Lantern - No 35

Magazine Overview

LANTERN, Autumn 1981, is a quarterly magazine of East Anglian mysteries and curiosities, published by the BORDERLINE SCIENCE INVESTIGATION GROUP (B.S.I.G.). This issue marks a change to a 'mini' format, with the editor, Ivan A.W. Bunn, expressing excitement about new horizons and soliciting reader feedback. The magazine is dedicated to investigating unexplained phenomena in East Anglia.

The Lound Moonraker

This article by R. A. Haxell recounts a legend from the days of the English Civil War. It tells of goldsmiths fleeing Oliver Cromwell's forces, who hid their gold in a pond near Lound, Suffolk, before being attacked by Roundheads. One goldsmith, mortally wounded, revealed the location of the gold to a local parson. The legend is intertwined with a ghost story involving the village pond and a pub called the 'Village Maid', which suffered from a lack of customers due to the haunting.

The Old Man of Hopton

This extensive article by Ivan Bunn investigates a series of alleged sightings of a ghostly pedestrian on the A12 road near Hopton, Suffolk. The primary case involves Constable Frank Colby, who reported seeing a 5'6" tall, stocky figure with spiky hair and a long overcoat crossing the road at dusk on November 23, 1980. Mr. Colby noted the figure appeared to emit a diffused light and had a 'greyish, misty-white appearance'. Intriguingly, the figure was seen at a distance of 75 yards, yet appeared to be moving across the road at approximately 50 mph, leading to speculation about optical illusions or the figure's own light emission.

The article then presents corroborating accounts:

• Roger Hammersley's experience (early 1957): While driving near Hopton, he and a friend saw a tall man in a large fawn overcoat and hat crossing the road. The figure disappeared suddenly, and Hammersley felt a sense of unease on that stretch of road.
• Mrs. Rita Rose's experience (Christmas Eve, 1977): Driving near Hopton, she saw a 'bent-over old man wearing a trilby hat and a heavy overcoat' step in front of her car. She described his face as 'ashen' and his look as 'cold', with an expression that suggested he knew what was about to happen. Her mother, in the car, did not see the figure but was thrown forward by the emergency stop.
• An incident in March 1974: A driver on the old A12 south of Hopton saw a 'sneering face' illuminated by headlights and braked to avoid hitting a person, only for the car to pass through it. This witness had also previously felt 'uneasy' on this road.
• Ernest Tuttle's death (December 1960): Mr. Tuttle died when his fish lorry left the road and hit a tree near Hopton. He had previously described the road as 'the worst he had ever driven on' and mentioned seeing a 'grey shadow, a mist' on it.

Bunn notes that the last two incidents occurred further south of Hopton, but speculates they might be connected to the same phenomenon. He also explores the possibility of a link between these sightings and a high number of single-vehicle road traffic accidents (RTAs) on this stretch of road, though police resources prevent in-depth research into this correlation. The article concludes with a speculative discussion on the identity and nature of the 'ghost'.

The Old Man of Hopton - Part 2 (Continued from Page 5)

The article continues its speculative exploration of the 'Old Man of Hopton' phenomenon. It posits that if ghosts can exist and be seen, then the sightings on the A12 are likely real, and there must be a reason for them. The author presents a theory, acknowledging its speculative nature, which depends on accepting the existence of ghosts. The article hints at a potential discovery of the ghost's identity or a case of wishful thinking, leaving the reader to decide.

Is This the 'Old Man of Hopton'?

This section introduces a potential connection between the 'Old Man of Hopton' and the death of William Balls, a rural postman, who dropped dead in a field adjoining the A12 in Hopton on January 2, 1899. Mrs. Gwen Balls of Oulton Broad contacted the editor with this information, which initially seemed unrelated but, after further research, is considered possibly connected to the 'ghost' phenomenon. The story of William Balls' death is promised to be concluded in the next issue.

Notes and Queries

This section features several short items:

• No. 83: GHOSTS: Reports of six ghosts in the Lyng and surrounding villages, including phantom nuns, a coach and four, a little boy, the Richmond Ghost, and a headless horseman.
• No. 84: Query: An inquiry about the identity of 'Bungay Roger', the subject of a popular East Suffolk song.
• No. 85: Forteana: An account of a toad embedded in an oak tree that died moments after falling out.
• No. 8: Query: A request for information on the origin of the name for the 'witches Stones' in Belle Vue Park, Lowestoft.

An apology is made for the lack of UFO material due to space constraints.

Do Things Go In Threes?

This article by W.J.C. explores the concept of events occurring in threes, citing several examples:

• Fatal 'carbon copy' accidents (April 1978): Three people died in separate incidents in Essex where their cars hit trees, all occurring on three consecutive days.
• Accidents involving police cars (Later 1978): Three boys died in separate accidents when their cars or motorcycles were being followed by police cars within a few days of each other.
• Underground station fires (Nine days in June 1981): Three mysterious fires occurred in central London underground stations within a nine-day period.
• Power outages (Date unspecified): Three failures in electric power lines caused blackouts across a large area from Kent to Wales.
• Heavy rainfall (August 1981): Three separate downpours in London exceeding one inch of rain occurred within four weeks, puzzlingweathermen.

The author suggests that these occurrences might be related to superstitions being codified results of human experience.

Exchange Magazines

A list of various publications related to earth mysteries, UFOs, and the paranormal is provided, with subscription details. These include SKYWATCH, THE LEY HUNTER, ZETETIC SCHOLAR, FORTEAN TIMES, LINCOLNSHIRE DRAGON, EARTHLINK, MACONIA, SANGREAL, WOOD & WATER, and ESSEX LANDSCAPE MYSTERIES.

Book Review: ESSEX CHURCH DEDICATIONS

This section reviews a booklet compiled by Jim Kimmis, which serves as an index of Essex parish churches, their dedications, and locations. It is described as a valuable resource for those interested in landscape mysteries and leys, priced at 30p plus postage.

Letter to the Editor

Jim Kimmis writes a letter praising the magazine, particularly Mike Burgess's article on 'The Norfolk Giant'. He also inquires about Lethbridge and 'Hick' placenames in East Anglia. He expresses anticipation for the planned all-litho production of LANTERN in the autumn.

Just a Thought

A quote from Francis Jessop's 'Frivola' (1896) is presented, reflecting on the loss of wonder in modern life and the existence of unseen wonders.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are ghost stories, local folklore, and unexplained phenomena, particularly those occurring in East Anglia. The editorial stance, as expressed by Ivan A.W. Bunn, is one of open investigation and a desire to explore new horizons in presenting these mysteries. The magazine actively solicits reader contributions and feedback, emphasizing the importance of the reader's opinion. There is a clear interest in connecting seemingly disparate events, such as the 'Old Man of Hopton' sightings with road traffic accidents and historical deaths. The magazine also engages with the broader field of fortean phenomena and the concept of recurring patterns in unexplained events.