THE LUFOINREGISTER

 

Press Reports/items Log 1978.

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(Item 1): Leicester Mercury, January 26th., 1978 - UFO SPOTTING FAMILY MAKE NEW SIGHTING…

A FAMILY at Goadby who spot flying saucers have claimed their latest sighting near Market Harborough on New Years Day. Mr. Tony O’Shea and his 16-year-old daughter Tracy were out collecting logs in the afternoon when they saw what appeared to be an orange vapour trail moving across the sky. “My husband told me it was stationary at first then moved very fast and came back before disappearing completely.” said Mrs Eileen O‘Shea. She spotted her first UFO three years ago when she was out walking her dog. “Tracy, our daughter, actually saw a better outline than her father and says she saw a disc shape through the haze. Observer training - We have always kept an open mind on these things but we are now absolutely certain they do exist. My husband was in the Observer Corps and when he saw his first UFO the top brass came down and told him not to talk about it because it was top secret. With his observer training he would not have made a mistake this time either.” The O‘Sheas‘ live at the School house, Oadby, where, says Mrs. O‘Shea, the open countryside makes it ideal for spotting objects in the sky. “We have seen things before but have not bothered to report them because we know what we have seen and it does not matter what other people think. But this time it was so clear other people might have seen something too.” (51/78/01). (7).

(Item 2): Leicester Mercury, January 26th., 1978 - UFO - spotters probe mystery craft sighting…

UFO Enthusiasts are investigating reports from more than 17 people who saw a delta-shaped object circle Leicester and Hinckley last week. The object was spotted by five Leicester people as it flew low over the Braunstone area between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday January 24. Eyewitness Miss Joan Bott, of Cleveleys Avenue, Braunstone, said: “The object passed very low overhead, but made no noise”. The craft was lit by steady red, blue and yellow lights as it headed south towards Hinckley where it was sighted by more than 12 residents. “We have checked with RAF Waddington, and the Vulcan bombers and other aircraft had not been in the same area and it doubtful whether they would fly that low,” said head of Leicester’s Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation, Mr. Trevor Thornton. (51/78/09-30). (7).

(Item 3): Hinckley Times, January 27th., 1978 - UFO Sighting Over Higham

Hinckley UFO Society are investigating the report of a glowing triangular object seen hovering over Higham on Thursday evening. Three Nuneaton youths phoned the society after seeing the object hover over the village for several minutes before it shot off at great speed in the direction of Atherstone. The boys said that the UFO was blue and appeared to be shimmering as if giving off great heat, and they all agreed that when the object moved off its speed was greater than that of an ordinary aircraft. The boys were quite shaken by their experience, for although they had observed blue lights moving in the sky on previous occasions, this was the first solid object they had seen. (77/78/08). (8).

(Item 4): Hinckley Times, March 24th., 1978 - UFO Over The HollyBush

A young Hinckley couple claim to have spotted a UFO last week that fell out of the sky in the area of the Hollybush Inn. The couple first saw the object as they were leaving their home in Westray Drive, Hollycroft at about 9.45 p.m. on Sunday, 12th. March. Mr. Geoffrey Bedford, the main witness said: It first appeared as a large pulsating reddish-pink light just above the rooftops. It seemed to circle towards Hollycroft Hill very slowly, and appeared to be following us as we walked up the hill. We then saw the object fall out of the sky over the Hollybush and disappear. There was no sound whatsoever - we were completely baffled.” (51/78/43). (8).

(Item 5): Hinckley Times, March 31st., 1978 - UFO Spotted Over Ratby…

A student nurse said this week that she almost fell off her motor-cycle when she spotted an unidentified flying object whilst travelling whilst travelling along a lane at Ratby on Monday evening. Miss Lynn Brown (19), who lives in at Carlton Hayes Hospital, Narborough, was riding along the lane from Kirby Muxloe to Ratby, near to the T.I. Desford Tubes works at about 9 p.m. when she saw the object about two fields away and 200 foot high in the sky. She described it as a long red object with white hot flames coming from the rear end. She watched it hovering for about four minutes during which time it made a loud droning noise. As she rode on towards Ratby, Miss Brown said the UFO tilted and she saw lights on each point of a triangular shape. Miss Brown that she had always been open-minded about the existence of UFOs and said that had she not seen it so clearly herself - like the people at the public house where she went - she would not have believed it. SIGHTING AT SHENTON - Another previous sceptic who had a “close encounter” this week was a middle-aged lady and a friend who were driving along the Upton road near to Shenton station and the Richard III monument at about 10.40 p.m. on Wednesday evening. The lady had only remarked what a beautiful starry night it was when she saw a bright light above the top of a tree, giving the impression of a star on a Christmas tree. As they watched the oval object, which was not very high in the sky, the lady got the impression that the object was looking at them. She says it was an uncanny feeling and one that turned her stomach. After watching it for about two minutes and thinking of stopping a car to get confirmation of the sighting, the lady says that they decided to drive on and try to get near to it. As they did so they lost sight of the object behind a cottage, over in the direction of Shenton viaduct. (51/78/47). (51/78/216). (8).

