Northern UFO News - No 161

Magazine Overview

This issue of Northern UFO News, dated June 1993, is number 161 and is edited by Jenny Randles. The cover features a striking illustration depicting a UFO, a human-like figure in a field, and a crop circle, with the headline "All the news, views and up to date cases". The price is noted as "£7 for six". The cover design is by Roy Sandbach, with logos by Bill Callaghan.

Content Highlights

The issue promises "Usual features plus...", including news on cases from Lancashire, Leicestershire, and Yorkshire, an exposé on "MIBS unmasked at last?", and a report on a daylight disc sighting. It also covers "Case Histories" and a return to the Woodbridge and UFO video filmed over South Wales. The editorial is by Jenny Randles and is titled "J. R. Comments".

J. R. Comments: 'Round in Circles' by Jim Schnabel

Jenny Randles' editorial focuses on the publication of Jim Schnabel's book, "Round in Circles". She describes it as a significant event that cereology might wish to ignore. Randles calls Schnabel the 'Lex Luther' of the crop circle world due to his past involvement in 'Swangate' phone call deceptions and hoaxing competitions. She notes that the book is unlikely to win admirers within the crop circle community but may be seen as a classic by others. Randles clarifies that the book is not an attempt to explain what the circles are, nor to dismiss them as trickery. Instead, it explores the 'circle-watchers' and offers a witty, sociological perspective on the cereology movement. She mentions familiar names like Colin Andrews, Pat Delgado, Terence Meaden, and George Wingfield, as well as Ian Mrzyglod, Paul Fuller, and herself, portraying them as players in a "comic tragedy". Randles praises Schnabel's ability to recreate events and conversations, likening the book to "Crop Watcher: The Movie". She defends Paul Fuller's magazine, "The Crop Watcher", as a vital source of information despite Schnabel's dismissal of its readership.

Randles acknowledges that her own books, "Controversy of the Circles" and "A Mystery Solved", were also divisive due to their direct approach. She notes that "A Mystery Solved" is being re-published in paperback. She warns that readers who disliked her previous approach will likely dislike Schnabel's book even more, while those who respected her work will "really love this".

Critiques of Schnabel's Book

Randles points out that while she, Paul Fuller, and Ian Mrzyglod emerge relatively unscathed, other figures like Terence Meaden, Andrews, Delgado, Wingfield, and more esoteric cereologists are portrayed less favorably. She questions the accuracy of Schnabel's "destructive word-pictures" but acknowledges his skill in subtly belittling subjects. She suggests Schnabel spent his three years in cereology primarily as a journalist seeking a story, rather than a true convert.

She identifies errors in the book, such as the misrepresentation of her involvement in the Gloria Hunniford show and the designation of Terence Meaden as the sole judge in the Sunday Mirror competition. Randles also criticizes Schnabel for not adequately expanding on certain points, such as the implication that all 'Meadenites' tried to fit pictograms into the vortex theory until the Doug and Dave admissions in 1991, which she states is not accurate based on earlier NUN articles.

Randles laments that Schnabel's book largely ignores "A Mystery Solved", which she believes should have been discussed. She argues that the book creates a false impression that everyone accepted the hoax narrative, overlooking those who questioned the pictograms earlier. She also criticizes the omission of the outcome of the 1986 BUFORA-organized meeting in London, which debated weather effects versus hoaxing as causes for crop circles.

News Round Up and Other Features

The "News Round Up" section provides brief mentions of various UFO-related publications and events. This includes "UFO Brigantia", "Acts des septiemes rencontres Europeennes de Lyon" (a French UFO conference publication), and catalogues from "Artcturus", "Excalibur", and "Midnight Books". A UFO Museum in Orlando, Florida, is mentioned, as is an upcoming cocktail party in London for UFOlogists.

Snippets from Readers

Gary Anthony is developing a database of orbiting satellites for BUFORA, offering copies on disk to members with certain hardware requirements. Nick Redfern contributes news about the closure and sale of Orford Ness, an island with a history of military experimentation. He also notes that the MoD has stated that pre-1985 records related to UFO cases have been archived.

Victor Kean from Berlin suggests a UFO sighting videoed over Dodge County, Wisconsin, in January 1993 might be related to case 9123. Tony Bell from Yorkshire highlights unusual events around Preston Brook/Daresbury, Cheshire, including a serious road accident in March 1993.

