Northern UFO News - No 52

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: 52
Date: September 1978
Publisher: NORTHERN UFO NETWORK (NUFON)
Location: IRLAM, LANCASHIRE, M30 6NJ, United Kingdom
Editors: Jenny Randles and Paul Whetnall

This issue of NORTHERN UFO NEWS, dated September 1978, is a newsletter from the Northern UFO Network (NUFON), edited by Jenny Randles and Paul Whetnall. NUFON is described as a liaison system for independent UFO organisations and researchers in Northern Britain, serving as a co-ordination centre for investigation, research, and general information.

Editorial: The Perils of Publicity

Jenny Randles opens the editorial by reflecting on the challenges of publicity for ufologists, a topic previously discussed in October 1974. She emphasizes that publicity is the interface with the wider world and that ufologists represent a small fraction of humanity. The year has seen significant publicity, partly due to the film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'. While initial interactions with newspapers like the Daily Express and Sun were positive, Randles notes that journalism often reverts to using UFO stories for a quick sell, regardless of the impact on the researchers. She recounts a recent fiasco involving Granada TV and the Daily Express concerning a film case at Stonehenge, which she believes taught important lessons. Randles and Peter Warrington have been criticized, notably by Richard Colborne of BUFORA, for suggesting the Stonehenge film might show natural phenomena rather than being 'obviously' flares. Randles asserts that they have found no credence to the flares hypothesis and even Dr. Paul Davies, who initially supported it, now doubts the explanation. Randles and Warrington were scheduled to present the film to scientists and army experts on September 1st to determine its nature.

Randles expresses frustration that while others proclaim their opinions on the film, she and Warrington are actively trying to find out the truth. She defends their actions in engaging with the media and fighting for the serious side of ufology, arguing that refusing to comment would still result in the story being used, likely with a different interpretation.

A further bombshell occurred on August 23rd when Radio 1 contacted Randles for an interview regarding an article. She discovered she was the subject of a Daily Mail feature titled "The First Lady of Space," which contained exaggerations, including the claim that FSR paid her to work for them, which is untrue. Randles clarifies that she met the freelance writer months prior for a women's magazine feature and was unaware of the article's conception, though it was largely factual. She confirms that she now works full-time.

The editorial concludes with a warning: "Beware!" and a recommendation for the book "OUR WEIRD UNIVERSE" by Ed Harris, described as a dictionary/encyclopedia of weird phenomena.

Contents

• The issue's contents include:
• P.2: "A Theory To Encompass All UFO Events?" by Paul Whetnall (WUFOS)
• P.3: "CHRYSIS biography - the Mobile Research Unit" and "News Round Up" by David Rees (MAPIT)
• P.4-8: A collection of fascinating reports including CE1, CE2, CE3, and CE4 sightings from various locations in England, Wales, and Scotland.

A Theory To Encompass All UFO Events?

Paul Whetnall (WUFOS) explores various theories about UFO origins, suggesting the debate often lies between the Extra-Terrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) and 'psychic' based theories. While admitting a slight ETH leaning, he proposes that some UFO events might be explained by natural phenomena, akin to weather patterns. He references a lecture by Peter Warrington on radar cases, highlighting the challenges of interpreting data from screens and the high percentage of misidentifications (90%) of natural phenomena like clouds, aircraft, and balloons. Whetnall questions if the remaining 10% might also be misidentifications of phenomena not yet understood, citing ball lightning as an example of a natural phenomenon that was once mysterious.

He suggests that electrical phenomena, such as static discharge from the atmosphere, could explain car stop cases and other effects, rather than alien saucers or psychic interference. Whetnall dismisses the idea of psychic sabotage of spark plugs as "utter garbage." He believes that the psychic side of UFOs operates on an astral plane and does not physically transfer. He posits that electrical phenomena could interfere with the brain, causing garbled impressions, headaches, and general malaise, potentially explaining "close encounter effects." Physical traces are also discussed, with the suggestion that they might be misinterpreted or found in unrelated locations.

Whetnall concludes that weather phenomena, such as electrical discharges, could explain sightings, solid objects appearing on radar, and the creation of illusions that turn a ball of light into an extraterrestrial spaceship.

Around the Groups: (9) CHRYSIS

Brian Straight details the formation of CHRYSIS in early 1977 from the remnants of the old Cleveland UFO Research Group. The group shifted focus from mere data collection to the analysis of collected data, drawing on national expertise in astronomy, computer science, and psychology. CHRYSIS operates a well-equipped Mobile Research Unit (MRU) with telescopes and cameras to document UFOs. They aim to improve the quality of documented photographs and observations in ufology. The group has no formal membership but is backed by a research team and field investigators. Plans include publishing a newsletter and holding an annual symposium.

