Folklore Frontiers - No 058

Magazine Overview

Title: Folklore Frontiers
Issue: No. 58
Date: March 2008
Publisher: Paul Screeton
Country: United Kingdom
Focus: Folklore, contemporary legend, ancient and modern traditions, forteana.

The Diary

The 'Diary' section presents a collection of short, often quirky, anecdotes and news items. It begins with a discussion about the Hartlepool Mail's coverage of a local legend connecting the town to the epic poem Beowulf, with reporter Richard Mennear and local author Daniel Haigh mentioned. The editor, Paul Screeton, clarifies the historical basis for the connection.

Another entry discusses the phenomenon of 'twitching' among bird enthusiasts and their charitable fundraising efforts. It notes that donations from twitchers at Cley have raised £5,000 for the Cley Church Restoration Fund.

A piece on a rhetorical question about the cause of earthquakes, posed by an Israeli MP named Shlomo Benizri, links it to the Knesset's legitimacy of 'sodomy'.

A local poetry competition sponsored by a pox clinic in Hastings & St Leonards is mentioned, with a limerick about chlamydia failing to win.

The 'predator column' reports on Derby F.C.'s 'haunting season' being blamed on the disappearance of the club's ghost dog, with psychic Philip Soloman weighing in.

Finally, a passage from Paul Johnson's book 'Heroes' is quoted, discussing how Lady Jane Grey was a figure of fascination for well-brought-up Protestant English schoolgirls, with Nancy Mitford reportedly thinking of her for sexual arousal.

Birthmarks

This article, written by Paul Screeton, explores the folklore and superstitions surrounding birthmarks. Screeton recounts his own experience with a circular birthmark and the surprise of his wife not noticing it for years. He also touches upon the medical definition of birthmarks (naevus) as abnormal cell development.

The article discusses various birthmark exotica, including Mongolian blue spots and angel's kisses. It references an article by Hannah Betts about a 'conker-coloured, brown cloud' birthmark that caused her brothers to cry 'burn the witch!'.

Screeton delves into the folklore theory that birthmarks represent the site of death in a past life, citing his own birthmark on his collarbone as a potential example of an 'agonising' past death. He also mentions the 'maternal impression' theory, where a mother's thoughts or actions during pregnancy can affect the child's appearance, like the tale of the Elephant Man.

Examples of birthmarks with perceived significance include Elvis Presley's diamond-shaped birthmark on his groin, believed by fans to be divine, and Mikhail Gorbachev's forehead mark, linked to Nostradamus's prophecy.

The article also notes anecdotal evidence from Fortean Times about birthmarks reflecting trauma to the mother during pregnancy, such as scares from animals or religious stigmata. A correspondent's wife complained of a trapped nerve, and their baby was born with a birthmark in the same spot. Another case involved DIY ear piercing, with the baby later born with a hole in its earlobe.

The Road to Tyburn Tree

Written by Antony Clayton, this article details the history of Tyburn Tree, London's principal place of public execution from 1388 to 1783. The site is marked by a plaque near Marble Arch. The first permanent gallows were erected in 1571.

Execution days were major public events, attracting up to 30,000 spectators and known as 'Tyburn Fair'. Many executed were Roman Catholics, particularly during periods of religious persecution. A modern pilgrimage by Roman Catholics to the site is also mentioned.

The article describes the procession from Newgate Prison to Tyburn as a public spectacle, attracting thieves, pickpockets, and 'mob' crowds. Bernard de Mandeville's 'An Enquiry into the Causes of the Frequent Executions at Tyburn' is quoted, describing the 'floating multitudes' and the 'torrent of mob'.

Condemned men would have a hearty breakfast before their journey, often with beer to maintain courage. The cart would stop for them to drink along the way.

Anecdotes include a 'Cup of Charity' provided for condemned men, a custom initiated by Queen Matilda. Pubs like The White Hart and The Three Tuns are mentioned as potential stopping places on the route.

Prisoners sometimes wore white cockades if they considered themselves innocent, and a storm on execution day was believed to signify innocence.

Jack Ketch, the common hangman from 1666-1678, became a legendary figure, his name used as a nickname for his successors. He also appeared in Punch and Judy shows.

The article describes the practice of prisoners standing on the cart with the halter, and how friends or relations might hasten death by pulling on the legs. After execution, spectators sought medicinal properties from the corpse, especially the hands. The hangman would sell lengths of rope, and wood from the gallows was believed to have medicinal properties.

Oldies but goodies

This section compiles various short, often humorous, anecdotes and news items:

• THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT: A debunked text message about the death of Larry Laprise, the man who wrote the Hokey Cokey, is shared.
• CLOCKING OFF: A correction regarding the invention of the cuckoo clock, attributing it to Germans rather than the Swiss, is noted.
• STUCK COUPLING: A story about a man getting a metal ring stuck on his penis, requiring firefighters to remove it.
• NON-STICKY ONE: A review of David Edgerton's book 'The Shock of the Old' highlights that Teflon was invented in 1938 and has been used on frying pans since 1954.
• FUCHS OFF: A humorous anecdote about a potential newspaper headline involving Edmund Hillary and Vivien Fuchs.
• ARTISTIC LICENCE: A tale about J.M.W. Turner's supposed storm experience for his painting 'Snowstorm' is recounted, noting it was repeated as true on children's TV.
• DOG SHOOTS MAN: An incident where a dog accidentally shot its owner in the leg during a hunting trip.
• THESPIAN HUMOUR: A humorous anecdote about an amateur Nativity play production with casting difficulties.

