SPI News.

By: Malcolm Robinson.
Date: March 1999.

I mentioned in my last web site update, that I would from March 1999, be placing some of the many interesting cases and articles which originally appeared in our magazine ENIGMAS which ran for a good ten years or so, we start with two interesting articles, the first one concerns a ghost case that both I and fellow researcher Ron Halliday undertook at a haunted disco in Edinburgh, and the second one concerns an interview that I had with Nessie hunter Frank Searle, firstly though here is what that first article had to say.

I first became aware of this case when I was shown a front page article in the Edinburgh Evening News dates January 17^th 1989, and which was entitled, "Local haunt's trembling trio". SPI learned from this news article that three cleaners at this Edinburgh disco had the jitters, (no that's not a dance routine !) when they all experienced strange paranormal 'happenings' in this Edinburgh night spot. Most spectacular of all these events, was a vacuum hoover which apparently whilst unconnected to the mains power supply, decided to cavort around the dance floor of the 'Barbados Suite' much to the extreme amazement of the cleaners. Needless to say, that a quick exit was executed by the startled observers. The manager at the disco, a Mr Richard Protheroe, explained in the press article, that he was on the look out for 'experts' in the psychic field to Investigate this phenomenon. And so without much ado, SPI contacted Coasters Disco and were accepted by the management to take on the job.

On SPI's Investigation of this case, (of which we first assumed was a publicity stunt), we ascertained from interviewing witness Hetty Graham, that not only had this Industrial hoover switched itself on and moved erratically around the dance floor (for roughly 20 seconds), but also during this time, all the disco lights which were arranged on a gantry suspended above the hoover, switched themselves on and flashed intermiteddly for some seconds. We also ascertained that a strange burning smell pervaded the Barbados Suite (scene of most of the strange events) for short duration's. And at times, an intense coldness would suddenly appear at a localised spot. Doors were heard opening and closing of their own accord, pools of water were found on the floor, (with no apparent cause as to how this had occurred). Glasses were found smashed behind the bar, (again with no apparent reason for this). SPI asked all the obvious questions, ie, could vibration from the disco cause the glasses to fall from the shelves ? the reply "No", the disco was not on at the time these glasses were found. "How sound is your wiring" ? "sound enough" came the reply. "Is this a publicity stunt" ? the reply "No", (well what else could he say !).

As for the disc itself, well it's quite large to the extent that it actually has three disco's contained within it's structure. On the ground floor there is the 'Outer Limits' disco, on the middle floor there is the 'Bermuda Triangle' disco, and on the top floor there is the 'Barbados Suite' the scene of most of the strange events. It beats me as to why they did not go the full way and give this top floor a paranormal orientated name as well !!. An Edinburgh Evening News reporter interviewed SPI's Malcolm Robinson concerning Ron and I's visit and a story was printed soon afterwards. SPI decided to seek the services of a psychic medium to assist us in determining for sure, if indeed the place was actually haunted. We found this quite difficult, it took SPI quite a while to obtain the services of a medium to assist, and this was after checking with various top Scottish psychical research centres. The upshot was, that we eventually did achieve the services of a lady medium from the town of Mussleburgh, a Mrs Joan Davidson who kindly accepted SPI's invitation to assist in our research. Caroline Dempster from Television land, had phoned SPI's Malcolm Robinson to ask if they could do a news story of these strange events at the disco, after much deliberation, SPI agreed, but for some unknown reason Caroline never got back in touch. And so SPI returned to the haunted disco, dare I say it, "In search of the funky phantom" ! Medium Joan Davidson relayed information which proved very helpful in the light of the other knowledge that SPI had obtained. Joan Davidson visited the disco her self later on to say a prayer to help a trapped soul on it's way (a young man in his early 20's) and, according to a phone call made by SPI's Ron Halliday, all is for now quite. My thanks to Messers Ron Halliday and Michael Kemp for their assistance on this one.

I remember that case well, it had all the hallmarks of a publicity stunt, but the psychic that we used on this case, specifically stated that there was this young deceased man who was trying to draw attention to himself, and he was doing this by switching lights and appliances on and off and scaring the wits out of the night time cleaners. Thankfully the case had a happy ending, and no more disturbances were ever recorded from that night spot again. This is but one of many Ghost cases that you will read about here on the SPI England web site.

Any paranormal magazine worth it's salt, should not only inform it's readers on it's current Investigative work, but also the work that it has researched in the past, and to this end we now take a look at the year 1982, the year SPI's Malcolm Robinson once again visited Loch Ness, the alleged home to that mythical 'Monster', "Nessie". Malcolm met up with "Nessie" hunter Frank Searle, an Englishman who came to Loch Ness in 1969 to prove the existence of this creature (and it's family !) However, more people have been concerned with trying to prove Frank's "Nessie" photographs 'fakes' than anything else. The following is an extract of an interview that I conducted with Frank Searle on the shores of the beautiful Loch Ness back in 1982.

