Northern UFO News - No 74

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFONEWS
Issue: 74
Date: July 1980
Publisher: NORTHERN UFO NETWORK (NUFON)
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of NORTHERN UFONEWS, published by the NORTHERN UFO NETWORK (NUFON), is dated July 1980 and is issue number 74. The publication is edited by Jenny Randles (MUFORA) and the cover was designed by John Watson (CHRYSTS). The NUFON address is provided as 8 Whitethroat Walk, Birchwood, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 6PQ.

Editorial: "Definitions - Who needs them?"

The editorial discusses the recent trend in Ufology to define terms, sparked by the BUFORA congress in London. The editor acknowledges the efforts of BUFORA's working party in defining 'UFO REPORT' but questions the inherent possibility and desirability of defining Ufology itself. The argument that a definition is necessary for Ufology to become a science is presented, but the editor doubts Ufology's potential to be a science, viewing it instead as a collection of sciences. Defining a single aspect is seen as inevitably leaving others out, likening it to defining 'Life'.

John Hind's attempt to define UFOLOGY 1 (physical phenomena) and UFOLOGY 2 (psycho-social reaction) is mentioned, with the editor agreeing that these are separate entities, though intertwined by 'the sticky thread of belief in alien intervention'. The editor emphasizes that the importance in Ufology lies not in arbitrary definitions but in whether a witness considers an experience to be within a UFO context. The editor's own preliminary definition for his forthcoming book, 'UFO STUDY', is "the study of reported experiences, and their possible causations, which the witness, investigator or both consider related to their conception of the UFO phenomenon."

The editorial concludes by questioning whether it is wrong to set limitations given the current inadequate knowledge of the subject.

Conference News

The next NUFON Conference is scheduled for Saturday, October 11, in Birmingham, co-hosted by UFOSIS and PARASEARCH. The theme is "CLOSE ENCOUNTERS IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE." Further details will be announced, with contact information for Martin Keatman provided. MAUFOG is also forming a working party to collaborate with NUFON on Britain's first national UFO groups conference, planned for Birmingham in the early new year.

An additional Birmingham event is a one-day seminar on UFOs at Birmingham University on November 8, featuring science writer Ian Ridpath presenting the 'anti-UFO' case and Jenny Randles and Peter Warrington presenting the 'pro-UFO' case, followed by a debate.

News Review

Leicestershire group HAPI is launching a new group called "Atmospheric Studies" from August 31, which will focus on IFO reports and correlate them with phenomena like ball lightning and the effects of humidity on sound wave propagation. Inquiries can be directed to 23 Linden Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire.

SKYSCAN, a Worcester group, is holding a public exhibition on August 9. Contact SKYSCAN at 12 Hazel Close, Warndon, Worcester for details.

Geoffrey Grundill is researching MIB (Men in Black) claims and is seeking contact with anyone who has had experiences with these individuals. He can be reached at "Silvretta", Richmondclose, Workington, Cumbria CA14 4EY.

Syd Henley of NUFOIS reports that a toilet bag containing shaving tackle, soap, and flannels was found at the Nottingham HQ. The owner is asked to contact the HQ at 443 Meadow Lane, Nottingham NG2 3GB.

When the Moon is a UFO

This section is a follow-up to a previous editorial, addressing remarks made by BUFORA director Tony Pace. The author defends the integrity of NUFON investigators and states that while Tony Pace may have identified the moon as the cause of a sighting in the Bignall End case, it is still valid to question why witnesses perceived it differently. The author criticizes Tony Pace's use of emotive language and his creation of a scientific institute to hide his name.

Elsewhere This Month

This section provides brief reviews of other UFO publications:

• FSR (Silver-jubilee issue) features the Livingston CE3 saga and an aircraft encounter over Bolton.
• BUFORA JOURNAL (May) includes reports on a French CE4 from Cergy, an angel hair case from Portugal, and others.
• UFO INSIGHT (June) from FUFOR discusses psycho-physiological effects and UFOs, and critiques the Llanerchymedd case.
• EARTHLINK (Autumn 1979) covers leys, othoteny, and an Essex CE4.
• PROBE is a new magazine from NUFOR SW, subscription £1.60 quarterly.

"On Fieldwork vs Theorising" by Hilary Evans (SPR UFO Study Group)

Hilary Evans discusses the relative values of fieldwork and theorising, drawing parallels with Evans-Pritchard's study of witchcraft among the Azande. He argues that while fieldwork provides facts, these facts are useless until combined into a meaningful structure that leads to valid deductions. He criticizes American UFO literature for being sterile and lacking in interpretation, contrasting it with French Ufology, which he praises for building facts into meaningful structures. Evans notes that the Randles/Warrington book is a significant step forward for British Ufology.

