, often drawing from contemporary urban legends, folklore, and personal experiences. There is a clear interest in phenomena that challenge conventional explanations, such as the theories on coal formation and the nature of hauntings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, presenting various accounts and theories without necessarily endorsing them, while also maintaining a critical eye on media reporting and sensationalism. The inclusion of numerous short anecdotes and 'articles elsewhere' suggests a broad interest in quirky news and unusual occurrences from various sources. The editor, Paul Screeton, actively contributes personal experiences and research, demonstrating a deep engagement with the subject matter.

This document provides a detailed listing and brief synopsis of several niche magazines, primarily focused on folklore, fortean phenomena, ufology, and earth mysteries. The magazines reviewed are:

• LETTERS TO AMBROSE MERTON: A folklore miscellany, with issues 27 and 28 noted. Issue 27 covers topics like penguin and ostrich tales, Orson Welles, Captain Pugwash, G-spot myth, and chain letter analysis. Issue 28, the last, focuses on underground comics and photocopylore.
• FORTEAN TIMES: A newsstand magazine with issues 156 through 161 reviewed. Content includes reports on the "Mothman Prophecies" movie, chupacabras, Nessie, phantom hitch-hikers, spontaneous faces on concrete, occult Hollywood, ritual murder, Paracelsus, alien intelligence, Osama bin Laden links to science fiction, alleged Venezuelan dinosaur-birds, Peruvian runes, and discussions on submerged civilizations. Later issues cover dubious radio transmissions, Silbury Hill, cyclops, Welsh omens, OOBEs, NDEs, UnCon 2002, George Adamski, human longevity, the evil eye, and a profile of sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick, including his visions and "Son of Sam" conspiracy claims.
• NORTHERN EARTH: A quarterly publication (£6.50 for 4 issues) from the Northern Earth Mysteries Group. Issues 88-90 are summarized. Content includes editor John Billingsley's personal time-slippage events, ghostly tales, ley hunting, Bronze Age artifacts, human cultural links, cursed football grounds, and discussions on maypole climbing traditions, Stonehenge, and the etymology of "Mons Meg."
• AMSKAYA: A newsletter of the STAR Fellowship (£2 for 4 issues). Issue 50 features an article by Philip Rodgers on space voice recordings from 1971, a reprint from a Tony Wedd book, a review of an Adamski biography, and recalls George von Tassel's Giant Rock conventions.
• TOUCHSTONE: An irregular newsletter from the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, sharing the same address and price as Amskaya. Issues 57 and 58 are covered. Issue 57 discusses Staines, Ali G (Sacha Baron Cohen), ley hunting, and Derbyshire well dressing. Issue 58 highlights editor Jimmy Goddard's concept of "subconscious sighting" and its application to modern building construction, while also discussing Sussex sites and a 1965 Sussex ley hunt.
• MAGONIA: A quarterly publication (£5) from John Rimmer. Issues 77 and 78 are reviewed. Issue 77 concludes an investigation into the history of "Grays" in ufology and examines 1896/97 airship scare hoaxes. Issue 78 presents a case study on the interaction between believers and sceptics, an enigmatic US "UFO" experience, and notes that "Magonia" has 5,100 internet search results under its name.

Each magazine's subscription details, including price, payment methods, and addresses, are provided. Regular features such as reviews, letters, and diary entries are also mentioned.

Key Themes and Content

The primary themes explored across these publications are folklore, paranormal phenomena, and ufology. Specific topics include:

• Folklore: Penguin and ostrich tales, Welsh omens, Celtic traditions (e.g., maypole climbing), local legends (e.g., Dewsbury's Devil's Knell), and archaeological sites (e.g., Long Meg and her Daughters).
• Fortean Phenomena: Reports on unusual occurrences, cryptids (chupacabras, Nessie), phantom hitch-hikers, spontaneous manifestations (faces on concrete), and unexplained events.
• Ufology: UFO contactees (George Adamski), UFO experiences (US case study), space voice recordings, alien intelligence, and discussions on alleged ancient civilizations and dinosaur-birds.
• Earth Mysteries: Ley hunting, earth energy sites, and the significance of locations in paranormal contexts.
• Paranormal: Ghostly tales, time-slippage events, OOBEs, NDEs, the evil eye, and ritual murder.
• Cultural and Historical Topics: Examination of underground comics, photocopylore, Richard Dawkins' theories, Captain Pugwash, Philip K. Dick's work, airship scares, and the etymology of place names.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes across these magazines indicate a strong interest in the unexplained, the fringe, and the paranormal. There is a consistent focus on investigating anomalies, historical mysteries, and alleged encounters with the unknown, ranging from folklore and cryptozoology to UFOs and earth energies. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting diverse viewpoints and case studies, often with a critical or analytical approach, as seen in the "Magonia" review of believer-sceptic interactions and the "Touchstone" discussion of "subconscious sighting."