(MR) Malcolm Robinson. (FS) Frank Searle.

(MR) Firstly Frank, what captivated your interest in the Loch Ness Monster ?

(FS) I came here purely and deliberately to find out for myself, because I was not satisfied about what I was reading about Loch Ness.

(MR) Now during this period of time that you have been at Loch Ness, just over 13 years, how many sightings of "Nessie" have you catalogued ?

(FS) I've made 38 sightings myself.

(MR) Now these sightings, did you have anyone else with you at the time of these sightings ?

(FS) Oh, at least half of my sightings have had someone with me at the time. On several occasions more than one person.

(MR) Could you relate to me what has been your 'best' sighting ?

(FS) All of them !

(MR) Now, do you think that you could have been mistaken with any of these sightings, and that they may have been due to natural explanations ?

(FS) No, that is rubbish. I was a professional soldier in a specialised Regiment for 18 years, the Government spent a lot of time and money training me. I've been all around the world, when I've seen an animal, I know I've seen an animal.

(MR) Have you ever seen more than one animal on the Loch at the same time ?

(FS) Yes, in 1975, it was written up in my first book. Myself and a French Canadian girl saw two small ones near the mouth of a river, they were about 4 and a half feet long.

(MR) How close have you been to one of these animals ?

(FS) Apart from the small ones which we were very close to, about 200 metres.

(MR) Are there any particular month of the year in which sightings of "Nessie" are more frequent, or is it really sporadic ?

(FS) No. You are talking about an accidental; breaking of the surface, the animals are 'not' air breathing, they break the surface by accident, probably when they are feeding. There is no pattern whatsoever, it's just a matter of someone being lucky enough to be in the right spot at the right few seconds, and we can emphasise 'few seconds' because you'll never see a "Nessie" for more than about 'six seconds'.

(MR) Have there ever been any reported sightings of "Nessie" during any rain storms, or for that matter, snow storms ?

(FS) There have been sightings of "Nessie" from every month of the year and at all times of the day. You see, once again I must state that we are dealing with an accidental breaking of the surface.

(MR) Some authors who have written books about the Loch Ness Monsters, record more sightings of "Nessie" in the Urquart Bay area, would you go along with their findings ?

(FS) Well I'm afraid without any kind of boasting, I'm the only person in the world who has ever written a book about Loch Ness based on his own experiences. Most of the authors of these Loch Ness books have never spent any time Investigating Loch Ness. The story about Urquart Castle being the best place for sightings, was deliberately spread by a past custodian of the castle in induce tourists to go down and pay their money to see the castle ruins, and the man told me that himself !

(MR) To your knowledge Frank, what has been the most number of people to have witnessed "Nessie" at the same time ?

(FS) Well I record sightings for my own information service, and I only record them when I can interview the people involved within 24 hours, which doesn't give them time to go away and read books and 'jazz' up a story. I have to be impressed by the people themselves, so I am very strict with what I accept. I think the most people I had on one sighting, was 11 and these 11 people were made up of three different groups, a family of 5 from one part of England, a family of 3 from another part of England, and 3 American girls in a hired car who all happened to be in the same lay by at the same few seconds.

(MR) Talking to these witnesses collectively, can you really believe that they are telling you the truth and are not just leading you up the garden path ?

(FS) If I didn't think that they were telling me the truth, if I didn't think that they had seen a "Nessie", if I thought they had made a mistake and that they had seen something else, I would not record them for my information service. I don't accept everything that comes to my door.

(MR) Now what has been the overall general colour of these animals ?

(FS) Dark grey, the same colour as an Elephant. The skin, according to the Japanese television people who have blown up all of my pictures and examined them, say it's rather a rough skin, something like the skin of a toad.

(MR) Obviously there must be more than one animal in Loch Ness to prevent the species from becoming extinct, what would you say would be a fair estimate of the number of animals in Loch Ness ?

(FS) At least 30. You have not only got to reproduce, you have to deal with inbreeding, disease and accident, the same as you have with any other species.

(MR) Now, you have obviously heard about the alleged 'land sightings' of "Nessie", what are your views on this ?

(FS) One word, 'rubbish'.

(MR) So you think that these reports are 'rubbish' !

(FS) I don't think, I know. They are 'not' air breathing animals. I have spent nearly 38,000 hours out on Loch Ness in an open boat with cameras. I am an experiences salmon fisherman, my friends are fishermen, water bailiff's, Game Keepers, Forestry Workers, if these were air breathing animals, we would see them more often. There is no way that these animals can crawl up the steep banks of Loch Ness and not leave any marks or tracks for the game keepers and water bailiff's I know to find.

