Sussex Circular - 1999 no 86

Magazine Overview

This issue of THE BIMONTHLY JOURNAL OF CROP CIRCLES AND BEYOND, issue 86, dated September/October 1999, priced at £2.00, is dedicated to a comprehensive review of the 1999 crop circle season, with a particular focus on 'Crop Circles of 1999: The Final Round-Up'. The cover also highlights 'The Stargate Conspiracy'. The journal is edited by Andy Thomas and published by Southern Circular Research (SCR).

Editor's Introduction

Andy Thomas apologizes for the lateness of this issue, citing various factors including computer upgrades and personal circumstances. He announces a new look and revised logo, thanking Jason Porthouse for the design and Martin Noakes and Jason for technical assistance. The journal is sponsoring the Crop Circle Connector web site, which is praised as the best Internet resource for circle information. Thomas encourages readers to check the site for details and photos of formations. He expresses gratitude to Ronald Koons for a significant donation to Southern Circular Research (SCR) and to other donors, emphasizing that all finances are reinvested into the journal or support services like the Connector. The editor notes the passing of Richard Andrews, a familiar face in the crop circle community, and mentions that Michael Glickman pays tribute to him in this issue.

Richard Andrews (1933-1999)

Michael Glickman writes a tribute to Richard Andrews, who died on August 6th after a long illness. Glickman recalls meeting Andrews in 1990 during the East Field pictogram event and remembers him as a model of generosity, kindness, and openness. Andrews, a farmer and crop inspector, was known in the Hampshire agricultural community and was a respected dowser. Glickman notes that Andrews occasionally disagreed with others, particularly regarding the 'high-percentage-hoax' hypothesis, but forgave his critics. Despite suffering from ill health for some years, Andrews made a notable appearance at the Alton Barnes weekend that summer, looking frail but cheerful. His last appearance was at Alton Barnes, surrounded by a new generation of researchers, in a field featuring a formation reminiscent of the 1990 pictograms. Glickman describes Andrews as a big man with a reassuring presence, always civil and friendly, and states he will be missed.

Formations 1999: Report #3

Andy Thomas rounds up the remainder of the most recent English crop circle formations from the 1999 season. He notes that while the season quietened down unexpectedly after the total solar eclipse on August 11th, 1999 still delivered many impressive formations. A peak activity date of July 29th is highlighted. This report covers formations in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and other counties.

Bedfordshire

• Oakley, Nr Bedford: On July 24th, a dumbbell pictogram (10m and 4m circles) was found near a footpath, with a small T-shape protruding from the 5m shaft.

Cambridgeshire

• Great Staughton, Nr St Neots: On July 29th, two simple formations were found: a 30m thin ring and a 25m circle.

Dorset

• Preston, Nr Weymouth: On August 12th, a 30m ringed clockwise circle with a protruding mushroom shape on a short path was found, recalling the Newhaven, East Sussex formation of 1997. It had rougher grapeshot circles nearby.

Durham

• Redworth, Nr Newton Aycliffe: On June 22nd, a small dumbbell with an off-centre shaft was reported near industrial units.

Hampshire

• Danebury Ring: On June 10th, a very unusual triangular glyph, described as a set-square with a curved-edge triangular standing centre, was found in barley.
• Chilbolton Nr Andover: On June 16th, a diamond-shaped grid of 138 connecting 10' circles was found in barley, resembling a 'Sierpinski Gasket' fractal sequence, located near a radio telescope station.
• Chilcomb Down: On August 1st, an elaborate mandala of four-fold rings and circles was reported, with one outer petal superimposed over a mown track, leaving part of the design chopped off.
• East End, Nr West Meon: On June 21st, a formation in barley featured two small standing blobs, part of a 'floral series' with crescents revolving around a central standing ring.
• Henwood, Nr East Meon: On August 3rd, a 'ship's wheel' formation, part of the 'floral series', was found, featuring a circle with a standing hexagonal 'washer' around a triangle and six radiating 'handles'.
• Mapledurwell: On July 4th, a rough single circle was spotted from the M3.
• Meon/Thruxton: On August 3rd, a chain of five rough small circles connected by long, thin paths was videoed from the air.
• Meonstoke, Nr Horndean: On July 23rd, a neat standing ring with three radiating petals, encompassed by three standing crescents, was found, part of the 'floral series'.
• Micheldever: Three floral stars, variations on six petals within a ring, were discovered on July 12th, described as geometrically crude but visually appealing.
• Warnford, Nr Winchester: On July 12th, another 'floral series' formation appeared, resembling three balls of wool held together by knitting needles, with intersecting rings and radiating small circles.