(Item 6): Hinckley & District Focus Magazine. Letters to the Editor April 1978...

So UFOs have been sighted over the County and a local society is looking into it. No doubt this could be a good thing for the region provided that this body always conducts itself in a truly scientific manner, i.e. with open-minded thoroughness and level-headed thinking, with caution and care, with patience and persistence. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Ufologists generally know little of science, are guilty of shallow thinking, snap decisions, and of being caught up in a web of propaganda and hysteria. True! No-one today believes that we are the only intelligent beings in the Universe. True! There is a great deal of documented evidence concerning unexplained aerial phenomena, much of which has been reported by very careful, well-trained observers. True! It is only right and proper for some organisation to investigate any reports of unusual sightings. But why should the general public have to be continually brainwashed by the naïve views of ill-informed cranks? Why do we continually have to suffer all this close encounters of the third kind nonsense? Why does the popular press not publish down to Earth facts instead of kindling cheap sensationalism. Here are just a few relevant facts - The Earth is 4,700 million years old, and during that time, as many as four million stars, all with accompanying planets? Could have come within fifty light years, (300 million million miles) of the Solar System. Now, if we assume that 10 million superior civilisations have existed in our galaxy during the lifetime of the Earth, and that their average travel distance is 50 light years, a simple mathematical calculation will give us a possible maximum of 420 visits during that period. Less than one visit every 10 million years. That should at least put the problem into perspective. No doubt I shall now be accused of having a fixation - of believing that nothing beyond the laws known to man can exist, of refusing to accept any idea that does not fit in with my narrow concepts. O.K. then, try it the other way. Lets make some really wild assumptions. Assume that the extra-terrestrials are immortal. Assume endurable spacecraft with an infinite life span. Assume that fuel is unnecessary. Assume the capability of velocities up to the speed of light. Assume 10 million space faring civilisations in our galaxy alone, and that each launch from each civilisation makes one contact per journey. Now there are 100,000 stars in the galaxy, so . . How many launches per year would each civilisation have to make for just one UFO per year to be a genuine extra-terrestrial investigation? Answer:- 10,000 launches per year for each of the 10 million civilisations. Do you ufologists really believe that all this is possible? And please dont comment that the Solar system may be an especially interesting place. If it is then we are rare specimens indeed, and the estimated 10 million civilisations is absurdly high (it is anyway). If there are, in fact, 10 million civilisations, one can only conclude that we are commonplace and therefore dull. Finally, I must comment on the damaging, and false, accusations levelled at scientists. Scientists, by profession, are totally committed to the open-minded approach, their lives being dedicated to a search for truth. They analyse, study, and endeavour to solve the mysteries of the Universe. They never pretend that problems do not exist and will always be the first to admit that they do not know everything. To suggest otherwise only reveals the ignorance of the accuser. It is those ufologists with an unscientific and a dogmatic attitude that pretend that problems dont exist, by the simple expedient of attributing they do not understand to little green men. Paradoxically enough it is those same ufologists (usually those who claim to have had a close encounter of the third kind, who are singularly unimaginative. It is they who reduce the glorious symbolism of the Bible to the nuts and bolts of a conventional spaceship. It is they who imagine that a galactic super-intelligence will travel thousands of light years and then find nothing better to do than to give some earth bound nutcase a joy ride in a flying saucer or frighten an innocent motorist by stalling his engine. Oh, No! Mr. Ufologist, it is you who wears the blinkers. Even your extraterrestrial is too Earth-like to be credible. Suppose Earth were to start all over again, and let the random factors of Evolution operate for a second time., I believe we would end up with nothing at all resembling our present form. How much less likely then, that organisms evolving 5000 million years, in a totally different environment, on another planet, orbiting round a faraway star, would look even remotely like a human being. (Goodman, Colin).