(MR) Now, you have taken a number of photographs over the years of "Nessie", now overall, how many have you taken ?

(FS) I have taken pictures on 12 occassions and one piece of movie film. I use a 16mm movie camera and 5 SLR's, 35mm with telephoto lens.

(MR) Have your photographs ever been studied by any photographic experts to back up your claims ?

(FS) I have a contract with Japanese Television, they handle all my stuff. They have my negatives, and in fact, one of my films they made of me, shows one of 'their' photographic experts examining my negatives in front of the cameras.

(MR) Have any British photographic companies shown any interest in your photographs, the likes of Kodak for instance ?

(FS) No, they don't do these things because of the horrible bad reporting by the British Media. Loch Ness is just a big joke in Britain, you have to go overseas to get any 'serious' reporting of the subject. The best media in the world for reporting on the Loch Ness subject, is the Japanese followed by the West German's, followed by the Scandinavian countries, followed by the Americans. The British media is absolutely the bottom of the league. It is the same with all other reported unusual phenomenon, "Nessie", UFOs, the Bermuda Triangle, Yeti's, ghosts, ESP, you name it. The British media treat them all as a joke, but you can go to the media of at least 12 other countries these days and you get good accurate reporting.

(MR) Now Frank, in your own opinion, what exactly do you think is in Loch Ness, you obviously have your own theories ?

(FS)Sure, I've stated quite openly all over the world on television, that if these animals are not directly descended from Plesiosaurs, then they have got to be related to that family, you just cannot get away from the Plesiosaur family.

(MR) Of course Frank, many people think that the Loch Ness Monsters are complete nonsense, and that any one that has seen it either must be deranged or very much mistaken. What do you think constitutes 'proof' that there is indeed a large family of animals in Loch Ness ?

(FS) I don't agree with that statement. I have 20,000 visitors a year, I get 2,000 letters a year, the only people who come to me professing to be sceptical about Loch Ness, are sceptical because they know nothing about the Loch Ness story, and that is due to bad reporting. Once they have found out about the Loch Ness story, you see them change in front of your eyes.

(MR) Again, this point of proof, would you say that it would be photographs, would you say that it would be visual sightings, or sonar or echo sounding traces ?

(FS) It certainly wouldn't be sonar and echo sounding traces, because these things do not identify, they only tell you that there is something there. Sonar occasionally records a moving object, but so what ! We have 1400 years of written history to tell us that these animals are there, so that is only confirming 1400 years of history tell you. On the one side of it, the scientific world doesn't want Loch Ness. I come up against this in television documentaries, they are scared stiff that they are going to find something which they have said has been extinct for a few million years, and on the other side of the story, no one will invest any big money in Loch Ness because they want you to guarantee a profit in a certain time, which of course you can't do. We are living in an age where we can put men on the Moon and we can't identify a few animals in Loch Ness. But as 'proof', what's wrong with getting a skeleton from the bed of the Loch ? We know, it's been established, that no bodies ever come to the surface of Loch Ness, everything goes down and stays down. You never ever see dead fish, dead water birds, dead bodies floating on Loch Ness. That's not peculiar to Loch Ness, there is another seven or eight big lochs with similar chemical properties which push bodies down and keep them down. So, on the bed of the Loch, must be skeletons of every thing that has died in the Loch.

A few miles away in the North Sea, we have a technology working in very bad conditions taking oil and natural gas from under the North Sea, if someone put up the right kind of money, I would go to the nearest North Sea Oil company, get hold of some real underwater experts, and say, "I've got the money, get me a skeleton from the bottom of Loch Ness". And if you go to the professionals, professionalism is all about getting results if the money is right. But like the rest of the world today, really the whole story goes back to 'lack of money'.

(MR) Well Frank, it has been lovely talking with you on these topics, and I wish you all the best in regards to your future studies regarding the Loch Ness Phenomenon.

(FS) Well it's all about luck, and if we get that luck, then something will come up.

This interview was conducted back in 1982, the early 1980's saw me visit Loch Ness many many times. Frank Searle was forever in the press at that time, more so in the Scottish Daily Record newspaper where a number of his suspicious photographs were shown. These photographs showed what looked like dinosaurs, large bodies long tapering necks and small sheep like heads, it all appeared too good. Frank was very uncooperative when it came to the British media, he never gave his negatives out to any firm in the U.K. for analysis (that I know about !) and his reputation at Loch Ness (as seen by other researchers) was none too good. Frank had his port a cabin situated near the small village of Foyers on the East side of the Loch, and I remember that glorious sunny day when I made this interview with him. What I wanted to know very much that day, was the time when he took a cracker of a photograph of a UFO which swooped down over Loch Ness near Foyers, and screamed away into the morning sky. Frank refused point black to discuss with me that picture, and said that he would terminate the interview if I brought it up, strange or what !!!!!!! Frank left Loch Ness many years ago in suspicious circumstances, one day he was there, the next he was gone. Rumours at the time, said he had left for the fields of England to look into Ancient Sites, standing stones etc, (although I couldn't confirm that). So did our Frank get bored with Loch Ness ? Are his photographs all really fakes ? A dummy model of Nessie was found behind a rock at Frank's old Foyers site once he was gone, was that his, or did someone place it there in order to discredit him ? Frank was an enigmas himself, and if any of our web browsers out there, has any information about Frank Searle, then please get in touch with me, I'd love to hear it.

