Folklore Frontiers - No 056

Magazine Overview

Title: Folklore Frontiers
Issue: No. 56
Date: July 2007
Publisher: Paul Screeton
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

Folklore Frontiers is an independent, non-profit-making magazine published three times a year. It serves as a miscellany covering various aspects of folklore, ancient and modern traditions, particularly contemporary legends, rumour, forteana, and modern culture and belief. The magazine primarily compiles clippings from the press and acts as an information exchange for fellow enthusiasts. Short original articles, especially on urban legend research, and clippings are welcome contributions.

Editorial and Subscription Information

FOLKLORE FRONTIERS is edited and published by PAUL SCREETON at 5 Egton Drive, Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, TS25 2AT. The subscription rate is £6 for three issues, payable to P. Screeton.

The Diary

This section welcomes readers to another issue of Folklore Frontiers, described as an "unmissable cornucopia of intelligent vulgarity."

The Methilhill Earthquake: The editor references a 'revised' version of an email about the May earthquake in Kent, which was sent to Kelvin Mackenzie, former editor of The Sun. The email satirically describes the earthquake's impact, exaggerating damage and listing absurd items needed for relief, such as Fila or Burberry baseball caps and cigarettes, while humorously suggesting that tents for shelter are inappropriate due to the sight of upscale housing.

John Michell's Marriage: Congratulations are extended to John Michell on his marriage to Denise (Denny) Price at St Benedict's Church, Glastonbury, on April 26, 2007. The editor notes a coincidence: while researching Keith Richards, he came across an episode involving Michell, Brian Jones, and Anita Pallenberg, where Michell conducted them to Woodhope Church to investigate ley lines and magnetic disturbances. The editor also references Michell's books, "The Flying Saucer Mystery" and "The View Over Atlantis."

Book Review Correction: The editor corrects an error in a review of Adam Stout's book, noting that the "Detective in..." series on rural affairs was written by DONALD Maxwell, not Gavin Tarka the Otter Maxwell. The article title is also noted as being "Bob Dylanesque."

Buns and Horns: Folk Customs in Pubs by Antony Clayton

This article explores two distinct London pub customs.

The Butterworth Charity: The author describes the Butterworth Charity custom, which has been observed since at least 1686. On Good Friday, sixpence and hot cross buns are distributed to 21 poor widows and local children at the churchyard of St Bartholomew the Great in Smithfield, London. The custom originated from a bequest by Joshua Butterworth in 1887. The author notes the decline in the significance of sixpence and the modern practice of inviting the congregation to take buns.

The Widow's Son Pub Ceremony: The author then visits The Widow's Son pub at 75 Devon's Road, Bromley-by-Bow, to witness its Good Friday "Bun Ceremony." The pub is known as "The Bun House." The ceremony involves a sailor or Wren from the Royal Navy placing a bun in a net above the bar. The origin of this custom is traced back to the early nineteenth century, when a poor widow baked a hot cross bun annually for her son who had gone to sea and never returned. The pub was named in her honour, and the custom continued. The article mentions that the collection of buns now totals 173, with some displayed in the bar, though a fire in recent years destroyed older ones. The continuation of the custom is reportedly a condition of the pub's lease.

'Swearing on the Horns' Custom: The article then details another London pub custom, "Swearing on the Horns," which takes place in Highgate. This custom, recorded since the seventeenth century, involved travellers being persuaded to swear an oath on animal horns to become "freemen of Highgate," granting them privileges. The author notes that the custom declined but was revived in the twentieth century, particularly at The Wrestlers pub. A version of the oath is provided, which includes humorous clauses about choosing between maids and mistresses, and kicking pigs out of ditches. The ceremony at The Wrestlers has reportedly not been performed for several years, though revival is being considered. The author also mentions a recent "Swearing on the Horns" ceremony at The Flask pub as part of a Beating the Bounds walk.

The Tiger Tavern Ceremony: The author briefly mentions a peculiar ceremony at The Tiger Tavern opposite the Tower of London, where the Lord Mayor and other officials test the quality of the beer by pouring it onto a stool and sitting on it. If the breeches stick, the beer is deemed good.

Proto-legends

This section presents various modern legends and anecdotes.

The Scareline Pilots: An urban legend from 1997 about two pilots who terrified a stewardess by switching their plane to auto-pilot and hiding in a cupboard. The pilots' licenses were reportedly taken away.

