Sussex Circular - 1996 no 54

Magazine Overview

This issue of SC Magazine, dated July 1996, is the 54th edition and costs £1.00. The cover prominently features the 'SC' logo and highlights key articles including 'How Not To Name A Crop Formation', 'The Lost Work Of Charles Brooker', 'All The Latest Crop Designs Listed And Detailed', and 'First Photos Of The 1996 Circle Season'. The editor, Andy Thomas, notes the return of crop formations with a 'vengeance' and announces changes to the magazine's subscription and mailing address, with Diana Knibbs and Jason Porthouse taking over these duties.

Crop Circle Season '96 Update

The magazine reports that the crop circle season, after a slow start, is finally picking up pace. It notes that fields were several weeks behind in growth due to winter weather, potentially affecting the timing of formations. The 'CIRCLES '96 UPDATE #2' section provides a round-up of recent formations, emphasizing that information is based on word-of-mouth and may change. The publication states it will avoid 'ridiculous and now predictable hoax yarns'.

Specific Formations Reported:

• East Oakley, Nr Basingstoke, Hampshire: Two formations in oilseed rape, including an 83' ringed circle. A standing crescent formation was also noted.
• Denton, Oxfordshire: A 45' circle in rape, appearing old when first reported, with a clockwise spiral lay.
• Goodworth Clatford, Wiltshire: An 80' double-ringer with overlapping rings, a 'heart' shape, and approximately 28 grapeshot circles.
• Sollum, Lancashire: A 55' anticlockwise circle in rape with a bent pathway to a smaller circle, and two grapeshot circles.
• Silbury Hill, Avebury, Wiltshire: An 82'8" circle with six large standing petals and six smaller ones, described as a 'flower' design. This formation was in green barley and suffered from visitors trampling the crop.
• Devizes, Wiltshire: A 20' ringed circle with six large grapeshot in a hay field. A rough, loose-looking spiral also appeared in the same field.
• Girton, Cambridgeshire: A 104' 'bulb'-style design with a standing 'squiggle' shape and radially emanating shoots.
• Barham, Cambridgeshire: A 110' clockwise circle in wheat with twenty-four small 18" by 4" arcs inside.
• Alton Barnes, Wiltshire: The 'most staggering formation of the year', a 648' long 'DNA double helix' spiral in the East Field, composed of over 90 circles.
• Gassington, Nr Oxford, Oxfordshire: A formation over 1000' long, made of long thin pathways connecting three circles and two blob-like shapes.
• Cherhill, Wiltshire: A 30' single circle near the white horse carving.
• Ribe, Jutland, Denmark: A circle in grass with 'three triangles inside', reported on the west coast.
• Blue Ball Hill, Maryland, USA: Similar shapes to previous years have been discovered, with Dr Levengood of BLT Research convinced they are not wind-lodged.

The magazine notes that Sussex and Hampshire have been 'skipped' so far this year in terms of crop circle activity.

The Lost Work Of Charles Brooker

This feature recounts the rediscovery of the work of Charles Brooker, a former BBC chief engineer who died in 1988. Lucy Pringle details how Brooker researched the effects of magnetism on animals and humans, and its relation to dowsing ability and bird orientation. His work lay dormant until friends of his mentioned it, leading to the discovery of his papers. A research project, backed by UNEX (Unexplained Phenomena Research Society), has been set up to replicate Brooker's findings, with tests to be conducted in the laboratory of Dr Roger Coghill, a psychologist specializing in electro-pollution. Brooker's theories suggested that the Earth's magnetic field might have a moving component, potentially inducing electric currents in the human nervous system. His experiments involved a split-coil generator to compare potentials generated by rotating coil halves in the Earth's field. The apparatus was used in Lodsworth, West Sussex. Brooker's work also attempted to explain diurnal variations in the Earth's magnetic field, linking it to the solar wind and the Earth's static dynamo effect. His research into how steel structures and underground minerals could distort the magnetic field is also mentioned, potentially explaining the ability of dowsers and the 'sick building syndrome'. Donations to the Charles Brooker Trust Fund are welcomed.

Calling Names: What's in a name?

Michael Glickman argues that the naming of crop circles has become careless, sloppy, and disrespectful. He criticizes names like 'The Catherine Wheel' and 'The Gizmo' for evoking negative associations or being trivial. Glickman emphasizes that crop circles are common property and that names should reflect objective information like location and date, rather than subjective opinions that can be spread globally via the internet, potentially causing misinterpretations.

Reviews

• The Mystery Continues by Martin Noakes: This review discusses Andy Thomas's new book, 'Fields of Mystery: The Crop Circle Phenomenon in Sussex'. The book is described as a quality A5 publication covering the phenomenon in Sussex from its earliest formations to the present day, with detailed attention to detail, a history of crop circles, and various theories. The book is published by S B Publications and costs £6.95.

News - Stoned Man

This brief news item reports that eight of the famous Avebury stones in Wiltshire were vandalized with spray paint, bearing 'runic' symbols. The identity of the vandals is unknown, but the media coverage has led to calls for the stones to be shut off from the public, which the article suggests could be used as an excuse for English Heritage to implement stricter controls, similar to those at Stonehenge.

Formation Surveys '95

This section includes detailed surveys of two crop formations from 1995 in Sussex:

• Compton, West Sussex (Ref: Sussex 1995/13): A circle with an emanating bent pathway, next to a smaller circle, in a wheat field. Laid clockwise. Surveyed by Anthony Harding after harvest.
• Wilmington, East Sussex (Ref: Sussex 1995/14): Four interlocking standing crescents appeared near the Long Man of Wilmington. This complex design is described as having scale drawings that proved challenging. It is noted that this was the last formation to appear in Sussex in 1995, excluding additions to the Cissbury Ring formation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the study of crop circles as a phenomenon worthy of serious investigation, distinct from hoaxes. It highlights the scientific and potentially natural origins of these formations, as seen in the articles on Charles Brooker's work and the detailed surveys of new designs. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging contributions and aiming to provide a wide readership for research. There's a clear skepticism towards sensationalism and a preference for factual reporting and objective analysis, as exemplified by Michael Glickman's critique of crop circle naming conventions.