O.K. so that was but two articles from the many issues of ENIGMAS that I edited, I aim to produce more each month, just to let you see what SPI were all about in the past. SPI is Scotland's oldest UFO & Paranormal society, and believe you me, there is more (much more) to come.

I was recently contacted by a reporter from the homeless magazine The Big Issue in connection with SPI's planned demonstration outside 10 Downing Street in regards to trying to get the British Government to look at the evidence that SPI have gathered over the years in connection with the UFO sightings over Scotland, (more particularly Bonnybridge). Councillor Billy Buchanan and I aim to impress upon the British Government, that UFO sightings in Scotland are real (whatever they are !) and they demand enquiry. This planned demonstration should occur sometime during May and once I have a definite date, I shall of course inform everyone. The Big Issue, (Issue 214 March 25^th/31^st) featured cases from SPI and Ron Halliday and had an impressive front cover which depicted diamond shaped (!) UFOs over a map of Scotland. It's middle pages also depicted a map of Scotland which highlighted just some of the many impressive cases that has occurred over our country over the years, and although it was not an Earth Shattering piece, it nonetheless informed it's readers as to how serious this business of UFO sightings really is. I received a few phone calls from this article, one of which I passed onto Billy Devlin for further research Well done the Big Issue.

On the 23^rd of March 1999, I was kindly invited by BBC Radio Scotland who phoned my home in London asking me to participate in a live radio broadcast regarding the subject of UFOs. Other invited guests on the show, were a Scottish journalist who had looked into some of the many UFO sightings in and around Bonnybridge and who had reached the opinion that they all were complete nonsense, also on the show, was American UFOlogist Anne Druffel from California who's new book on how to fight alien abduction (!) has just been released. The BBC had arranged for a taxi to collect me from my home in Ealing and whisk me to the BBC Broadcasting House studios in Portland Square Central London. Sadly, (at least for me), the traffic on the way to the studios was absolutely horrendous, nose to nose. Needless to say, I arrived late, very late, in fact, very very late to the studio. When I introduced myself at the reception, I was quickly ushered and escorted to the studio where I was almost thrown down on a seat, headphones thrown on my head, and then seconds later, (and I mean seconds later), I was live on air. No sooner had I sat down than I received my first question, and that was "What did I think of Anne's Druffel's book" ? Christ, I haven't even read it I thought to myself. I somehow skipped around that one and went on to briefly discuss my feelings on the UFO subject in general. The conversation then skipped between myself the newspaper guy, and Anne Druffel.

Seconds later it was all over ! I had travelled all that distance in rush hour morning traffic for the shortest radio interview of my life. The final words of the BBC radio presenter were, "We'll get you back Mr Robinson". Small comfort as I was just getting into my stride. Still, it had filled an otherwise unoccupied morning. UFOlogy is a subject very dear to my heart and to get on the radio for only a few seconds, well I guess it's like giving a kid an ice cream, he has only just started it, when someone comes along and takes it out of his hand. Still, such is life.

True to their word a week later I was invited by the BBC to come back to the studios to discuss my work in UFOlogy, a date was set, but that date was cancelled by the BBC due to a sick engineer !!! They gave me another date, but I couldn't get time off work. They have promised to give me another date of which I'll attend by London Underground, no rush hour traffic for me !!!!!!!

One of my Scottish friends sent me down a newscutting which was featured in one of the Scottish newspapers recently, it concerned the sightings and 'feelings' of a 'presence' of, shall we say a 'spirit' (!) on a Scottish mountain by the name of Ben Macdhui (wonderful name) in the Cairngorms. Apparently a strange presence has been felt on this mountain for over 200 years. The article also concerned the work done by English researcher and part time troubleshooter Andy Roberts who explained some of the many cases that have been recorded by frightened climbers on this mountain over the years. I remember reading a book about this phenomenon a few years back which certainly was different from your normal type ghostly manifestations. John Greive, leader of the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, was reported to have said, "Hill walkers should be more worried about gravity than ghosts. It's not unusual to feel the presence of another especially when you've scaled quite a height, but that's more to do with psychology than the paranormal". Well whatever it is, there is no denying that the spectre or whatever it is on that bleak Scottish mountain, is still to this day, scaring weary climbers off it's slopes.