Circular Logic

This section discusses the 1993 crop circle season, noting it is "thin and disappointing" with few circles reported by mid-June, possibly due to a lack of publicity. It reviews "The Crop Watcher" magazine, highlighting an interview with hoaxer Doug Bower and material on swirled ground circle cases. Randles defends her support for "The Crop Watcher" against criticism for plugging it, explaining her reasons for not reviewing "The Circular" after George Wingfield took over. She also comments on "The Cerealogist", acknowledging its good articles but criticizing its editorial stance and alleged distortion of facts regarding hoax exposes.

Sky's the Limit

This short piece reports on the Sky News UFO special "No Defence Significance", which drew over half a million viewers, indicating that "UFOlogy was dead" is a false notion.

Fire in the Sky: The Movie

The magazine discusses the Paramount movie "Fire in the Sky", based on the Travis Walton abduction case. It notes that while the film dramatizes the event, movie reviews were largely poor, with only the News of the World giving it a positive reception. The article suggests the film's treatment of the case as a "straight mystery" was undermined by the audience knowing the outcome from the billing.

Books of the Moment

Several books are reviewed: "Unexplained!" by Jerry Clark, described as an "excellent" and "superb review of maybe 100 mysteries". "The SLI effect" by Hilary Evans is presented as a study of "street lamp interference". The section also mentions upcoming books by the authors, including updated editions of "UFOs and how to see them" and "Spontaneous Human Combustion", and a new paperback of "Crop Circles".

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are crop circles, UFO sightings, abduction experiences, and the ongoing debates within the UFOlogy community regarding hoaxing versus genuine phenomena. The editorial stance, as expressed by Jenny Randles, is critical of what she perceives as the self-serving and sometimes inaccurate narratives within the cereology movement, while championing sources that provide a more grounded and investigative approach. There is a strong emphasis on critical analysis and a desire to present factual accounts, even when they challenge popular beliefs or established figures within the field.

Title: Northern UFO News
Issue: 11
Date: August 1993 (inferred from conference dates)
Publisher: N/A
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue of Northern UFO News focuses on recent book releases, the intersection of UFO phenomena with popular culture and fashion, and a series of detailed case histories from across the UK. It also includes information on upcoming UFO-related conferences.

Book Reviews

'The Paranormal Year' and 'Alien Update'

The issue begins with a mention of 'The Paranormal Year' by Hale, followed by a detailed review of Tim Good's book 'Alien Update'. The reviewer notes that 'Alien Update' is a reworked version of Good's earlier 'UFO Report' series, published as a paperback by Arrow for wider accessibility. The book contains a collection of pieces by different authors, edited by Good, and includes case profiles from mid-1991/mid-1992. While acknowledging the book's broad appeal and the stance Good takes on UFOs, the reviewer notes the varying calibre of articles, ranging from conspiracy theory/ET contact updates to reports from local researchers in places like China, Russia, and Puerto Rico. John Spencer's contribution on research ideas is noted as interesting but somewhat out of place. A point of contention is George Wingfield's update on crop circles, which the reviewer believes unfairly accuses plasma vortex supporters of faking them.

Despite criticisms, the reviewer finds the material useful and fascinating, acknowledging that the book's accessibility ensures a large audience. The reviewer humorously notes the potential for the book to enter the 'Guiness book of records' for the most titles published in three months.

Media Matters: UFOs in the Public Eye

This section discusses the media's portrayal of UFOs, noting that beyond TV features like 'Fire in the Sky', there has been significant press coverage. The main theme highlighted is UFOs as a fashion item. Esquire magazine featured an article on the culture and art of the Weekly World News, which is described as providing UFO watchers with sensational stories. The article mentions highly sensationalized photos of alleged alien captures. Another piece in Esquire discussed how UFO activity in Czechoslovakia was translating into art forms. John Lundberg's exhibition on 'UFOs and how to see them' is also mentioned.

Vogue magazine featured UFOs in May, suggesting they are no longer confined to 'throwaway sci-fi novels, paranoid fifties TV shows and kids comics' but are 'fast becoming a sign of cool for the hippest youths'. A British fashion expert attributes this trend to something 'bubbling up in the collective unconscious'. The section also touches upon the use of the drug DMT by 'UFOrites', with a mention of Terence McKenna and Timothy Leary.

The Todmorden Times reported on the town being an 'UFO Epicentre' in relation to an LWT documentary. The reviewer, who consulted on the documentary, notes that while the show was fronted by Mike Aspel, it was only shown in London. The newspaper article included a detailed account of the earth stress theory from the reviewer's interview, but this was largely cut from the broadcast, leading to a misleading implication that witnesses dreamt things up.

