SUFOG Newsletter No 038

Magazine Overview

This document is the 38th newsletter from the Southampton UFO Group, dated December 1993. It serves as a compilation of UFO-related news, media coverage, and organizational updates, reflecting the group's ongoing interest in the subject.

Editorial and Announcements

The newsletter opens with a seasonal greeting from the organizer, Steve Gerrard, wishing readers a happy Christmas and New Year and expressing hope for the newsletter's continued success in 1994. This is followed by a somber announcement regarding the recent passing of Stuart Smith, associated with Enigma Publications and the I.U.N. The organizer expresses personal gratitude for having met Stuart and acknowledges his significant contribution to the field of ufology, stating he will be greatly missed.

Media Coverage: October 1992

A substantial portion of the newsletter is dedicated to cataloging media reports on UFOs from October 1992. This section is divided into 'REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS', 'MAGAZINE ARTICLES', 'NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS', and 'WORLD ARTICLES'.

Regional Newspapers:

Numerous regional newspapers across the UK reported on UFO sightings and related topics. Examples include:

• Scarborough Evening News (10.92): 'MYSTERY OF A JET AND ITS 20,400 MPH 'TARGET'.'
• Daventry Express (1.10.92): Reported on Elsie Oakensen, an abductee, with no specific title given.
• South Wales Guardian (1.10.92): 'UFO OVER TOWN.'
• Shoreham Herald (2.10.92): ''FLYING SAUCER' TROUBLE FOR MP.'
• Waltham Forest Independent (2.10.92): 'MEETING OF UFO EXPERTS.'
• Southend Evening Echo (7.10.92): ''ET? SOMEONE UP THERE MAY BE WATCHING AS YOU READ THIS ?'
• Birmingham Evening Mail (7.10.92): 'DATE WITH UFO EXPERT.'
• Edinburgh Evening News (8.10.92): 'PLAQUE AT UFO SIGHT VANISHES.'
• Leeds Weekly News (8.10.92): 'SOMETHING STRANGE IS GOING ON.'
• Barnsley Chronicle (9.10.92): 'SCHOOLBOYS SPOT UFO AT GAWBER.'
• Penarth Times (9.10.92): 'HAVE YOU READ.'
• Yorkshire Evening Press (13.10.92): 'UFO CRAZY.'
• Northwich Guardian (14.10.92): 'SIX SEE UFO.'
• Glasgow Daily Record (19.10.92): 'SPACED OUT.'
• Coventry Evening Telegraph (21.10.92): 'UFO TALKS.'
• Torquay Herald and Express (21.10.92): 'UFO FAN'S RESEARCH CALL.'
• West Lothian Herald and Post (22.10.92): 'HUNT IS ON FOR MYSTERIOUS UFO.'
• Chichester Observer (22.10.92): 'SIGHTING UFO PLEA.'
• Grimsby Evening Telegraph (23.10.92): 'UFOS GIVEN AN AIRING.'
• Hastings and St. Leonards Observer (23.10.92): 'WATCH THE SKIES.'
• Huddersfield Examiner (23.10.92): 'BURNING WITH SHEER CURIOSITY.'
• Hull Daily Mail (23.10.92): 'HELL, THAT'S BRIGHT, VERY BRIGHT.'
• Birmingham Post (24.10.92): 'CLOSE ENCOUNTER PHENOMENON IS HERE TO STAY.'
• Wales on Sunday (25.10.92): 'WHY ALIENS FIND WALES IRRESISTIBLE.'
• Aberdeen Press and Journal (26.10.92): 'SCOTLAND GOOD FOR SPOTTING ALIENS IN THE SKY.'
• Western Mail (27.10.92): 'WALES IS TOP UFO HOT SPOT.'
• Chichester Observer (29.10.92): 'MORE REPORT SEEING UFO.'
• Grimsby Evening Telegraph (29.10.92): 'HAVE A CLOSE ENCOUNTER.'
• Kent and Sussex Courier (30.10.92): 'WEEKEND FOR UFOLOGY, MIB'S AND ABDUCTIONS.'
• Lothian Courier (30.10.92): 'EXPERTS PROBE UFO SIGHTINGS.'

Magazine Articles:

• Woman Realm (6.10.92): 'THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING.'
• TNT Magazine (19.10.92): Reported on a UFO expert who has seen aliens walking on Earth.
• Weekly News (London) (31.10.92): 'UFO VISIT.'

National Newspapers:

• Independent on Sunday (11.10.92): 'IS THERE LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS ?'
• Sunday Observer (11.10.92): 'ANTI-MATTER PIONEERS READY TO REVERSE THE CHARGES.'
• The Guardian (15.10.92): No title provided.
• Daily Star (16.10.92): 'LOST IN SPACE ? STARTLING TRUTH ABOUT THE MILLION SNATCHED BY UFOS.'

World Articles:

• Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) (14.10.92): 'MEET ET AND MAKE A PHONE CALL.'

Crop Circle Articles

This section details articles specifically about crop circles:

• Southampton Evening Echo (9.10.92): ''INDIFFERENCE' MAKES CROP CIRCLE RESEARCHER MOVE TO USA.'
• Yorkshire Evening Press (27.10.92): 'SEEKING KEY TO THE CROP CIRCLES.'

Paper Unknown

• 13.10.92: 'MOVES TO MARK FOREST'S MYSTERY.'