Not So Dumb Waiter: A story about Anne Robinson ordering a non-alcoholic drink, only for the waiter to present it with the line, "Yours is the weakest drink. Goodbye."

Red (Face)s Under the Bed: A survey revealed that women were embarrassed by how irregularly they cleaned under beds, with one man discovering his wife's girlfriend there after investigating strange rustlings.

Fowl Play, Ref: Two chickens in China are described as being addicted to football, learning to dribble and slide-tackle.

Death Penalty: An anecdote from Park Bencher about a Labour supporter who intended to vote Tory because her husband would have wanted it, only to discover he had been dead for eight years.

Orange Crushed: A story about Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams refusing to wear a bright orange boiler suit for a visit to the Sellafield nuclear plant due to its association with Protestant rivals, leading to a replacement suit in Irish green.

Barking Mad: A reflection on Martin Newland's observation about stocky pit-bull type dogs being used as symbols of street credibility, often carrying Class A drugs. The author expresses a strong dislike for dogs and their owners.

Net Loss: An account of a house in Tacoma, Washington, being stripped bare after a fake internet advert invited people to take anything they wanted.

Another Deadcat Story: An introduction to "dead cat stories" in folklore, referencing a tale about the making of Rolf de Heer's film "Bad Boy Bubby" involving an animal shelter and a cat.

Newslines

This section provides brief news items and rumours.

Migrant Workers Poaching Fish: Reports from Kent suggest that migrant workers are poaching fish, including carp, from waterways, with concerns about the impact on local fisheries and the methods used.

Gratuitous Rumour Mongering: A snippet from The Pendennis column about the rumoured separation of Peter Mandelson from his long-time boyfriend Reinaldo da Silva, and a connection to Lord Browne's resignation from BP.

Belief Denied: A report refuting the rumour that Prince Harry and his brother do not pay for their drinks at the South Kensington nightclub Boujis.

And Now... The News: A report on a technical fault at a cable company that led to sex orgies being accidentally broadcast into homes in Irvine, Ayrshire, instead of cricket or documentaries.

Who's Sari Now: A British man named Stephen Louis Cooper, who wears a sari and is addressed as a woman, is being worshipped as a goddess in Gujarat, India.

Maternal Feelings: A comment on Jordan being crowned "Celebrity Mum of the Year," with a satirical remark about the other finalists.

Mobile Phone Hoax Panic: An account of mobile phone operators in Pakistan being inundated with calls due to a hoax message claiming a virus transmitted through phones could be fatal.

Mammoth Task: A scientific theory suggesting that another comet impact, approximately 13,000 years ago, may have wiped out the mammoth, in addition to the comet impact that caused dinosaur extinction.

Update

This section provides updates on previously featured stories.

The Cheap Car: An update on strange items sold on eBay, including a Lotus Esprit for 50p, chewing gum masticated by Britney Spears for $263, a ten-year-old cheese sandwich resembling the Virgin Mary for $28,000, and a Volkswagen Golf previously owned by Pope Benedict XVI for 188,938 euros.

Womanly Revenge: A recap of three revenge tactics by Lady Graham Moon: distributing her husband's wine collection, sprinkling cress seeds on a wet carpet, and dialling long-distance with the phone left off the hook.

Mandelson's Mushy Peas (1 & 2): References to Stuart Maconie's book "Pies and Prejudice" and a recurring anecdote about Peter Mandelson mistaking mushy peas for guacamole in a Hartlepool chip shop. A second mention notes a similar anecdote involving Peter Mandelson and guacamole at a fish-and-chip shop.

Pronounced Dead: An anecdote about Peter Powlowski, who was reportedly pronounced dead in Newcastle, escaped from the mortuary slab, and assumed a false identity. He is also known by the nickname 'Slither' and once urinated from a moving minibus.

Goldfish Out of Water: An update on a hoax involving an obese, blind goldfish found alive on a lawn, which turned out to be a practical joke by two neighbours.

Bogus Health Workers: An update on a fake nurse who appeared at a new mother's house in Yorkshire, West Riding, attempting to inject the baby, despite the child having already received her immunisations.

Misheard Lyrics: An account of a man in a pub claiming that Elvis Presley sings "slimy cunt" in "Wooden Heart."