News from the Glasgow Times indicates that UFOlogist Ron Halliday is collaborating with singer-songwriter Allan Forrester on a song about sightings in Bonnybridge, titled 'Riddle of the Sky at Night'. They plan to release copies to UFO groups and aim for a single release, with humorous speculation about potential 'Top of the Pops' appearances.

Brief Cases: Some Current Investigations

This section details several UFO sightings and investigations:

• Case 9125 (26 February 1991, Maltby, South Yorkshire): Mrs G observed green flashes of light for three minutes, forming a long dark silhouette shape with a sound like thunder.
• Case 9126 (25 April 1991, Upper Team, Staffordshire): A red cigar-shaped object was seen above bungalows, stationary for a few seconds before shooting away at speed. Later, a white oval with a red light and white haze was observed.
• Case 9228 (28 October 1992, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear): Three blue globes of light were seen whirling in a circle, appearing to be below rooftop height and the size of the full moon. This was later identified as laser searchlights from the Metro centre in Gateshead, though one witness reported a 'soft gentle female voice' claiming to be from another planet.
• Case 9227 (13 December 1992, Penkridge, Staffs): Mr M observed a yellow/orange 'star' that moved towards him, flew overhead silently, made a sharp 90-degree turn, and accelerated away north. An aircraft was heard moments later.
• Case 9304 (18 February 1993, Prescot, Merseyside): Mr S observed a bright silver light, elongated through binoculars, moving slowly. Later, an identical UFO was seen in a different part of the sky.
• Case 9305 (27 February 1993, Eccles, Lancashire): Mr F observed a light moving slowly and silently from west to northwest, pulsing from red to white, resembling a rounded stud.
• Case 9307 (25 March 1993, Leicester, Leics): Mr B saw a bright light resolve into a dark cylinder with a light reflection, followed by 7 identical objects in a 'V' formation that weaved and swapped places before vanishing. The witness disagreed with the suggestion that these were birds reflecting the sun.
• Case 9308 (26 May 1993, Alsager, Staffs): Mr M observed an object with a domed top and flattened base, pulsating from bright emerald green to white, moving faster westwards than a kestrel. The object vanished into the distance without a vapour trail.

Case Histories

Return to Woodbridge

Reported by Ken Philips, this section revisits the Rendlesham Forest events. Ms T reported a possible rerun on 25 May 1992, observing a bright light and other objects, including a disc-like mass and strobe flashes, for two hours. The MoD noted no other sightings for that date and suggested the lights might be aircraft or helicopter lights, a conclusion Ken Phillips accepted.

Video Film UFO Over South Wales

Reported by Leyton Williams-Davies, this case involves a UFO observed by Mr P on 16 January 1993 near Cardiff, described as a big orange round glow. Seven days later, Mrs B reported a bright red light exhibiting similar behaviour. Further witnesses came forward, and on 8 March, Mr C filmed a brilliant light over Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran. The video, enlarged 36 times, was shown to Gwent police, who admitted being 'amazed'. However, the issue later reveals that these UFOs were identified as bright spottings of Venus, a fact that was apparently known to the local paper's astronomers but not widely disseminated to the public or UFOlogists.

Final Words

This section provides a reminder of upcoming UFO conferences:

• 24-25 July: BUFORA event at the University of Bristol School of Chemistry, featuring Walt Andrus and reports on UFOs around Europe.
• 14-15 August: IUN (northern) event at Sheffield Polytechnic, including Budd Hopkins (abductions) and Linda Moulton Howe (mutilations).
• 7 August: A one-day event at the Brookside Community Centre, Northampton, with abductees Elsie Oakensen and Graham Allan, and researchers John Spencer & David Barclay.

NUFON Regional Groups

A list of NUFON regional groups across the UK is provided with contact details.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently reports on UFO sightings and investigations, with a particular focus on UK cases. There is a critical yet engaged approach to UFOlogy, evident in the detailed reviews of books and the thorough examination of case histories. The issue highlights the media's role in shaping public perception of UFOs, from sensationalized reporting to their incorporation into fashion trends. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, while also being willing to critically evaluate evidence, as demonstrated by the identification of Venus in the South Wales video case. The inclusion of upcoming conferences and regional group information suggests an effort to connect and inform the UFO research community.