Haunted Realm Paranormal Investigators

David has, per normal, done a great deal of research into this, his new magnum opus. He has cherry picked some of the most interesting and obscure cases held at the National Archive, bringing some hitherto unknown cases into the open for the first time. The book is an interesting read, and covers the whole of the UFO subject in the UK since its inception into mainstream public awareness after the Second World War.

But, it’s no rehash of reports and sightings since the 1950s. Early reports of the phantom airships of the early part of the last century and the famous “Foo-fighters” seen both by Allied and Axis pilots during the closing months of the Second World War are covered, along with more modern sightings.
As with David’s previous books, it is a rich and varied volume, and one which should grace the bookshelf of anyone interested in the UFO subject. I only have one minor quibble, in that it is too short a volume. With the major press coverage during the release of the files, David and his fellow researchers have done the whole UFO subject a great service. Gone are the old days when such news items were reported with a certain amount of distain and ridicule. For once, the UFO field was treated in a serious manner, taking it out of the domain of jokes and mickey taking, making it a serious news item.
If I had to recommend one book this year, then this would be the one!

In my next column, the looming postal strike here in the UK allowing, there will be another book review, this time of Nick Redfern’s “Science fiction secrets” along with news of next year’s “Weird 10” event to be held in Warminster, Wiltshire.
For those of you out there that missed the event, or were unaware of it, please follow the link below to the official website:

Sadly, the promised review of Nick Redfern’s new book will not be appearing in this month’s column, due to the postal strike. So, here are my rambling thoughts on how I became interested in the UFO enigma, and the way that the subject transposed traditional religion, for me at least...

Today, UFOs are common-place, and have, over the last 50 odd years, become part of the public consciousness. Mass media coverage, with such films as “Close Encounters of the third Kind” “Hangar 18” and TV shows like “The X-Files, “Taken” and “Dark Skies” have propelled the subject into full public acceptance.

Nearly half a century ago however, it was a different matter. The thorny subject of “UFOs” or, to give the more popular term of the time, “flying saucers” would elicit a more cynical response than it would today.

It was the burgeoning “Hippy” movement of the late 1960s that made UFOlogy more acceptable than it was at the time. The youth of that era wished for something more than just the conventional idea of a Supreme Being, or “God” as the churches of the day would want people to believe.

I should know, as I was sent to a Catholic junior school by my parents, who were both devout Catholics. From the age of six, at infant school, I was conditioned by the teachings of the church, and I remember being taught about the “everlasting soul” and that God saw and knew everything. This, I now knows was blatant brainwashing by the church, hoping to ensure that all those innocent children would grow into good, God fearing Catholics. The situation was further compounded, when, reaching junior school, we were further indoctrinated into the mystical working of the church. From the age of seven, we had, and I assure you this is no lie, on Tuesday, “Confession” and Thursday “Benediction”, followed by a full mass with the whole school on Friday morning. On a personal note, I didn’t object to Mass when I was in year four, as it got me and my classmates out of double maths! There can be no doubt in my mind that we

Were being brainwashed into the church? Even at that young age I began to ask just one simple question – why?

As time went on, with all the excitement of the Apollo moon missions, with space being a new frontier, and nothing was beyond our young youthful expectations, is it any wonder that some of us began to question such simple things like “why are we here”?, “How did we get here”? And, more importantly, “Are we alone in the universe”? The teachings of the church at that time told me we were the only creations of “God”, and any other “Beings” were constructs of the Devil. Any thought of “Was God an astronaut?” was almost tantamount to heresy. Is it any wonder that I began to question such strict and rigid beliefs?

I would often read my annuals and books by torchlight under my bed clothes. One night, at around 9pm, suddenly, without warning, the eiderdown covering my hunched form was ripped away by my mother. I’ll always remember the look on her face as she wrenched the book from my hand, and read the title. Yes, it was indeed the copy of the Daniken book. However, the look on her face was one of almost relief, as I’m sure she was convinced that I was “reading” a copy of “Penthouse”, “Mayfair” or “Fiesta”...remember those titles, eh lads? After all, such things were a mortal sin!