Newslines

This section features various urban legends and peculiar news items:

• FOETAL ATTRACTION: The story of a couple who married unaware they were twins separated at birth, which was annulled in the High Court. Lord Alton of Liverpool is mentioned as highlighting the case in Parliament, possibly to support the pro-life campaign.
• PAWN STAR DIES: An account of chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer's alleged paranoia about radio signals being transmitted through his dental fillings.
• SATANIC COKE: 444 Russians accused Coca-Cola of blasphemy for using Orthodox crosses in an advertisement, claiming some were upside down.
• LOAD OF BOLLOCKS: Italian men are ordered by a court to desist from grabbing their genitals in public as a means of warding off evil spirits.
• DARWIN AWARDS: A report on a couple who died after falling from a roof, and a Texan who died of alcohol poisoning after an enema, are cited as examples of 'daftest deaths'.

Update

This section provides updates and corrections on previous articles:

• DUELLING GUITARS: A retelling of the guitar duel between Eric Clapton and George Harrison over Pattie Boyd, from Mick Goss's article and Penny Junor's book.
• MARSBARIANNE FAITHFULL: A humorous anecdote about Marianne Faithfull's memoir falling into a bath.
• 666: A report on satanic vandalism at a golf course, including a '666' symbol dug into the green.
• PHILISTINE CLEANER: An examination of art works being mistaken for rubbish by cleaners, citing Emmanuel Asare's cleaning of Damien Hirst's installation.
• MANDELSON'S MUSHY PEAS: A reference to Peter Mandelson allegedly mistaking mushy peas for avocado dip.
• Crossing the Line +: This section includes several short items:
• PYNCH ME! I MUST BE DREAMING!: An anecdote about author Thomas Pynchon being recognized by his own book.
• TRAIN CRASH JOURNALISM: A correction from The Observer about a photograph of the Quintinshill rail crash being misidentified as the Munich air disaster.
• ROD THE MOD: A clarification that Rod Stewart's song 'The First Cut is the Deepest' is not about Dr Richard Beeching.
• DOWN THE PAN: An account of a baby being born in a train lavatory pan in India.
• Oldies but goodies: An item about a baby named Leon John Moger being christened on the footplate of a steam locomotive.
• Fortean Times: A mention of a driver choosing to have a locomotive named after Nikola Tesla upon retirement.
• Japan's Nagasaki-Hakata line: A tortoise caused disruption by getting wedged between point blades.
• Swiss train: A pet adder escaped and slid into carriage partition walls.
• Isle of Wight Steam Railway: A chime whistle was donated, said to be for keeping elephants off the railway.
• RAIL GAG: A humorous anecdote about a train sleeper compartment.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes of folklore, urban legends, historical curiosities, and unusual occurrences. There is a clear interest in debunking myths, questioning official narratives (e.g., climate change), and highlighting the bizarre and the unexplained. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting diverse anecdotes and historical accounts while often providing commentary or corrections from previous issues or other sources. The 'Diary' and 'Newslines' sections, in particular, showcase a fascination with the strange and the anecdotal, often drawing from newspaper clippings and other publications.

This issue of Fortean Times, number 235, dated April 2008, is priced at £3.99 and features a cover story titled 'THE PHILANDERER'S CAR', detailing a sensational event involving disc-jockey Tim Shaw and model Jodie Marsh. The magazine delves into a variety of unusual, unexplained, and often bizarre news items from around the world, maintaining its focus on fortean phenomena.

Cover Story: The Philanderer's Car

The lead story recounts how disc-jockey Tim Shaw reportedly told topless model Jodie Marsh he would leave his wife and children for her. In response, Mrs Shaw allegedly sold his £25,000 Lotus Esprit car on eBay for a mere 50p. The article references an item from 'Zoo' magazine titled 'When women go mental: Seven examples of revenge that prove you should never cheat on your other half'.

News Items and Short Reports

The issue is packed with short, often quirky, news items. One report details a complaint rejected by alcohol advertising watchdogs against the Wye Valley Brewery concerning a cartoon character on its Dorothy Goodbody stout label, which was claimed to be sexually suggestive due to 'hinting at a lack of undergarments'. Investigators concluded the complainant's imagination had gone too far.

Another item, 'CONDOMANIA', notes that condoms are being used for water-bomb fights by youngsters in Wigan, Lancashire. It also mentions a 'Dress Up Against Aids Condom Fashion Show' in Kuala Lumpur, where a gown made from condoms was modelled to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.