Press Cutting Collection

The organizer maintains a monthly running total of press cuttings. The current totals are:

• CROP CIRCLES: 751
• UK NATIONALS: 895
• UK REGIONALS: 2581
• HAMPSHIRE ARTICLES: 88
• NEWSPAPER UNKNOWN: 624
• MAGAZINE ARTICLES: 234
• REST OF THE WORLD: 56
• SOUTHAMPTON ECHO: 388
• TIMES (THE): 136
• AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS: 537
• BERMUDA TRIANGLE: 2
• BIGFOOT: 4
• PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT: 1
• CATTLE MUTILATIONS: 13
• STEALTH/FIGHTER BOMBER: 3
• FACES ON MARS: 3
• MYSTERY CATS: 5
• AURORA PROJECT: 3
• SEARCH FOR ET: 2
• LOCH NESS MONSTER: 2

TOTAL: 6328

General Information

Slides:

A list of approximately 300 slides is available from Quest International, though the list may not be up-to-date.

Press/TV/Radio Matters (15.11.93 - 15.12.93):

• Daily Telegraph (8th November 1993): An article titled 'Of UFOs And Gym Shoes' discussed the Auetherius Society, its beliefs in love, healing, and extra-terrestrials, and interviewed Dr. Richard Lawrence and founder Rev. George King.

Magazine Reviews:

• WONDERLAND : NO.2 1993: Contained UFO-related articles and other 'interesting' pieces. Contact David Taylor for details.
• ENIGMAS : NO 34 NOV - DEC 93: Described as one of the best British journals covering Strange Phenomena, this issue included topics like government withholding truth, mediumship, physics, and an interview with Linda Moulton Howe. Contact Malcolm Robinson for details.

CENAP REPORTS:

• CENAP REPORT : NO. 209 AUG/SEPT 93: Recommended for those who can read German, this report features press items from German newspapers and looks at UFO sightings from Germany.
• CENAP REPORT : NO. 210 OCT/NOV 93: This edition includes press items and articles on crop circles in Germany and Switzerland, as well as photographs of black globes from Russia.

THE CIRCULAR REVIEW : VOL 2 NO 2 JULY/AUG 93:

This journal covers crop circle activity in the Midlands and North East, including articles on channelling and the physics of crop circles. Contact details are provided.

NORTHERN ENGLAND CROP CIRCLE BULLETIN : NO 5. NOV 93:

This bulletin discusses crop circle formations at Pickering and Market Weighton, and provides a summary of confirmed formations in the Yorkshire/Humberside Region.

THE CROP WATCHER : NO 19. SEPT/OCT 93:

This magazine features an account of Doug Bower meeting on 3.8.93, a look at the Sheffield (IUN) conference in August 1993, and other crop circle items. The editor, Paul Fuller, has resigned from BUFORA.

Publications and Organizations

BUFORA NEWSFILE : NO 15. AUG 93:

A collection of press articles from March-August 1993, provided by BUFORA on 5 pages of double-sided A4 paper. Contact BUFORA (NF) for details.

UFO MAGAZINE (QUEST) : SEPT/OCT 1993 : VOL 12 ISSUE 4:

This glossy magazine features controversial articles, a review of the 1993 conference in Leeds, a UFO update by Tony Dodd, and adverts for various items. Full details are available from Quest Publications International Ltd.

UFO HOTLINE:

Charges are 36p Standard Rate and 48p Peak Rate per minute. Bufora Weekly News Update number is 0891 121 886.

Subscription Details:

The newsletter consists of at least 4 double-sided A4 pages, plus newscuttings. An extra page is included in summer months for crop circle news. The cost is £5 per year (including postage).

Meetings and Events

Meeting of Southern Paranormal Investigations Group : 24.11.93:

The second meeting of the SPI group started late and was attended by about 25 people, including reporters. The first half featured a video of strange lights over crop circles and alleged ghosts. The second half included a talk by Ernie Sears about a ghost dog encounter and an out-of-body experience. The organizer shared a story about a police officer encountering an aerial object. The meeting was considered somewhat disappointing due to attendance numbers similar to the first meeting. Contact Bob Schindler for more information.

UFO RECOGNITION, OR IS IT ????

This section questions whether UFOs are finally gaining recognition or if it will lead to a bureaucratic 'Black Hole'.

• The Independent Newspaper....2.12.93: 'EU Goes Into Orbit In Search Of Ufo's.....' The European Parliament is proposing to establish a European centre for sightings of unidentified flying objects, to be located in France. The article notes the locals have dubbed the building 'the Folly of the Gods'.

Videos and Reports

A New Video To Look Out For:

'Visitors From Space' is available from HMV, priced at around £14.00 for approximately 1 hour.

Stop Press: BUFORA Update

A 'Stop Press' section details a controversy within BUFORA. It alleges that a doctored tape of an interview with Jenny Randles was produced, edited to only include her comments. This tape was allegedly used against her, leading to her resignation. A subsequent executive council meeting, which Jenny Randles declined to attend, voted against her, resulting in her being 'kicked out of BUFORA'. The new director of research is named as Philip Mantle, with his wife as press officer.

Future Events

• The next public meeting of the East Midlands U.F.O Research Association will be on the 23rd of February 1994, at Bulwell library. Contact Anthony James for details.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on UFO sightings, crop circles, and related paranormal phenomena, drawing heavily from media reports. It also provides updates on organizations like BUFORA and Quest International, and covers local paranormal investigation group activities. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent information gathering and dissemination, with a critical eye towards organizational politics, as evidenced by the 'Stop Press' section regarding BUFORA. The passing of Stuart Smith is noted with respect, highlighting his importance in the ufology field. The newsletter also reflects a growing interest in international and governmental involvement in UFO research, as seen with the EU proposal.