NORTHERN UFO NEWS

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: 37
Volume: 130
Date: March - April 1988

This issue of Northern UFO News, edited by Jenny Randles, addresses the significant delays in publication and expresses uncertainty about its future. The editor apologizes for the delay, citing personal involvement in the ITV Telethon charity marathon as a contributing factor, which also led to a disturbing incident involving a publicity company and a witness named Jacqueline.

Editorial and Personal Reflections

The editor, Jenny Randles, begins by acknowledging the serious delay in publishing Northern UFO News, attributing it to personal commitments, including involvement with the ITV Telethon. This involvement led to an encounter with Andy Egan, owner of 'Skys the Limit,' a promotions company. Randles recounts how Egan suggested they needed a sponsor for a UFO-themed promotional event for the Telethon, proposing a £5000 backer. A more significant event during this period was the experience of Jacqueline, an employee of Egan's, who reported a strange incident on March 22nd. She claimed to have experienced a blackout while driving and found herself and her car covered in mud. Egan, concerned, arranged for her to see a specialist, and Randles and Peter Hough of MUFORA were drawn into the situation.

Randles and Hough investigated Jacqueline's experience, noting coincidental similarities to a previous case from Daresbury, which had been documented in Randles' book 'Abduction.' They also learned that Jacqueline had prior personal issues that could explain a blackout. Despite Egan's apparent concern, Randles suspected he was more interested in a publicity stunt. The situation escalated when a sensationalized story appeared in the Sunday People, misrepresenting Randles' and the police's involvement and falsely attributing quotes to them. This media frenzy, which included other newspapers, was seen as a gross abuse of a witness and an attempt to gain publicity for Egan's company and Randles' book.

Randles expresses disillusionment with the media's handling of UFO cases, criticizing their tendency to sensationalize and distort facts, which he feels damages the credibility of UFO research and honest individuals.

Case Histories and Investigations

The issue features several case histories and updates:

The Mundrabilla Encounter Update

Details are provided on the Mundrabilla encounter from January 20th, 1988, involving the Knowles family. The family reported a large white light that pursued their car. Investigations by UFORA found physical traces like mud and a dent, but no definitive evidence of a UFO. The case is described as interesting but potentially exaggerated by the media.

The 'Silent Vulcan' and Diamond Objects

Reports from Lancashire and Cheshire in late October/early November 1978 are revisited, concerning a large, diamond-shaped object described as silent and metallic. This object is linked to speculation about 'F-19 Stealth' exercises. A similar sighting occurred in Darwen on October 30th, 1985, involving a diamond shape seen briefly by the editor.

Other Case Reports

Several other cases are briefly detailed:

• Case 77-345 (Chorley, Lancashire): A police sergeant and other officers witnessed a bright silver oval object that hovered and then vanished rapidly.
• Case 77-346 (Solihull, West Midlands): A pink mass, described as 'candy floss,' rose from trees and crossed the sky, with the witness's car allegedly refusing to accelerate.
• Case 80-101 (Higham Ferrers, Northants): A witness saw yellow/orange pulsing lights that merged with approaching orange lights before moving off.
• Case 8261 (Cleethorpes, Humberside): A woman reported a large disc with a dome and lights, accompanied by a humming sound and searchlight beams.
• Case 8339 (Shrewsbury, Shropshire): A family reported seeing three white lights in a line that hovered and then vanished.
• Case 8340 (Torside Clough, Derbyshire): A doctor and his wife observed a pear-shaped, reflecting object moving and rising in the sky.
• Case 8653 (Morecambe, Lancashire): Three witnesses saw a bright white light from which three projectiles shot out before the object accelerated rapidly.
• Case 8654 (Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs): Teenagers reported a red ball that appeared in the sky, made a crackling noise, and vanished.
• Case 8732 (Paisley, Scotland): Two boys saw a triangle of red lights circling the moon that then disappeared.
• Case 8736 (Barrow-Upon-Soar, Leicestershire): A witness saw a steady yellow/white light similar to an aircraft, which moved silently.
• Case 8738 (Abbots Bromley, Staffs): A family reported a triangular craft with multiple lights and a strobe on each apex hovering silently above their car.
• Case 8723 (Accrington, Lancashire): A witness reported a strange green light that flickered and appeared to be projected from a beam.

The Sunderland Sightings

Reports from Tyne & Wear in November 1987 include a 'white blob' seen pacing an aircraft, which was later identified as a trailing strobe light. Another case involved three lights seen hovering between houses, described as too large to be an aircraft.

The Great August Wave (Part 3)

This section continues the report on the August wave, detailing a case from Crakemarsh, Staffs, where witnesses saw a 'ring of white lights' and a rotating beam of white light. Another report describes a 'Hopi type ritual' group encountering balls of light, columns, and 'laser shows' forming crosses in the sky.

A Little Too Much Cinnamon

This case details a woman's claim of being abducted by aliens smelling of cinnamon, which closely mirrored a plotline from the TV show 'Dynasty.' The editor expresses skepticism due to the strong parallels with the television episode, despite the witness's distress and the unusual details provided.

Media Matters

The magazine notes a significant increase in UFO-related press coverage in early 1988. It criticizes sensationalist articles in the Daily Star and highlights a positive piece written by the editor for The Guardian. The article also mentions other publications featuring UFO-related content, such as Celebrity and She.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the sensationalism and distortion of UFO cases by the media, the challenges faced by UFO researchers in presenting credible information, and the detailed reporting of various UFO sightings and abduction claims. The editorial stance is one of critical analysis, aiming to debunk hoaxes and misrepresentations while presenting documented cases, albeit with a growing sense of frustration regarding the media's role and the potential for personal disillusionment within the field.