News Round-Up

• David Rees (MAPIT) provides a roundup of news:
• A new publication, "UNEXPLAINED PHENOMENA NEWS BULLETIN," is announced, appearing four times a year.
• BUFORA's London lecture programme for 1978/79 is mentioned, with a specific date for Roy Dutton's talk on 'Probing the UFO timetable'.
• "Overseas UFO SPACE NEWSCLIPPING JOURNAL" is a forthcoming US magazine seeking contributions.
• Canadian ufologist Gene Duplantier is working on his second issue of "UFOLK" and seeks photos and synopses from British ufologists.
• The ITV screening of "The UFO Incident," based on the Betty and Barney Hill abduction, is noted as having been previously shown on NBC in the USA.
• BUFORA YORKSHIRE is resuming meetings.
• Bryan Hartley wishes to be recognized as an independent researcher, with FAPURG ceasing operations.
• CUFORO (Coalville UFO Research Organisation) from Leicestershire is welcomed.
• A large meeting organized by UAPROL and HAPI in Leicester on September 23rd is highlighted.
• MAPIT received recent publicity in the North Cheshire Herald.
• The South Lakeland UFOs & Leyline discussion group meets monthly in Arnside.
• Two tapes from Ivan Berg Associates, "UFO" and "MYSTERY OF BORLEY RECTORY," are recommended.

UFO Reports (CE1-CE4)

The issue contains numerous detailed reports of UFO sightings and encounters:

• Noisy UFO Over Northumbria Signalbox (June/July 1953): Alan Bell heard a roar and saw a silent, grey object, the size of an airliner, with two stubby wings, streak across the sky.
• UFO Has Frightening Effects on Dog (August 1955): Mr R Wade witnessed a silver 'airship' with a blue window and portholes, which moved slowly and caused his dog to become ill and eventually die.
• ??? 1962 Pittington, Durham: Jim Merrington experienced a white light and whistling noise enveloping his car, similar to a hovering UFO, and a prior encounter with a disappearing man.
• October 1971 Blackpool, Lancs: A teenage girl saw a large, bright light hover and emit a beam, then shoot into the sky.
• February 26 1973 Brigg, S.Humberside: Two women saw a pulsating pink cigar-shaped object.
• November 1 1977 S.Cheshire: A bright white cigar-shaped object was seen travelling fast.
• November 3 1977 Crewe, Cheshire: Mr Alan Davies and his mother observed a fat cigar-shaped object with a hazy outline.
• December 1977 Maghull, Merseyside: Two boys saw a bright round light that moved at high speed.
• December 31 1977 Gullane, E. Lothian: Mr Laidlaw Bell observed a motionless, black, ovoid shape above the clouds.
• January 11 1978 Squires Gate, Lancs: Derek Watson and his foreman saw two greyish-white oval objects moving in formation.
• January 29 1978 M8 Motorway (near Edinburgh): The Fisher family reported a bright white light, followed by a dark shape with red lights and a searchlight beam hovering over fields.
• February 1978 Macclesfield, Cheshire: A well-qualified young man saw a dark object with colored lights, stationary for several minutes.
• February 5 1978 Southport, Merseyside: A man observed a silver light, a silvery disc with grooves, moving slowly.
• March 20 1978 Horncastle, Lincolnshire: Terry Rennie encountered a watery yellow egg-shaped object spinning and casting a light, which paced his lorry.
• March 27 1978 Scunthorpe, Sth Humber: Andrew Middlebrook photographed a brilliant white light crossing the sky.
• April 14 1978 Nantwich, Cheshire: Mark Tyrrell and his wife noticed a brilliant white light moving slowly.
• May 1978 St Helens, Merseyside: A red ball was seen hovering, which was pursued by car before police intervened.
• June 8 1978 Catterick, N. Yorks: A man and wife saw two dark cigar shapes with multiple lights.
• June 26 1978 Stafford, Staffs: Mrs Snape saw a bright yellow light hovering over chimneys.
• July 1978 Stoke, Staffs: An intelligent man saw a small, yellowish, starlike light drifting slowly.
• July 3 1978 Louth, Lincs: Mrs Jenkinson and a friend observed a flat silver oval moving west, and later a similar object moving east.

Another Lincolnshire Cross Country Chase

Reported by Nigel Watson (UFOIN), this incident involved Anne Kirk and her family who, on July 3, 1973, encountered a strange object with two white lights and a rounded bulk. The object paced their car, displaying red, green, and orange lights before shooting away. It reappeared later and paced the car again before disappearing.

Another Scene From Close Encounters - Take Two

This report by WUFOS (7883) notes how phenomena mirror "Close Encounters," referencing a giant UFO over Partington. It details a pursuit incident in St Helens, Merseyside, where a red ball was seen hovering and pursued by car until police intervened. Two unknown men later questioned the witnesses about the event.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed reporting of UFO sightings across the UK, the exploration of potential explanations for these phenomena (ranging from extraterrestrial to natural causes), and the challenges faced by ufologists in dealing with media attention and public perception. The editorial stance, particularly from Jenny Randles, emphasizes the need for serious investigation and accurate reporting, while acknowledging the difficulties in achieving this amidst sensationalism. There is a clear effort to present a balanced view, considering both conventional and unconventional explanations, and to document a wide range of cases for analysis.