Northern UFO News - No 82

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: 82
Date: March 1981
Publisher: Northern UFO Network (NUFON)
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue of NORTHERN UFO NEWS, dated March 1981, is published by the Northern UFO Network (NUFON) and serves as a monthly bulletin for the UK ufology community. The cover features a stylized map of the UK with the NUFON logo prominently displayed.

Editorial: "The 1980 UFO Awards"

The editorial, penned by Jenny Randles, addresses a critique by Bob Morrell of NUFOIS, who has published 'UFO ABSTRACTS'. Morrell reportedly attacked NUFON, claiming it was disintegrating due to 'paranormalism' and criticizing the NUFON conference as unscientific. Randles defends NUFON, asserting that it is not disintegrating and that cooperation is key to its existence. She argues against Morrell's claims, stating they are based on opinion rather than direct experience and liken his approach to a 'witch-hunt'. Randles emphasizes the importance of free speech and sensible coalition over splits within the ufology community.

Morrell's 'UFO Awards' for 1980 are also discussed. Randles generally agrees with the choices: Best Book (Hendy's UFO HANDBOOK), Best Critic (Ian Ridpath), Most Promising Organisation (BUFORA), and Best Magazine (SKYWATCH). Stuart Campbell receives recognition for his work on plasmas and ball lightning. For Best Investigation, Randles highlights an excellent NUFOIS case study but gives the title to a report by John Morris of MIGAP on a Liverpool MED DEFINITION case, which she notes is also highly regarded by Allen Hynek.

Randles invites readers to submit their own nominations for 'Best of' categories for 1980, encouraging congratulations rather than controversy.

News Round-Up

Jenny Randles is researching her latest book and requests investigators to share cases that most convince them of the reality of unexplained phenomena, to examine evidence and proof.

A report mentions Graham Birdsall's radio appearance discussing space hardware detection, with figures indicating a significant amount of satellites and debris in orbit.

NUFON is cooperating with TYNE TEES TV on a children's UFO program called MADABOUT, hosted by Michael Bentine.

A MUFORA investigation into a 1980 CE1 case involving a mutilated body and regression hypnosis is mentioned. The witness's name is noted as 'Adamski'.

A one-day seminar on PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, organized by MUFORA, is scheduled for Saturday, June 6th, in central Manchester.

Information is provided on the BUFORA UFO Congress, scheduled for Sunday, May 24th, to Monday evening, featuring speakers from Sweden, Canada, USA, and the UK, covering various UFO topics. The cost and accommodation options are detailed.

Elsewhere This Month

This section reviews recent publications and reports from various ufology groups:

• UFOIN: Publishes the second issue of its magazine 'INVESTIGATION', featuring technique, methodology, and three unpublished UK CE3 investigations.
• BUFORA JOURNAL (Feb): Includes a photographic case from New Zealand and a report on the COSMOS 1068 re-entry.
• CONTACT UKS AWARENESS (Autumn 1980): Features a speculative piece on H.G. Wells being a time-lapse abductee.
• NUFOIS: Publishes a detailed case study of a Derbyshire multi-witness case.
• Lincolnshire Dragon (Feb): Discusses the UFO-Psychic debate and earth mysteries.
• MAGIC SAUCER (Jan/Feb): Features children's stories and sightings.
• PROBE (March): Contains articles and reviews.
• EARTHLINK (Spring 80): Explores reincarnation, the Bermuda Triangle, and occult religion.
• SIGAP: Produces 'PEGASUS' (Jan/Feb 1981) with local and recent cases.

Obituary

Capt. Ivor McKay and Dr John Cleary-Baker, described as British UFO pioneers, passed away in November after long lives contributing to the UFO scene.

Roll Out The Barrel by Nigel Watson

Nigel Watson discusses the media's portrayal of ufology and the resulting sensitivity within the community. He reviews the book 'GENESIS', criticizing its explicit content and characters but questioning its threat to ufology's 'respectable' image. Watson defends the book against Jenny Randles' allegations of 'rape', suggesting that such assumptions about investigators are a sign of 'lunacy'. He praises WA Harbinson's hypothesis about a secret inventor behind UFO sightings, presented in a more scholarly fashion than many 'expert' UFO books. Watson concludes that the ufology community needs to "roll out" its own "murky waters" before condemning external works like 'GENESIS'.