My thanks to Paul McKerracher from Grangemouth near Falkirk for letting me know about more UFO sightings above the small Scottish town of Bonnybridge. He sent me a cutting from his local Falkirk Advertiser newspaper. This account however, actually concerned a case of a UFO sighted above Grangemouth his home town (remember, this was the area in which Phil Trevis took that amazing photograph of a UFO which descended down upon his head and of which has been shown on the Strange But True ? T.V. show (to name but a few). Apparently local Councillor Billy Buchanan claims that he has been inundated by reports of UFO sightings above this town. Indeed, Billy claims to have seen one himself recently. He is reported in this local newspaper as seeing a UFO as big as a battleship on March the 1^st. Councillor Buchanan said that he had received a telephone call about the suspected UFO and decided to see for himself what was happening. He was reported as saying, "About 11:30pm on March the 1^st, I saw this huge red and yellow cigar shaped light in the skies above Grangemouth. It was an enormous light which lit up the whole place, this must be one of the most exciting sightings ever". Investigations proved that there had been no flarings by the huge and highly explosive British Petroleum complex nearby, and checks with the local and National Airports proved that there was no air traffic in the skies as well.

It would appear then, that UFO sightings are still to be found in the Scottish skies. I am regularly sent news clippings by different people keeping me abreast with UFO accounts in Scotland. Graham Birdsall of the popular British magazine UFO MAGAZINE, has already viewed a copy of a video which claims to show a UFO in the sky above the town of Stirling in Central Scotland. All in all then, Bonnybridge and Stirlingshire would still appear the place to be if you want to spot a UFO. Having said that, we cannot forget that parts of Fife too, has seen a rise in UFO reports. SPI Scotland are currently following up some UFO cases and I hope to be able to present their findings fairly soon on this web site.

Since my piece in our last SPI England web placements, I've had much support from other British UFOlogists regarding my position in finally coming forward to defend myself against the false and very misleading claims of Scottish researcher Dave Colman. Andrew Whitson from Lockerbie wrote, "Thank goodness you have finally decided to set the record straight Mr Robinson, I have seen David's magazine and his cartoon about you and his constant attacks on you. What is his agenda, why can't he just get on with his research ? Set the record straight Malcolm and inform the public what is really going on". Thanks Andrew, I've been too quite on this issue for far too long, but unfortunately my hands are tied (for now) by my lawyer's instructions. Jim Murphy from Carnoustie wrote, "There are always two sides to a story and I'm glad you finally decided to present yours, I was beginning to believe in Dave Colman's attacks". I have 23 more letters of support on this, ( copies available to anyone who wishes to see them). I'll leave the final word from SPI Scotland's Brian Allan who wrote (in part).

"It is worth pointing out that the excellent Ron Halliday (SEMR Chairman and former member of SPI) is not averse to working with the media either, careful Ron, lest you incur the wrath of the self appointed arbiter of media courtship". What Brian was meaning here was, Dave Colman was always having a go at me because I constantly appeared in the Scottish press, but this was only because they contacted me, and the public have the right to know about these things. Am I, as a researcher, to research cases then file them away for ever without ever telling anybody about them !! Brian continues, "The zeal with which Mr Colman, (a former SPI member himself) carries out his crusade against all things Robinson, smacks to me of an 'unbalanced hysteria' of a witch hunt, if not actual jealousy". Brian then goes on to discuss the Fife Incident, that which concerned not only triangular shaped UFOs seen in the Fife skies, but numerous alleged 'alien beings' in some woods as well. Brian writes, It has been suggested that Mr Colman allegedly has this elusive evidence (regarding the Fife Case) if he has, then it would not be unreasonable in the face of his continued and unwarranted ranting, to put up or shut up. Brian goes on, So then, will the despondent drivel of dastardly Dave cease ? no, I fear not, which is a pity, since I believe we could work together to our mutual benefit, it would surely strengthen the field of paranormal research in Scotland as a whole, to have cohesion within the ranks rather than friction."

Brian, in his open letter to Scottish UFOlogists, closed his letter with, "I hope that you will see fit to publish this letter as the last word from the 'pig in the middle'. It will serve to point out that we are our own men and will run SPI Scotland exactly as we see fit, neither will we dance to anyone else's tune. It is also the first and last time I will comment on the issue from SPI Scotland's perspective. The offer of the olive branch to Dave is sincere and genuine, I hope he takes it in the spirit is offered.