Evolution: A quote from Pope Benedict XVI stating that the theory of evolution is "not yet a complete scientifically verified theory."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores urban legends, historical customs, and contemporary folklore, often with a critical or humorous lens. The "Newslines" and "Proto-legends" sections highlight the prevalence of rumour, anecdote, and the sometimes bizarre nature of modern belief and storytelling. The editorial stance appears to be one of documenting and analyzing these phenomena, encouraging reader participation, and maintaining an informal, conversational tone. There is a clear interest in the intersection of folklore with everyday life, media, and popular culture.

This issue of The Obse Magazine, dated 6 May 2007, features a cover story on actress Keira Knightley, with the headline "Keira's kit - are her cups half full or half empty?". The cover also includes a mention of Banksy's street art.

Articles and Features

Banksy's Street Art The issue notes that Banksy's 'Pulp Fiction' mural at London's Old Street, which featured John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson, was mistakenly painted over by workmen. Stephen Bayley is quoted comparing this to a similar incident involving artist Gavin Turk.

Keira Knightley Actress Keira Knightley, 22, is quoted as saying she "'d love to have tits" and wishes for a figure like Monica Bellucci's. However, she ruled out breast augmentation surgery, stating "It's far too frightening. I couldn't".

Global Warming Skepticism A piece titled "GLOBAL WARMING" features a rant from Jeremy Clarkson, who argues that everyone benefits from global warming: scientists get funding, newspapers print 'scare stories', businesses offer new 'carbon neutral' products, and governments introduce new taxes. The article also mentions the Met Office's predictions and questions their accuracy. A reader, J.W. Kitson, satirically attributes a python found in Scarborough to global warming. Professor Randall Hopkirk offers a "COUNTER-THESIS TO THE MISERABLISTS", suggesting that sun spots, low-altitude clouds, and star explosions are more likely causes of warming than greenhouse gases. He criticizes the basis of predictions like Sir Nicholas Stern's, arguing that reliable weather statistics only go back four centuries and that the world's warming is not fully understood, citing past violent shifts in Earth's temperature.

Misheard Lyrics A short piece revisits a previous item about written karaoke lyrics for "Wooden Heart", and shares an anecdote from Craig Murray, former ambassador to Uzbekistan, about misheard lyrics in "La Isla Bonita" and "Super Trouper".

Octopus Intelligence An update on "Octi the octopus", featured in 1994 for allegedly helping a capsized boat, highlights its current role as the star of New Zealand's National Aquarium. The article also mentions a four-foot octopus that took up residence in Hartlepool Marina.

In the Stars This section addresses a misunderstanding regarding astronomy and astrology, noting a complaint to The Times about listing Sir Patrick Moore's astronomy program as an "astrological series".

Newslines (2) - VISIBLE FROM OUTER SPACE: Kentucky Fried Chicken has unveiled a giant Colonel Sanders logo in Nevada, allegedly visible from outer space, possibly aimed at extraterrestrials. - SILBURY HILL: A bid to unlock the secrets of the prehistoric monument is mentioned, with criticism of past archaeological digs. - 'FALKIRK TRIANGLE': Gary McKinnon, who hacked into U.S. military systems, cited his belief in UFOs as a reason for his actions, mentioning stories from his stepdad about sightings in Bonnybridge, near Falkirk. - Falkirk Triangle UFO Sighting: The article connects to the 'Falkirk Triangle' by recounting an obituary of forester Bob Taylor, who claimed to have been confronted by a 20ft wide spacecraft in Dechmont Woods, West Lothian, in 1979. Two spheres launched from the craft, and he lost consciousness. - MORE NECROLOG: Bobby 'Boris' Pickett, singer of "Monster Mash", has died aged 69. He released a version called "Climate Mash" in 2005 as a protest against global warming. - Moral Panics: The RSPB has banned the use of the word 'cock' for the male of the species, opting for asterisks instead, while allowing 'tit'. Zac Burgess was fined for wearing a "Fuck the police" T-shirt. - HANGING FOOTWEAR: A poem about the murder of Paul Kelly in Bath has been posted, and two pairs of white trainers hang above the site, a symbol used in the U.S. for drug dealing. - BROADCAST IS MARRED: Presenter Andrew Marr's comment about George Bush redecorating the White House to remove the "stain of the Clinton years" is noted, with a pause for recalling Monica Lewinsky. - Misheard Radio Clip: Radio 1 DJ Jo Wiley is reported to have misspoken "East Kent Cup" as "East Cunt Cup". - MORE WEATHER: Jeremy Clarkson expresses distrust in meteorologists, and Paul Simons writes about the predictability of June's monsoon.