The 'BESTIALITY' section references the 'George & Lynne' cartoon, musing on love between separate species. 'STAG ANTICS' reports on wedding party revellers in Blackpool who handcuff each other to lampposts, potentially facing fines and diverting emergency services.

Did You See?

This section presents a collection of intriguing news snippets:

• Richard Dawkins: His book 'The God Delusion' caused controversy in Turkey, with publishers facing legal action for 'insulting believers'. Polls indicated low acceptance of evolutionary theory among Turks.
• Moral Maize: An explanation for anachronistic carvings of American plants at Rosslyn Chapel suggests explorer Henry Sinclair may have visited the US centuries before Columbus.
• Charlie Forts: A 'Zoo' magazine spread on the 'seven weirdest wonders of the world' included Rosslyn Chapel, Loch Ness Monster, and Turin Shroud, among others.
• Scary Monsters: A report on booming rodent numbers in urban areas due to summer floods and warmer winters.
• Virgin Birth: Vivienne Parry discusses the technical feasibility of virgin birth and mentions historical cases, including one from 1874 involving a soldier's bullet and a woman's pregnancy. The biological implications, such as the presence of a Y chromosome, are also explored.
• What a Shower!: Paul Simons' 'Weather Eye' column discusses unusual 'showers' of wildlife, such as worms falling in Louisiana, sand eels in Hendon, sprats in Great Yarmouth, and jelly-encased creatures in Bath, often attributing them to waterspouts or tornados.

Proto-legends

This section explores various anecdotes and linguistic curiosities:

• Ben Macintyre's Review: A critique of Ben Macintyre's review of 'Mondegreens: A Book of Mishearings', highlighting his misinterpretation of a Bob Dylan lyric and an anecdote about a mistranslated speech at a Labour conference.
• Ear Trumpet Required: An account of George Melly's hearing difficulties and humorous exchanges with audiences, including a mistaken identification of 'Auschwitz' for 'Uxbridge'.
• Snookered!: A humorous tale from a beermat about a Dutch migrant worker named William Ardz who mistook a red snooker ball for Edam cheese and took a bite.
• Mel P. David Smith: A review of Melanie Phillips' 'Londonistan' is quoted, mentioning a claim about piggy banks being banished from British banks due to fears of offending Muslims.
• Brotherly Love: A story about Manfred Shuh persuading his brother Walter to help him deceive his girlfriend about a dark encounter.
• Missus Copped: A Nevada patrol car policeman pulled over his own wife, who was driving erratically due to drinking.
• Cheeky Chappie Cabbie: An anecdote about a London taxi driver inquiring about the fare paid by Liberal Democrat Lord Watson of Richmond.
• Break a Leg for Charity: A discussion on the cost-effectiveness of charity events, referencing a BMJ article questioning the evidence for parachute effectiveness in 'gravitational challenge'.

Books

• Holy Wells in Britain: A Guide by Janet Bord: A review of Janet Bord's book, which gazettes 300 holy wells in England, Scotland, and Wales. The reviewer shares personal anecdotes about visiting wells and notes the book's practical guidance.

Magazines

• Fortean Times (Nos. 229-234): Brief summaries of recent issues are provided, covering topics such as poltergeist investigations, historical figures like Emily Davison and Harry Price, 'cauldrons' in Siberia, Robert Ripley, the 'Ilkley little man' abduction, 'Alternative 3', drug spikings, and the work of Rupert Sheldrake. Issue 231 is noted for its focus on Aleister Crowley.
• Touchstone: A review of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group magazine, mentioning ley hunting, St George's Church, and William Stukeley.
• Amskaya: A review of the STAR Fellowship magazine, discussing George Adamski and asteroid belts.
• Northern Earth: A brief mention of upcoming reviews.

Birthmarks

This section explores superstitions and folklore surrounding birthmarks, including Italian beliefs about 'wishes' and Arabic 'wiham'. It touches on how birthmarks are perceived and the potential for fetishistic interest, referencing Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem 'Pied Beauty'.

The Diary

• Antony Clayton's London Pubs Series: The issue features the fourth article in Antony Clayton's series on London pubs, mentioning the Rose and Crown and its historical context.
• Toad of Toad Hall: An apology is issued to various 'toads' following a challenge to Simon Barnes' claim about toad intelligence. The article discusses toad breeding habits and mentions Adolf Hitler's description of toads.
• Pioneering Spirit: A curious coincidence is noted regarding the naming of a Class 47 locomotive, 'Rochdale Pioneers', and a debate about the origins of the Co-operative movement.
• Thirsty in Thirsk: An anecdote about station names and their evocative qualities, recalling an article suggesting Thirsk sounds like it should be between Tomsk and Omsk.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Fortean Times include the unexplained, bizarre news events, historical curiosities, and folklore. The magazine consistently presents a wide array of peculiar happenings, often with a skeptical yet intrigued tone, encouraging readers to consider the unusual aspects of the world around them. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry into phenomena that lie outside conventional understanding, while also critically examining claims and providing context from various sources. The inclusion of book and magazine reviews further supports the magazine's role as a hub for information on fortean subjects.