I have copies available of the full content of Brian's letter available to anyone who wishes to read it. I have given so many olive branches to Dave Colman over the years that there is almost no more olive trees in the world. Brian will recognise, that his olive branch will never be taken as mine have never been taken. That said, I will close my final statements about this whole sorry mess, by firstly apologising to Dave for stating in the last SPI web placement that he was peppering this planet with his sad and inaccurate ramblings. That is only true to a point, Dave Colman is actually a bloody good Investigator, and would you believe, a man I do in fact respect (honest !!). It's just a fall out, these things happen, he has researched the Fife case more than I, and I for one, can't wait to see his full report, more so to see if it differs from what I was told on audio tape by 2 of the witnesses. So to Dave I will say, can you and I sort this mess out ? I'm coming to Scotland fairly soon, and I want your house to be first on my list. Please accept my visit in the spirit of getting these matters resolved, not only for ourselves, but for the betterment of Scottish UFOlogy as a whole, Here's hoping.

It was generally thought by many, that the bottom had fell out of the magazine market when it came to UFO & Paranormal magazines. We have seen the demise of Uri Geller's Encounters mag, Jon King's UFO Reality mag, plus the Alien mag from Paragon Publishing, (to name but a few). However, it would appear that these things don't worry the Editor of Britain's new magazine devoted to the weird and the wonderful. Joyce Booth O'Brien Editor of The Supernatural, has produced a wonderful first issue which covers many different weird and unusual cases. There are articles on a haunted cottage, the Paisley Witches, the skull of doom, UFO abductees, what is Reki, and Judith Jaafar and myself's article on a very peculiar case that we both researched down in Devon last year. The magazine costs £2:65, and is available from many leading newsagents.

To receive your own copy, send a cheque or postal order made payable to "The Supernatural", and address it to The Supernatural Magazine, Chatelaine Studio & Publications, Chatelaine Studio, 6 Stainburn Terrace, Moortown, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, LS17 6NH. For more information on this new magazine, telephone The Supernatural on 0113 268 6822.

Well, where does one start. BUFORA (The British UFO Research Association) has come in for some stick recently in regards to a speaker that I am presenting to the public on June the 5^th, that speaker is Max Burns, and Max will be lecturing about a strange incident that occurred near the English town of Sheffield. There is a clear cut and vicious campaign to stop Max from presenting his lecture to BUFORA, by ex BUFORA members such as Andy Roberts, Mike Wooten, John Heptonstall, and now Dave Clark, (the other main researcher on the case). BUFORA Council, to which I have now officially been elected, voted that Max should speak, that this was the United Kingdom, and it was the God given right of free speech to each and every one of us to inform the public of one's findings. How can these people possibly try and tell YOU, who YOU must or must not listen to !! That is suppression of the highest order. Dave Clark's supporters want him to speak about his research, but don't want Max to tell his side of the story, it's a sad and sorry mess, I see these ex BUFORA members as children who won't let you get near the tuck shop, as children who won't let you do what you want because they think they know better. Well I won't have it, as BUFORA lecture organiser, I will give a platform to anyone who claims to have evidence of any UFO case, we must hear all sides, we cannot ignore evidence. Max has something to say, I guess the analogy I could use here is, say for instance, someone had killed your family, there was an indication that we knew who did it, but couldn't prove it. That man, was ready to walk away free of the charges, then, at the 11^th hour, someone bursts in to the courtroom with new fresh and very important evidence, wouldn't you want to hear it !!!!!!! Of course you would, these Ex BUFORA children are not prepared to let YOU, a member of the public to make up YOUR OWN MIND. Now wait for this, these ex BUFORA members who continually E-mail others in this country and overseas about how bad BUFORA is, about how bad our supposed money situation is, about how bad the speaker list is, always say it through computer. These people never ever ever, come to the AGM and face us directly. I have just recently come back from the BUFORA AGM (which is open to the public) and guess what, these ex BUFORA members were again reported missing. No sign of them whatsoever. Here was a great opportunity to have a go at BUFORA, to say their piece and to try and prove their point, did they turn up ? Did they heck as like. So long as they can hide behind their computer's they are safe. To turn up and tell us straight at a AGM, oh no, they can't do that. They were the talk of the BUFORA AGM, WHERE WERE THEY ? WHY CAN'T THEY FACE US DIRECT, IF BUFORA IS AS BAD AS THEY SAY IT IS. WHY NOT ENSURE THAT THEY TURN UP AND TELL US SO ? Their absence spoke volumes, and proves the point, that they are talking nonsense.

Back to the Max Burns lecture.

If Max can't come up with the goods or provide his new evidence, then he will be seen for what he is, but the public have a right to at least hear what the man has to say. Max has always said to me, "Why are they frightened, what do they fear from me" ? It has already been proved, that Dave Clark has rung the police and informed them about an issue with Max, which is totally irrelevant to UFOlogy. That is irresponsible and extremely vicious. They are out to get Max in any way they can. But I can assure you, Max will speak, he will be heard, and the people of this country can judge for themselves exactly who is right and who is wrong.