UFO Networks Meet To Forge New Relationship

On February 7th, representatives from 15 NUFON groups and a dozen southern groups in the MAUFOG alliance met in Birmingham. The meeting aimed to foster cooperation, break down barriers, and set a positive direction for British ufology. Key outcomes included:

1. Establishment of a regular dialogue between NUFON and MAUFOG representatives.
2. NUFON agreed to open all its meetings and conferences to MAUFOG members, with MAUFOG considering reciprocity.
3. Decision to continue these representative meetings and plan another for later in 1981.
4. Agreement to work towards organizing at least one, possibly two, joint conferences per year on specific UFO research themes.
5. Discussion on creating a joint resource center for pooling data and providing a reference library service.
6. Coordination of a joint working party to create a 'Code of Ethics' or 'Code of Practice' for UFO Investigators, with a meeting scheduled for March 28th in Nottingham.
7. BUFORA and CONTACT will be kept informed and invited to participate.

The article concludes that British ufology is at an exciting new crossroads.

Investigation

This section details several UFO sighting reports:

• Wimboldsley, Cheshire (September 21, 1980): A detailed CE1 case investigated by FUFOR, currently unidentified.
• Burbage, Leics (November 2, 1978): A 14-year-old girl saw four green and one red LITS (lights) that faded out.
• Nuneaton, Wrwks (August 21, 1979): A couple saw white LITS that dimmed out and turned red/green before moving off rapidly.
• Upton, Wirral (September 22, 1980): Two boys saw a flash behind spark-plug manufacturers, possibly an electric arc.
• Nuneaton, Wrwks (September 12, 1980): A couple saw three sets of orange/green LITS moving slowly downwards.
• Bidston, Wirral (September 28, 1980): A dull red LIT with fuzzy edges was observed moving silently.
• Tranmere, Wirral (October 5, 1980): A lecturer saw white LITS that repeatedly disappeared and reappeared.
• Wallasey, Wirral (Winter, 08:45): Three men saw a red ball emitting blue flame, moving slowly and silently.
• Prestatyn, Clwyd (September 12, 1980): Two teenagers reported a rugby ball-shaped object hovering low, emitting blue flashes.
• Kilsby, Northants (July 8, 1980): A salesman saw a white cigar-shaped object with portholes streak across the sky.
• Stockport, Gtr M/Cr (January 10, 1981): Witnesses reported an upturned mushroom-shaped object moving with a whoosing sound.
• Elland, W.Yorks (January 10, 1981): A cabaret artist saw a white object hovering and changing color, emitting whistling/humming sounds.
• Hartford, Cheshire (January 17, 1981): A couple saw a chandelier-like object with multiple white LITS, possibly an aircraft.
• Ince, Gtr Manchester (February 9, 1981): Four people saw an orange/white light growing to an oval shape, hovering, and then shooting off.

Flying Entities Reported From The Midlands

• Patricia K. (Staffs): Reported a sighting in 1967 or 1968 of a large, domed disc with banded portholes hovering briefly.
• David B. (Shotton, Clwyd): Reported seeing a tall, eight-foot figure in a white astronaut-like suit with a visor, accompanied by his dog's fear. This case is compared to the Rainford case and other sightings of silver-suited figures in the area.

Editorial Comments

The editor notes hopeful signs that the British 'drought' of sightings may be ending, with an increase in reports for 1981. The editor questions the significance of this in light of declining sales in the publishing trade for UFO and paranormal books, pondering whether it indicates public apathy or a genuine drop in phenomena incidence, and if there's a link between public interest and sighting numbers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the ongoing efforts to foster cooperation and networking among British UFO groups, the detailed investigation and reporting of UFO sightings (categorized by definition level), and the critical examination of UFO-related media and publications. The editorial stance, as expressed by Jenny Randles, is one of advocating for a balanced, evidence-based approach to ufology, emphasizing collaboration and free speech over internal conflict and sensationalism. There is a clear effort to present a more scientific and organized perspective on the subject, while still acknowledging the unexplained nature of many reported events. The issue also highlights the challenges faced by the ufology community in terms of media portrayal and public perception.