Did you miss? - SUN SIGNS: Researchers believe they have found links between the Sun and a person's birth month, influencing traits, lifespan, creativity, and health risks. Dr George Davis states this is "basic science", not astrology. - Amelia Hill's Research: Further research links a child's season of birth to chemicals in the body that affect behavior, with natural light boosting serotonin levels. - JODIE MARSH ‘JAILED’: A prisoner recounts teaching a cellmate to read, finding an epiphany in reading Dickens' "Oliver Twist". - ALIEN DREAMLAND: Dianne Sudron of Hartlepool claims extraterrestrials performed an operation on her forehead and she has had similar experiences. She is writing a book about it. - CHELSEA SAYS 'NO' TO GNOMES: The Chelsea Flower Show has a long-standing ban on garden gnomes due to taste concerns. Statues of a bare-bottomed gnome and an Orc-like 'gnome hunter' were spotted, and a statue of a reclining man with an "in-your-face scrotum" was permitted over a "pretty undesirable" warrior woman statue. - COMMANDMENTS ACCORDING TO KIDS: A collection of children's statements about the Bible from a parish magazine is presented, including humorous misinterpretations.

The Mighty Stout (Book Review) Paul Screeton reviews "What's Real, and What is Not: Reflections Upon Archaeology and Earth Mysteries in Britain" by Adam Stout. The book is described as an appetizer for a larger work and covers fringe archaeology, ley hunting, folklore, and shamanism. Stout's thesis is seen as providing balance to post-modern archaeology. The review highlights Stout's identification with the 'fringe' and his attraction to archaeology through its social context, influenced by ley power, flying saucers, and Alexander Thom. The book is divided into two parts: the personal relationship between fringe and mainstream personalities, and the nature of the archaeological debate. Stout's narrative covers figures like Katherine Maltwood, Tom Lethbridge, Tony Wedd, Michael Dames, and John Michell. The review praises Stout's "unequivocal fairness and a supreme intellect", his digestion of arguments from all sides, and his perception that past rivalries were more cultural than academic.

Books (Reviews) - FLYING SAUCERERS: A SOCIAL HISTORY OF UFOLOGY by David Clarke and Andy Roberts: This book is described as covering "close encounters with UFO believers: the starry-eyed proselytisers, the fanatics, the snake-oil salesmen, the hoaxers and psychosocial sceptics." It details the history of UFO magazines, contactees, and the influence of figures like John Michell. The review notes the book's coverage of UFOs and leys, and the concepts of ultraterrestrials and daimonic reality. It is called "the best book on the flying saucer phenomenon for 20 years". - THE BROTHERHOOD OF ETERNAL LOVE by Stewart Tendler & David May: This book chronicles the history of a network involved in the distribution of LSD and marijuana. The review notes its genesis during the Operation Julie drugs trial and the involvement of David Solomon. The book is described as a "meticulously-researched and detailed rollercoaster of a ride", essentially a crime thriller. - FOLK-LORE OF EAST ANGLIA AND ADJOINING COUNTIES by Nigel Pennick: This is a study of traditional folk-lore from East Anglia, covering calendar customs, local identity, traditions, beliefs, and skills. Pennick also discusses politics of authenticity and 'sociocide'. The review notes the book's positive sense of tradition and local culture with an anarchistic bedrock. It is described as "richly illustrated" and fully referenced. - PRIMAL SIGNS: TRADITIONAL GLYPHS AND SYMBOLS by Nigel Pennick: This book distills years of research into signs and symbols, explaining the subtle difference between them and their fluid meanings. It covers runes, alphabets, and various symbols, noting the absence of pub signs. The review states that the book "will bring a trip down any high street into greater focus with the familiar landscape seen replete with subtle primal signs".

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to cover a wide range of topics, including fringe science, ufology, archaeology, folklore, and social commentary. There is a recurring theme of skepticism towards established narratives, particularly concerning global warming, and an interest in alternative explanations and historical mysteries. The editorial stance seems to favor in-depth research and a critical examination of various subjects, often from a perspective sympathetic to 'fringe' ideas while maintaining a degree of intellectual rigor. The inclusion of book reviews suggests an engagement with contemporary publications in these fields. The "Newslines" section acts as a digest of curious and often unusual news items from various sources, reflecting a broad interest in the unexplained and the unconventional.