Kent

• Borstal, Nr Rochester: On July 27th, a triple-arm design of tapering circles and semi-rings was reported, with a separate small ringed circle nearby. The farmer was reportedly abusive.
• Lenham, Nr Maidstone: On August 19th, a 230' long pictogram with an L-shaped path and small circles was found near a war memorial cross. Visitors reported high-pitched whistling sounds.
• Trottiscliffe, Nr Maidstone: On June 20th, two formations were discovered: a nest of three large crescents and a 'triple Julia set fractal' design.

Leicestershire

• Morcott: On June 29th, a 127' ringed circle with a standing spiral path was found, which later appeared flattened. Two small triangles lay nearby.

Norfolk

• Attleborough: On July 1st, a dumbbell with circles of 20' and a shaft of 47' was found. Seedheads were missing from the laid crop.

Northamptonshire

• Brixworth, Nr Northampton: On July 25th, a double ringed circle with a satellite circle and tiny grapeshot was found.

Oxfordshire

• Asthall: Around July 16th, a neat dumbbell pattern was found.
• Chilson, Nr Chalbury: On August 4th, a 28' 'quadranted' circle split into two standing/two flat areas was found.
• Garsington: Around July 17th, a tidy clockwise ringed circle of 80' with six grapeshot and a long emanating tail was found.
• Playhatch, Nr Caversham: On July 22nd, a 50' single circle in late rape was found.
• Faringdon: In mid-July, a 350' dumbbell made from a celtic cross leading to a circle with 'headphones' was found.

Scotland

• Edinburgh: Three formations of unknown design were seen during the summer.

Somerset

• Corston, Nr Bristol: This area saw 'flower-of-life-type' geometrical shapes in 1999, including a cloverleaf shape and a more complex version with thin outer rings and triangles.
• Easton in Gordano, Nr Bristol: On July 6th, a circle with two protruding thin paths, each leading to circles resembling antennae, was seen.
• Marksbury, Nr Bristol: Another 'flower-of-life' series formation, similar to Corston but with four curvy triangles at the centre, was found on June 19th.
• Penny Quick Hill, Nr Bath: On June 20th, a pattern almost identical to the Marksbury event was found.
• Radstock: On July 13th, a radiating bow-tie formation within a circle was found.
• Stantonbury Hill, Nr Bristol: On July 29th, a design similar to last year's Danebury seven-fold appeared, with nine in-folding semi-circular petals outlining a circle.
• Stanton Prior, Nr Bristol: On July 29th, a 100' thickly ringed circle was reported.

Sussex

• Patching, West Sussex: On July 30th, a 170' flower design with six surrounding petals within a scalloped flattened area was found, reminiscent of the 1993 Bythorn mandala. It was found on a steep slope.
• Poynings, West Sussex: On August 1st, a dumbbell comprising two anticlockwise 40' circles inside a thin 110' anticlockwise ring, connected by a path to a thicker 62' ring with a rectangular bulge, appeared near Devil's Dyke.
• Plumpton, East Sussex: On August 6th, a line of two single ringed circles and one double ringed circle was spotted from the air.
• Mill Hill, Nr Shoreham, West Sussex: On August 22nd, a 66' ringed circle with a 33' triangle was found, described as fluffy and pleasing, with a three-dimensional feel to the main circle's lay.
• Southwick Hill, Nr Portslade, West Sussex: On August 3rd, three sets of lettering ('S V T', smaller 'S V T', and 'N E R') were found adjacent to the A27.
• Upper Beeding, West Sussex: On July 25th, a double ringer with an outline ring of rectangular boxes, a three-leaf cloverleaf design, and eleven grapeshot was found.