So, as far as I am concerned, in the here and now of 2009, UFOs HAD replaced my conventional approach to religion. The promise of salvation from our SPACE BROTHERS was now the way forward. Contactees such as George Adamski, Cedric Allingham and George King were, in my young mind, the way forward. All the reports and books written by, and about such contacts, only reinforced my opinion that we were not alone in the universe. Yes, I admit, that claims that the occupants of the UFOs were from Venus, Jupiter and Mars are, in the light of modern scientific evidence completely preposterous. BUT...

As anyone who has read my own book. “UFO Warminster – Cradle of contact” will tell you, I, and my friends think we were the channel for contact. Yes, our “Aliens” were humanoid. BUT...is this just a frame of reference for our own peace of mind? Imagine, if you can, if you were in our shoes. What would you be comfortable with? A recognisable “Friendly” humanoid or a one eyed, mutli-tentactled “thing”? One eminent UFO researcher, whom, after reading my book, put his ideas forward as to the experiences we had, and I quote:

“Yes, I’ve read it, in one sting, while relaxing in my B&B in London last week, and could not put it down. It was fascinating and I very much enjoyed it- you have a very readable, honest writing style and I felt very much sucked into the story, the characters and the devolving mystery and by the end I was wanting more!

On the critical side it struck me that although the book was billed as a book about UFOs, it was not actually about UFOs at all- it was actually about contact with the spirit world. Whatever the ultimate nature of the “other intelligences” You and your friends contacted all those years ago, it seems to me that the whole UFO/Space age thing is purely the cultural context in which it took place.

Imagine if you and your group could step into a TARDIS, and go back 100 years. I bet you would have been contacting the same spirits, only they would not be from another planet, but more from the “Other side” and your book would have been written from the spiritualist agenda, i.e. as evidence of life after death.

This isn’t really a criticism, just a personal observation because I don’t recall you drawing comparisons of this kind in your conclusions. I don’t doubt for one minute that what you describe took place as you recall it, all I dispute is your interpretation!

Kevin.

In the absence of any new decent books on the UFO subject [David Clarke’s book is an exception regarding the above statement] a new book by one of the most prolific and respected researchers in the field is welcomed.

As with David Clarke’s book, this is no run of the mill rehash of classic sightings and saucer lore, as it covers a section of the UFO myth that has, to now, been mostly ignored...

Nick’s passion for both subjects shines through this work, and as the publicity states on the back of the book:

*Mix two parts science fiction with one part high level government secrecy

*Add a liberal helping of the paranormal

*Let Nick Redfern heat and serve...

In the book, Nick looks at Government “assistance” in the filming of Spielberg’s classic CE3K, FBI agents investigating the acclaimed writer of science fiction, Philip K. Dick, how did the “Lone gunmen”, a spinoff series from the hugely popular “X-Files” predict the 9/11 disaster?

These and many more instances such as the above are covered in the book. Although Nick now lives in the USA, you’d be forgiven thinking that the book was solely aimed at the American market. Not so! For inside the book are a number of chapters devoted to the UK and how the UK government perceives the UFO enigma.

All in all, a pleasant book which covers some unusual aspects which have been ignored for too long, and the book is a welcome breath of fresh air.

For anyone with an interest in UFOs and science fiction, it is a must read.

I look forward to Nick’s next book, on alleged alien contact...

On a personal note, I will be relocating back to the West Midlands during the early spring, so hopefully there will be no break in service as it were! Work continues apace on this year’s “Weird” event, and a number of other exciting projects. I will be speaking in Swindon for “Weird talking” a mini lecture series leading up to the main event in the summer. So if you live near Swindon, visit http://www.mystical-county.org.uk/wtalking.htm for the full line up.

Also, the “Clear Air Turbulence” podcasts continue to become popular, so if you have a free hour or so, have a listen at http://www.mystical-county.org.uk/wcat.htm

There have been some major names on the show, and more are lined up!

Well, off to walk the dog in the snow. I’m going outside folks, and I may be some time...

 Until next month, stay warm!

 Kevin