Northern UFO News - No 60

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: 60
Date: May 1979
Publisher: Northern UFO Network (NUPON)
Description: A monthly newsletter of the Northern UFO Network (NUPON), published eight times per year.

Editorial: "Some Observations on the NUFON Headquarters"

Dr. Bob Morrell addresses criticisms leveled at the NUFON Headquarters (HQ) during a conference in Crewe. He clarifies that the HQ is not a grand administrative center but essentially the home of the secretary, Jenny Randles. Its primary function is to collate and store completed investigation reports, making them available for consultation or copying by post. Unlike some other groups, NUFOIS (which shares premises with NUFON) makes its files available for research, including the NUFON and UFOIN files. The premises are devoted to UFO work, with accommodation for a building custodian. Members can consult files by giving advance notice.

Morrell explains that criticisms regarding mail acknowledgment were due to mail being sent to a boarded-up house. He states that NUFOIS meets twice weekly, with two delegated individuals servicing NUFON mail, and delays can occur if both are unavailable. Requests for copies incur an invoice for reproduction costs, with no original files sent by post. Copying is done commercially at 5p per page, and the use of the RCM in the NUN helps calculate costs. The editorial highlights an urgent need for a plain-paper copier to reduce costs significantly, noting that a non-ufological organization offered £100 for access to such a copier, while UFO groups have offered little support.

Jenny Randles, the secretary, appeals for donations of books and magazines to expand the library, noting that not all groups send their own publications. She suggests that UFO groups organize fundraising events, like jumble sales or sponsored walks, to raise money for a copier, promising to publish the plans and results in NUN. The editorial contact information for NUFOIS HQ is provided.

Correlations

This section, supplied by Bernard Delair, lists comparative UFO sighting data from various sources. It includes entries from June 1970 (Wythenshaw) to January 1979 (Bagueley), noting phenomena such as domed discs, skyblasts, landings, EM effects, triangles, and cigar shapes, with locations in the UK and abroad (Rhodesia, USA, Canada, Crete).

Contact with Contact

Jenny Randles reaffirms the excellent official liaison between NUFON and CONTACT, extending to the Northern Historical UFO Catalogue. She refutes comments from NUFON groups about local coordination problems with CONTACT officials, stressing the strength of their basic links.

Conferences and Publications

MUFORA is organizing a one-day conference at SALFORD UNIVERSITY on June 16, 1979, featuring speakers Charles Bowen and Peter Warrington.

The death of author Ted Holliday ('Dragon & the disc') is announced. His new book, 'The Dyfed Enigma', co-authored with Randall Jones-Pugh, concerns the South Wales 1977 flap of CE3 cases.

'MIDLANDS UFOLOG', a publication for East Midlands UFO cases, is available for 13p per issue (£1.45 pa).

'MAGIC SAUCER' is recommended as an excellent magazine for under 18s, costing 25p per issue.

An appeal is made for articles for the July Northern UFOLOGY on the theme 'UFOs and the Government'.

Strange Phenomena

The magazine addresses a new publication called 'STRANGE PHENOMENA', which aims to explore inter-relations between UFOs and other paranormal phenomena. NUFON clarifies that it has not offered official support for this concept, and any contributions are individual. While acknowledging the possibility of overlap, NUFON stresses that the publicity literature might have implied support where none was officially given.

"Say What You Feel"

Paul Whetnall takes over the news column from David Rees, with a new emphasis on reader feedback. Whetnall discusses his views on the Ufology scene, criticizing publications like 'Landed Teacup Review' for what he perceives as backward trends and research into alien entities from distant planets. He praises 'Not so Irish UFO News' and 'Muffleblob' for delivering 'real fresh loaves' of information. Whetnall invites readers to respond with compliments, comments, threats, and assassination attempts.

He mentions Nigel Watson and discusses figures like Charles Blowlamp, Allan Lowknee, and Jenny Rambler. Whetnall expresses regret at losing David Rees and FUFOR from Crewe, acknowledging their excellent work.