Warwickshire

• Moreton Paddox, Nr Stratford-on-Avon: On July 29th, a single circle was spotted.

West Midlands

• Sutton Coldfield: On June 9th, a 26' circle with an emanating L-shaped pathway was found.
• On June 26th, a formation resembling a horned skull with a six-pointed star was discovered.

Wiltshire

• Aldbourne: On June 24th, an elaborate nine-pointed star framing a triple ringed circle and outlined by small circles was found.
• Allington: On June 26th, a wiggly triple-armed design of 28 differing-size small circles was found.
• Avebury Trusloe: On August 23rd, a circle with a long wavy tadpole tail and five other radiating wiggly arms and grapeshot was discovered, described as looking like a sun giving off solar flares.
• Barbury Castle: On July 23rd, a precise 300' circle contained a thin standing ring, within which three wide crescents interlocked. A visitor reported a small white ball of light flying in and out of the formation.
• Beckhampton: On July 17th, a collection of circles, two linked with a scroll arc, grapeshot, and a broken ringed circle were found. On July 28th, a mandala of nine standing isosceles triangles swirled like a camera shutter was found.
• Berwick Bassett: On August 30th, a pictogram nicknamed the 'umbrella man' was found.
• Bishops Cannings: On August 6th, a seven-pointed star of radiating standing rings against a flattened bed of crop was found, described as beautiful and unusual, but was destroyed by the farmer within three hours.
• Cherhill: On July 17th, a geometrically sophisticated mandala or 'spinner' was found, featuring nine standing isosceles triangles and six crescents.
• Chiseldon: On June 12th, a 50' pear-shaped design with two slanted standing lozenges appeared. On August 12th, a line of four large, thin overlapping rings was discovered.
• Devil's Den, Nr Clatford: On July 20th, a complex mandala comprising a double ringed circle, a five-pointed star, and radiating circles was discovered.
• East Kennett: On July 18th, a dumbbell appeared. On July 21st, a more promising formation, interpreted as DNA strands, was found.
• Furze Hill, Lockeridge: On June 20th, a crude double ringed design with six circles and semi-circles snaking across its centre was found.
• Hackpen Hill: On July 4th, a 390' swirled design made from crescents spiralling in a vortex was found, described as one of the finest events of the season.
• Honey Street: On July 16th, a three-dimensional-looking motif of a sphere contained within a cube, within a ring, appeared. On August 22nd, a 60' 'scroll'-type dumbbell with grapeshot was found.
• Liddington Castle: On July 21st, an ornamental garden-like motif with three semi-circular rings orbiting a central ring was found.
• Milk Hill: On August 1st, a small ringed circle with a thin emanating pathway was found.
• Pewsey: On June 16th, a 100' six-petalled flower with a central standing ring appeared.
• Rockley: On July 10th, a 14-circle triple-armed 'Manx runner' was reported.
• Roundway, Nr Devizes: On July 31st, a 14-pointed star/jackstone design was found, featuring 72' and 32' circles interspersed with tapered paths.
• Stanton St Bernard: On August 14th, a thin, tight spiralling path forming an ammonite-type design and a strange, untidy weave of thin paths were discovered.
• Upavon: On August 22nd, a four-fold brooch-type pattern with a standing 'box' of exploded triangles was found.
• West Kennett: On July 24th, a four-armed jagged 'sawtooth' fractal was found. On August 4th, a fractal mandala of squares was found.
• Windmill Hill, Nr Avebury: On July 16th, a standing square containing 288 small circles, breaking records for the most circles in one formation, was found.
• Woodborough Hill: On July 19th, a man-made formation by Koch and Kyborg, described as a double ringed circle with key shapes, was created.
• Wroughton: On July 23rd, a crude ringed circle with assorted strange shapes and paths was reported.