If I told you, the reader of this piece, that I wasn't allowing you to go to Boots the Chemist, or go to the Cinema or go here there or anywhere, wouldn't you be somewhat annoyed !! You as an individual have the right to attend any lecture you want, and these Ex BUFORA Children don't want you to go. I may not believe in alien implants, but I sure as hell would like to hear what those researchers have to say. I may not believe in certain UFO Incidents, but I sure as hell would like to hear the full research about them. Why, because I can make up my own mind, and not let other people try to do this for me.

Max will speak, and I urge you to come along to this very important lecture to find out what all the fuss is about. So, I begin by presenting Max Burns, who incidentally these Ex BUFORA members successfully stopped Max from speaking on a BUFORA platform last year. BUFORA now has a Scottish individual running their lecture programme, and it will require more than a few 'greeting' bairns to tell me who I can and can't have.

Was a Tornado jet lost whilst pursuing either a new Military designed aircraft or a UFO ? Decide for yourselves. This aims to be a highly controversial but informative lecture, and certainly one that seeks your attendance.

Accomplished author Lynn Picknett and fellow researcher Clive Prince, will present a lecture entitled 'THE STARGATE CONSPIRACY'. This talk will be based on Lynn's forthcoming book of the same name. Lynn and Clive will be asking. 'what really lies behind the major cults that claim to channel extraterrestrials ? Is there another more 'terrestrial' but equally disturbing explanation for apparent contact with (as she calls them (Space Gods) ? Come along and find out.

Author and T,V. personality Jonathan Downes will be presenting a talk entitled, THE RISING OF THE MOON, (The Devonshire UFO Triangle). Jon will be discussing cases from his forthcoming book (of the same name) which concerns, cattle mutilations, sightings of big cats, ghost and poltergeist cases, and a number of UFO sightings. Jon has searched for lake monsters at Loch Ness, pursued sea serpents and birdmen in Cornwall, chased big cats across the country, and most recently, he went to Latin America in search of the grotesque vampiric chupacabra. In passing, Jon mentions that Harpo Marx is the funniest man to have ever lived, (I'll certainly agree with that !). So not only are we going to be treated with UFO cases, but it sure looks to be an interesting afternoon spent discussing many other weird and wonderful events as well, can't wait.

Reg really needs no introduction, but I'll give him one anyway. Reg is the front man of that famous (and still going) British pop group, The Troggs. Scottish pop group Wet Wet Wet did a cover version of one of the Troggs famous songs, "Love Is All Around" taking it to the number one spot in the U.K. and many other countries as well. I remember when Reg came to see me when I stayed in Alloa Scotland, Reg with his wife and myself went out for an afternoon drink in a local Alloa Hotel, we had only been sitting down for a few minutes when "Love Is All Around" came on the Hotel's sound system. I looked at Reg and smiled, he smiled back with that cheeky grin of his, and I thought if only the bar staff and waitresses knew who was sitting in their hotel at that very minute, the man who wrote and performed that song. Over the years, Reg has immersed himself deeply in UFOlogy and the paranormal, and it is now one of the biggest interest's in his life, even his music now takes second place. ! He has been featured on numerous TV shows both here and abroad. He is deeply fascinated by the crop circle phenomenon, and was also, controversially one of the figures who brought the infamous Roswell Alien Autopsy footage to the publics attention. Reg will be discussing these topics and others, and who knows, I might coax him into giving BUFORA a wee rendition on his guitar. Don't miss it.

(This is a change to the aforementioned speaker of Andy Roberts who pulled out).

Arthur has been a stalwart of British UFOlogy for many years. His research of the famous Ilkely Moor entity case is well known. Arthur will be discussing UFOs down through the ages and will be making good use of his extensive slide collection. I've heard Arthur speak before (to a packed SPI Scotland audience in Stirling) and believe you me, he is a good speaker with lots to say. Arthur has 'new evidence' from the Ilkely Moor case which he wants to share with the audience. This also aims to be an interesting lecture, be there, or be square 'as they say'.

1. CHRIS EVERS. Chris is a researcher from Hull and edits their magazine "Faster

Than Light". Chris will be telling us all about some of the cases that he has

Investigated over the years.

2. STEVE BLACK. Steve is the founder of the Scottish based 'Truthseekers Organi-

sation. Steve hails from Dundee, and will speak about alleged alien contact and

what it means to us all.

3. NICK REDFERN. Nick will present new findings in regards to his work that proves

that the British Government have always known more about UFOs than they have

been letting on.

4. LIONEL BEER. Lionel will be discussing UFO cases from his files, plus taking a

look back at some of the many intriguing cases from yesteryear.