Investigations

The issue includes a detailed list of 'Low Definition Cases' and 'Medium Definition Cases' with reference numbers, dates, times, locations, investigation levels (A-E), RCM figures, and investigator names. These cases span from November 1977 to February 1979 and include sightings such as:

• Multi-sightings of red LITS in Spalding, Lincs.
• A couple saw a group of white lights hover then drop in Tarporley, Cheshire.
• A man saw red, green, and yellow lights hover and move off in Standeford, Staffs.
• A white flash and skyblast in Burringham, S. Humberside.
• Teenagers saw a silver oval in Tranent, Scotland.
• Multi-sightings of windowed ovals and bright lights in Halifax, W. Yorkshire.
• Ovals like vapour trails hovered in Edinburgh, Scotland.
• A saucer hovered, fell, and rose in Livingston, Scotland.
• A triangle with colored lights and a white tail in Crossthwaite, Cumbria.
• A white triangle flying courses with a humming sound in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear.
• A shape-changing, hovering bright object in Catterick, N. Yorks.
• A bright gold ball split in two in Morecambe, Lancs.
• A cigar-shaped object with a red glow in Dormanstown, Cleveland.
• An orange disc descended into a field and quarry in Bacup, Lancashire.

Specific detailed cases include:

• Hamstead, West Midlands (July 3, 1977): A 15-year-old boy saw a slowly moving, half-moon shaped object with a silver rectangle and a greyer rounded top, which changed course erratically. His mother saw only a bright round ball.
• Longton, Staffs (October 5, 1978): A bright object over a pub hovered, then moved off. It was described as coffin-shaped with an aura, and later showed red and green steady lights at the rear. No sound was heard.
• Tranent, E. Lothian, Scotland (February 2, 1979): A 13-year-old boy saw a stationary white oval tilted towards him, with bumps on top and six ovals lined in black underneath. A white beam emerged, and the object hovered before vanishing.

UFO Facts & Figures

This section provides statistics on UFO sightings from NUFON files. In 1975 and 1976, there were around 160 sightings each. In 1977, this doubled to 320, and in 1978 (aided by 'CLOSE ENCOUNTERS' publicity), there were 222 sightings. For 1979, the year is on par with 1976, but significantly down from 1977 and 1978. The percentage of 'Unknowns' for 1979 is about 12%, compared to an 'amazing 23%' in 1978.

Close Encounter Activity

This section details specific close encounter cases:

• A Frosty Flying Saucer? (March 30, 1977): A psychic witness reported a misty white plume and a white dome in her garden, possibly related to frost and temperature effects. Her daughter developed a rash afterwards.
• Mother-Ship Sighting Over Wolverhampton (October 1, 1978): Mr. and Mrs. F reported seeing a lens-shaped object with four portholes that changed color rapidly. A smaller object was ejected from it. They also observed a beam of white light. Mr. F has had precognitive dreams and dreams of tall men.

Low Level UFO Over The Bay

March 8, 1979: David and Lesley Tobell reported seeing red and white flashing lights, followed by a red beam from a huge round base with four red domes pacing their car. The object was disc-shaped, silver, with rotating white lights. It moved away and descended over a golf course, appearing ready to land. It then shot away at high speed. Mr. Tobell experienced recurrence of lung and chest pain.

The Man In The Garden

Early 1977: In Huyton, Merseyside, Mrs. Street and her son saw a figure described as nine feet tall, wearing a white suit and helmet, peering from bushes. The figure was seen floating and later confronted by Mrs. Street and a friend. Police arrived but the figure vanished. Mrs. Street has since seen many UFOs and claims psychic experiences, including premonitions and a visit from a man who said he was 'working with the aliens', after which all clocks in the house stopped.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed reporting and investigation of UFO sightings across the UK, the operational challenges and community aspects of UFO networks like NUPON, and the critical analysis of UFO literature and related phenomena. The editorial stance, particularly in the 'Say What You Feel' column, encourages open discussion and critical evaluation of information within the UFO field. There is a strong emphasis on data collection, organization, and the need for resources (like a copier) to support research efforts. The magazine also highlights the importance of inter-group cooperation while maintaining a clear stance on the scope of phenomena they cover, as seen in the 'Strange Phenomena' section.