Yorkshire

• Hovland: On June 29th, a double ringed circle was discovered.
• Dodworth: On July 7th, a large ringed circle with an elaborate tail of diminishing semi-circular rings and circles was spotted.
• Scotch Corner: On August 17th, a spindly pictogram of a ring with a central pathway leading to a Y-shaped end was discovered.
• West Bratton: On June 22nd, a formation consisting of a 105' ringed circle with four semi-circles and a double ringed circle was seen.
• Worsborough Common, Nr Barnsley: On August 4th, a circle containing a pentagon and a double ringed circle was found, with crude letters 'S, H, I and T' appearing next to it.

The issue concludes with a note of thanks to contributors and mentions that this round-up covers most of the English formations, with overseas reports to follow.

Letters

Bad 'Fellers' - Colin Andrews' Response

Colin Andrews writes to address what he perceives as a poor attitude towards him in the journal's writings, particularly regarding the funding of his research by Mr. Laurance Rockefeller. He disputes the accuracy of the journal's reporting, stating that only Mr. Rockefeller personally funds him, not the Rockefeller Foundation, and that the journal did not contact him for verification. Andrews clarifies that his research projects have employed staff for over a year and that a detective agency was indeed contracted, with its head being a retired Hampshire Police CID officer. He mentions that the story received coverage on ITV Meridian and NBC. Regarding his return to the UK to excavate East Field, he states it was for magnetometer survey readings, not buried items, and that findings are published in European research libraries. He expresses regret for the media situation stemming from a journalist's breach of confidence but asserts that Mr. Rockefeller's office was kept informed. Andrews concludes by hoping for better relations, acknowledging past disagreements but emphasizing his respect for Andy Thomas and the subject matter.

Andy Thomas's Reply

Andy Thomas responds point-by-point to Colin Andrews' letter. He clarifies that neither he nor SCR has a bias against Colin and that they respect his foundational work in crop circle research. However, he explains that disagreements arose in the mid-1990s when Colin became skeptical about formation authenticity, leading to bad feelings and untrue statements about SCR. Thomas addresses Colin's claim that 80% of formations are man-made, describing his system as flawed and suggesting a more constructive approach, such as highlighting the unexplained 22%. He states that SC has never cast aspersions on Colin's character and that their article on the Rockefeller funding aimed to express hope for its good use, finding the article to be kind and fair given some private comments about Colin's funding. Regarding the detective agency, Thomas clarifies that the article quoted the Evening Standard and that the 'supposedly' reflected that statement. He notes that the line about the agency not existing does not appear in their article. Thomas questions why magnetometer findings are hidden in libraries instead of being released to the community. He advises Colin to be wary of journalists, given his own experience with media misrepresentation. Thomas reiterates that he has no personal dislike for Colin and respects his work, but will continue to address disagreements. He hopes for a more rewarding balance in their relationship, agreeing to disagree without conflict.

Reviews

Pyramiid Conspiracy?

Marcus Allen reviews 'The Stargate Conspiracy' by Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince. The book explores theories that extraterrestrials ('gods') created humanity and are about to return, linking these ideas to ancient Egypt and New Age beliefs. The authors are praised for their detailed investigation into the links between various 'alternative' history authors and the influence of 'The Council of Nine'. However, the review notes that the book's reliance on subjective channeling and interpretive biases raises concerns about manipulation. It also introduces shamanism and the use of psychoactive substances as a means of expanding consciousness, suggesting that modern society's denial of such knowledge might be a conspiracy preventing access to 'our own Stargate'. The book is described as provocative and likely to spark debate, encouraging readers to examine 'alternative' evidence before dismissing it. The review concludes by mentioning the book's publication details and availability.