5. TERRY LE RICH WALTERS. Terry is a channeller who will be lecturing on some

of the many startling things that have occurred in his life.

6. LEN FARRA. Len will be presenting his findings that man has been visited by

'beings' since time immemorial.

7. ALBERT BUDDEN. Albert, who is no stranger to BUFORA, will present all his

latest findings that UFOs, ghosts, poltergeists, etc, are not physically real, but have

their presence in the minds, and only the minds, of the witness. Controversial stuff.

8. GEORGE WINGFIELD. George is a well know crop circle researcher and will be

discussing not only recent cases, but cases from the past.

9. MARGARET FRY. Seasoned Welsh UFOlogist Margaret Fry will discuss many

UFO cases from her bulging files, plus she will give her own thoughts to the famous

Berwyn Mountain UFO (!) crash.

10. TONY ECCLES. Liverpool UFOlogist Tony Eccles, will discuss his own findings in

regards to some of the cases that he has Investigated over the years.

11. LIONEL FANTHORPE. Fortean T.V. presenter Lionel Fanthorpe has agreed to

speak to BUFORA on a number of mysteries and baffling cases that have intrigued

him over the years.

12. GERRY ANDERSON. Gerry from the Kent UFO Society will give us a lecture on

some of the cases that he has been involved with over the years from his neck of the

woods. I heard Gerry speak at the recent IUN Conference held in Southport and I

was very impressed by him.

13. KATE TAYLOR. Kate is an 'experiencer' and will discuss a number of her own

weird experiences.

14. JOHN SPENCER. John is well know to the UFO community and will present his

findings in regards not only to his UFO cases, but from his paranormal case files

as well. Aims to be a good one.

15. RON HALLIDAY. Scottish UFOlogist Ron Halliday, will give BUFORA a lecture

on some of the many strange cases that he has looked into over the years in Scotland

16. STEVE GERRARD. Southampton researcher Steve Gerrard, will present his

findings in regards to UFO sightings over Hampshire England.

17. STEVE GAMBLE. BUFORA'S own Steve Gamble will take the floor and tell us

about some of the cases that has puzzled him over the years.

18. MICHAEL HESSEMAN. German UFOlogist Michael Hesseman, has agreed to

speak to BUFORA to lecture on his life's work.

19. BRIAN JAMES. Researcher Brian James will discuss his research into crop circles

and contact with 'aliens' !!

I have further speakers lined up and still to confirm. I also hope to bring to London, the Scottish UFO rock group CE IV to present their music to the ears of the public. The music of CE IV has been used extensively by BBC radio and Television on T.V. shows down the years, and they featured live at a previous International UFO Congress that was held by BUFORA a few years ago. They have also played live at the Falkirk Town Hall at the height of the UFO mania that swept Bonnybridge and Scotland during the early part of the 90's to a sell out crowd of over 800 souls, (I remember that brilliant night well) Whereas speakers discuss their findings with the public, CE IV perform and express songs relating to the UFO subject through their music. If you would like to hear a 'pre-taste or learn more of CE IV's music, then contact Brian McMullan on 0141 558 7713.

For more information about these BUFORA London lectures, please contact Malcolm Robinson on 0181 998 4936 or E-mail him at spi_spi@hotmail.com

I ask that you support these BUFORA London Lectures and not to be put off by those Ex BUFORA children who are out to cause our society harm. At the end of the day, the public have a right to hear what they want to hear, information must never be for filing cabinets, information is for all. Please tell as many people as possible about these lectures, for after all, it is 'your' quest to understand that has your reading the SPI web site, it is your quest to understand 'what is going on'. Never ever let people try and make up your own mind for you. You as an individual have a right to hear what YOU want to hear, and I have provided a mixed bag of speakers for your attention.

Let's start supporting British UFOlogy, and not bringing it down.

Please check out the BUFORA web site on www.bufora.org.uk

Well that brings us to a close of another SPI England news item. I'd like to thank, Dean Ladds for his assistance to us in regards to our web site, and also my partner Judith Jaafar for her patience in putting up with me constantly on the computer, (I'll surface eventually). Remember, information is for the people and not for filing cabinets. And also remember people have the right to hear what they want to hear and not for others to tell them who they must hear. It will be a sad day indeed, if you the reader of the SPI News, gets told what you must do in your life. As BUFORA lecture organiser, I will give the right to anyone to present their case and won't be told different.

Finally, it is with sadness to report that Gloria Dixon has resigned from BUFORA, Gloria will sadly be missed by the association. She was a charismatic person, and someone who got the job done. I wish her well in her future pursuits.

©Malcolm Robinson, SPI ENGLAND 1999.
Contact Malcolm at,
Mail Malcolm at SPI England.

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