MYSTERIOUS UFOs spotted during the past week in various parts of the county have been explained as Venus and Jupiter. Mr. Trevor Thornton, co-ordinator of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation, said lights seen over Woodhouse and other places in the county had been positively identified as the planets Jupiter and Venus. He said: In certain conditions they do appear to move because of the rotation of the Earth. Seen through binoculars, there is a prismatic effect which splits the white light and makes the objects appear coloured. To prove the objects were planets, Mr. Thornton and several observers from the society have been placed in different parts of the county while a witness has been on the phone, and they have identified the objects as planets. Mr. Thornton said that it was common to mistake Venus for a UFO because it was one of the brightest objects in the night sky. (7).

(Item 8): Leicester Mercury, August 11th., 1978 - East Goscote Experience A Close Encounter

People living in East Goscote have reported seeing a mystery silver and orange object in the sky over the village on Wednesday night. The UFO, which onlookers say came down low over the houses, circled and then climbed out of sight into the clouds, was seen by at least 11 children, and 1 adult about 9:30 p.m. The children playing outside were very frightened, and one, who was hysterical and in tears, knocked on the door of Mrs. Christine H, of Huntsman Dale. She said: I saw this object moving above the houses, the bottom part was a silvery colour, and the top orange - I was stunned, it was about the size of a car and quite low - the children said that it made a noise but I didnt hear it, although my Husband said there was a lot of interference on the radio at the time. Her 12 year-old Daughter, Nicola, also sighted the cigar-shaped object. (51/78/75). (7).

(Item 9): Leicester Mercury, August 15th., 1978 - MYSTERY LOW-FLYING OBJECT HAD ORANGE GLOW - EYEWITNESS

FURTHER sightings of a mystery flying object spotted over East Goscote last week have been reported. It was said to be flying low and making a noise. The UFO was seen at East Goscote by at least 11 children and one adult at about 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday. Mrs. Barbara Rue, of Melton Road, Thurmaston, believes the same UFO travelled over her house at 2 a.m. the following morning. I had fed the cats and was about to go to bed when I heard a weird noise. I looked out of the window thinking it must be youths outside but couldnt see anything, she said. Upstairs in her bedroom however, she saw from the window what she believed to be an oblong-shaped spacecraft. I saw vivid bright lights and it had an orange glow underneath - I thought it was an aeroplane at first but it was moving very slowly and it was very low. Next morning Mrs. Rue discovered her Daughter Mrs. Joy Keogh, who lives in a narrow boat on the river at the bottom of her Mothers garden, had also spotted the object which, they claim, made a high pitched humming noise. (See also cases 51/78/75, 51/78/82 & 51/70/03 -ed.) (7).

(Item 10): Leicester Mercury, August 16th., 1978 - Strange lights in sky bring more claims of UFO sightings

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS of the mysterious kind have been experienced by local people in recent weeks, with numerous reports of strange lights in the sky over various parts of Leicestershire. The latest sighting of an Unidentified flying object was over the Nether Hall estate last night, where red, green and white flashing lights were seen hovering for at least half an hour. The red light occasionally changed to amber, and fluctuated in its position. said Mr. G. Punter, of Dudley Avenue, Thurnby Lodge. He detected this using 10 x 50 binoculars pointed towards the north-east of his home. And on Monday, a UFO was sighted over Countesthorpe by enthusiast Mr. Brian Dooler, using a pair of powerful binoculars from the roof of his home in Norfolf Street, Wigston, Mr. Doolers sighting of the phenomenon was also seen by the whole family. It was a great big thing - an orange coloured dome. It stayed high above Countesthorpe and then it descended and disappeared, he said. There have been sightings of bright noiseless objects by people at Shepshed, Castle Donington and Loughborough. One man said that he had seen objects similar to a round, silver ball on four occasions, and four youths fishing late at night near Stanford-on-Soar, said they watched a hovering bright light for 10 Minutes. (7).