Danny Southam's A to Z of Cerealogy

This column provides humorous, often satirical, definitions of terms and phenomena related to crop circle research:

• GA-GA: The state of researchers and croppies at the end of a season or night.
• GALLOPING: Explains the phenomenon of horses going wild inside crop circles.
• GEIGER COUNTERS: Discusses the dubious use of radiation-detecting gadgets in crop circles.
• GIZMOS: Describes home-made electronic gadgets used to 'test' crop circles, often for impressing novices.
• GLASTONBURY: Characterizes the town as a spiritual haven with tourist attractions, but notes the presence of 'living gargoyles' and people drinking outside.
• GOSSIP: Highlights the role of gossip and rumor in the crop circle community, particularly spread via the Internet and pubs.
• GROPING: Satirically describes the practice of aging male researchers making unwanted advances towards younger female researchers.
• GUNS: Addresses the long-standing fear of farmers shooting at trespassers, noting that this has not happened and that legal implications exist.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the comprehensive documentation of crop circle formations from the 1999 season, analysis of their designs and potential meanings, and discussions on the controversial aspects of crop circle research, such as media debunking and the debate over man-made versus genuine formations. The journal maintains a stance of open inquiry, respecting the work of researchers like Richard Andrews and Colin Andrews while also critically examining claims and methodologies. The editorial tone is generally supportive of crop circle research but acknowledges the complexities and disagreements within the community. There is a clear emphasis on providing detailed information and fostering discussion among readers.

Title: SC
Issue: 86
Date: September/October 1999
Publisher: Colourfast
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue features an article titled "Cornography" by Michael Glickman, which critically examines media coverage of crop circles, particularly a claim by the Daily Mail regarding the Avebury Triangle formation.

Cornography: A Critique of Media and Crop Circles

Michael Glickman begins by addressing the Daily Mail's assertion that a group called 'Team Satan' engineered the Avebury Triangle crop formation. Glickman expresses his admiration for the geometric complexity of the Avebury formation, placing it among the top ten he has studied. He then meticulously lists several witnesses who were in the vicinity of the field on the night of its alleged creation, including Chad and Gwen Deetken, Andreas Muller, and individuals from the Avebury Social Club and the Henge Shop. Glickman highlights that many facts presented in the Daily Mail article were demonstrably untrue, such as the existence of an 'eight-bar gate' and the ease of accessing the field.

He questions why the journalist and photographer were supposedly stunned by an aerial photo taken two days after the formation, and why the Daily Mail took over a week to publish their 'scoop'. Glickman also challenges the claimed construction time of six hours and thirty minutes for the formation, which involved 33 standing cylinders, suggesting it would require an impossibly fast pace.

The core of Glickman's critique is that a major British tabloid is not merely lying but actively creating false stories to manipulate the public, whom he believes are treated as 'deeply and pathetically stupid'. He urges readers to compare the Daily Mail's article with previous reports on the Doug and Dave fraud (Today, 1991) and the Silbury mandala hoax (Guardian, 1998), noting the fundamental similarity in the approach.

Glickman declares that the 'whole scuzzy hoax hypothesis is shown to be the foul falsehood it always was,' asserting that while people may choose to believe, there is no evidence to support their claims. He expresses strong disappointment and anger towards those who, entrusted with providing information, instead offer deception, particularly those within the UFO community.

Reflections on the Summer of Formations and Personal Well-being

Shifting focus, Glickman describes the summer as one of 'beauty, such variety and inventiveness,' filled with 'treasures'. He notes that many beloved formations are disappearing. He mentions the 'Allington Cube,' which was cut two days prior, and the 'Cherhill Spinner' as still present. Glickman observes a positive shift in the atmosphere at 'The Barge,' which he describes as previously being a 'sump of negativity,' noting increased optimism and enthusiasm, new welcoming faces, and a decrease in paranoia and ego-driven conspiracy theorizing.

He then provides a personal update, mentioning he was ill during the Glastonbury Symposium, exacerbated by the heat and lack of air. He spent a couple of days in the hospital for a 'tune-up,' feeling better and stronger. He expresses thanks to those who showed concern and apologizes to those anticipating his 'nemesis,' stating they are disappointed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly criticizes sensationalist journalism, particularly from tabloids like the Daily Mail, accusing them of fabricating stories and disrespecting the public's intelligence. It promotes a skeptical yet engaged approach to phenomena like crop circles, emphasizing the importance of evidence and critical thinking. The editorial stance appears to be one of disillusionment with media practices but also a hopeful outlook on personal well-being and community atmosphere. The themes include media criticism, crop circle analysis, skepticism, personal reflection, and community dynamics.