He observes that while enlightened consideration of Ufology is growing in Britain, evidenced by publications like MAGONIA, many of these have small circulations. He suggests that the average British Ufologist is more interested in collecting cases like postage stamps rather than fitting them together to form a coherent picture. While acknowledging the value of tools like BUFORA's vehicle interference project and Dan Butcher's UFO sound catalogue, Evans stresses that these are merely tools, and it is what researchers do with them that matters.

The article lists subscription details for FSR, MAGONIA, and ALPHA, noting that FSR and ALPHA are bi-monthly, while MAGONIA is quarterly.

Low Definition Investigations

This section details several low-definition UFO sightings:

• Ref 76-169 (Oct ??): Carnforth, Lancs. Family observed large lights changing colour (red-green) but not pulsating, hovering overhead.
• Ref 79-137 (Feb 17): Warton, Lancs. Man and woman observed orange lights from a car, stationary, then descended. No cause found.
• Ref 8021 (Mar ??): Bolton-le-Sands, Lancs. Two women observed 3 red lights and one green light surrounded by blue haze, moving North.
• Ref 8025 (July 1): Barton, Gtr Mcr. 3 red lights in a diamond seen moving West.

Medium Definition Investigations

This section details several medium-definition UFO sightings:

• Ref 7233 (Feb 11): Prestbury, Chesh. An oval object with a vertical bar and six light areas was observed moving North.
• Ref 78-264 (Jun 12): Congleton, Chesh. A yellow-white oval object with searchlight beams was observed stationary, then moved, swerved, and hovered.
• Ref 79-139 (Dec 19): Barton-U-Needwood, Staffs. An object described as a dark oval with cross-struts and flashing lights moved slowly Northwest.
• UNKNOWN (June 1971): Lancaster. A cigar-shaped object, approximately 150' long, glowing green, emitted orange sparks and disappeared.
• UNKNOWN (Jan 24 1978): Leicestershire. A hazy dark cigar shape with red and blue/green lights performed complex maneuvers, with investigators concluding at least two different objects were present.
• UNKNOWN (May 5 1980): Burbage, Leics. A dark silver triangle-shaped object with three red lights on its apexes rose from the ground and moved Northwest.

UFO Sightings As A Reinforcement For Acquired Belief Systems

CE1 Psycho (February 1980): Old Brodsworth, Sth Yks (Case 8020)

Investigated by Nigel and Robert Addinall, this report concerns Mrs Stanley, who reported seeing bright lights over a wood on two occasions. On the second occasion, the lights emitted beams and moved off NW as saucer-shaped objects larger than cars. The witness had an interest in UFOs and the paranormal, and her friend, a healer, claimed she had seen ships surveying Earth prior to a cataclysm in the 1980s. The investigators concluded that the witness's suggestibility, coupled with her awareness of UFO theorizing, were relevant factors.

CE1 Physio (March 13 1980): Exhall, Warwkshire (Case 8022)

Mr G, travelling East, observed an object in the SE that moved fast and filled his windscreen. He estimated its size as that of a Galaxy Aircraft at about 1000 feet. The object was cigar-shaped with enlarged ends, basically white with reddish tips. As it moved out of sight, Mr G became aware that his steering wheel had become very hot, causing severe burns on his left hand. The case is being investigated by UFOIN.

Terror in the House of the Dolls

This CE4 experience, reported by John Watson of CHRYSIS, is described as complex. The events occurred near Gateshead and involved the B family. The primary witness, Carol B, reported seeing a disc-like UFO outside her bedroom, followed by miniature discs and glittering lights that caused tingling and loss of energy. Other family members also experienced similar effects, described as electric shocks. These attacks occurred between August 16 and December 1, 1979.

The End of the World is Nigh

Reported by Jenny Randles of MUFORA, this CE4 experience occurred in Middlesborough, Cleveland, in 1964. The witness, Bob H, a professional magician and psychic, claims to have entered a semi-trance and received a message about the earth blowing itself up in the year 2500 AD, with mankind repeating an endless series of actions. He was shown images of the earth reforming and told his job was to help break off from this cycle. The experience involved floating into the sky, passing through a disc-like UFO, and receiving complex explanations of its function. Bob was dismissed by the dentist and had to fight off demonic entities trying to possess his body.

The report notes that this case has close correlations with other reported experiences and may offer insights into the contactee phenomenon and its status as a real or subjective experience. A new book by Jenny Randles and Paul Whetnall will further explore these experiences.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the definition and classification of UFO phenomena, the methodology of UFO research (fieldwork versus theorising), and the presentation of various case studies. The editorial stance, as expressed by the editor, is skeptical of rigid definitions and emphasizes the importance of the witness's perception and the study of reported experiences, regardless of whether they fit a pre-defined scientific model. There is a clear emphasis on detailed investigation and the presentation of evidence, even for less conventional cases like CE4 experiences and psychological phenomena associated with sightings.