(Item 11): Nuneaton Evening Tribune, August 21st., 1978 - Object not a UFO - pilot

Sorry to disappoint all UFO fanatics, but Im afraid to say Jeffrey Thurmans reported sighting in last Fridays Tribune was probably something entirely different. Private pilot John Lawrence, of Arbury Road, Nuneaton, contacted the Tribune this week to tell us that he too had spotted the mysterious bright object over Congerstone, Leicestershire. But, he says that, although the object was seen at about the same time, it was certainly not a UFO. It was a twin-engine light aircraft, travelling at a height of 2,500 feet and had set a course for Daventry, he told me. (10).

(Item 12): Nuneaton Evening Tribune - September 15th., 1978 - Schoolgirl has close encounter…

A close encounter of the real kind is still baffling researchers for the Hinckley UFO Society this week as they try to solve the mystery of the low flying UFO seen near Sapcote. The group were called into action when 12-year old Aston Flamville schoolgirl Elizabeth O’Niell reported a UFO hovering over fields on the outskirts of the village. The mysterious object, seen at 6pm on August 26, was described by Elizabeth as “round and silver, and completely noiseless.” She says it hovered over trees for about a minute then shot away at tremendous speed disappearing over trees in an adjoining field. (51/78/92). (10).

(Item 13): Hinckley Times - September 15th., 1978 - Silver Sphere Seen At Sapcote…

A recent report from an Aston Flamville schoolgirl has alerted investigators from Hinckley Aerial Phenomena Investigations. On Saturday 26th.August, at about 6.p.m., 12-year old Elizabeth O’ Niell, with other friends, witnessed a strange object from a car as they were approaching Hobbs Hayes farm, near Sapcote. It appeared to be a hovering silver ball and after remaining stationary for about 10 seconds, it shot off towards the ground. None of the girls in the car could explain this sudden phenomenon. (51/78/92). (8).

(Item 14): Nuneaton Evening Tribune, September 20th., 1978 - Nuneaton UFO sighting?

An Unidentified Flying Object, orange coloured and shaped like the bottom of a teacup, was seen over Nuneaton last night. The object stayed in view for about 10 minutes before it faded away. It was seen by Mrs. Lily Taylor of Radnor Drive, Nuneaton, as she and her Husband Harry arrived home at about 9:20 p.m. It was very big, and seemed to be over the Abbey Green side of town, said Mr. Taylor. It was round at the bottom, flat on top, and was a pinky-orange colour.” Elmdon Airport air traffic controllers say there were no aircraft operating in the area last evening. Mrs. Taylors sighting was also backed up by two other people who telephoned the Tribune offices last night. (10).

(Item 15): Nuneaton Evening Tribune, October 2nd., 1978 - Light Puzzle

A Nuneaton astronomer was last night puzzled over a strange, moving light in the south, south-east sky. Mr. Ronald Hill, first thought that the bright yellow light was the planet Jupiter - which is due to appear in the night sky around this time of year. But as he and his Wife Brenda watched, the light began to look more like a boomerang shape, and then sped off to the west. Jupiter should be up around now, and that is what I thought it was at first, said Mr. Hill - but it suddenly veered off, too fast to follow with a telescope. Mr. Hill said it was in the wrong place to be Jupiter, or one of its moons. Other people have reported seeing the light at around the same time - 10.15 - last night. Birmingham Airport air traffic control say that there were no scheduled aircraft in the Nuneaton area at that time. (77/78/220). (10).

(Item 16): Nuneaton Evening Tribune, October 3rd., 1978 - Camp Hill Man Reports Sighting

Following a report of a suspected UFO sighted over Nuneaton, a further observation was reported from the Camp Hill area on the same night - The sighting, which took place over almost five minutes, was in Queen Elizabeth Road, in the early hours of Monday morning. A 19 year-old un-employed resident said he was sleeping badly, and was surprised at 5.30 a.m. by a flashing light on the curtains. He went to investigate and said the light was visible in the skies above. It was green and appeared to be half-moon shaped. I must admit I was frightened a little and soon got back in bed added the young man. Another sighting was made by a man in Church Walk, Mancetter, when he saw a half-moon shaped light which disappeared in the direction of Tamworth on the same night. (10).

(Item 17): Leicester Mercury, October 10th., 1978 - Sky Lights Baffled The Pub Watchers

Regulars at the Clarendon Hotel, Leicester, wondered if their drinks were laced last night when they started seeing UFOs - But after licensee Mr. John Clarke reported he could see the object too, they took a second look, and there, in the sky over London Road towards the south, more than 20 regulars and a stone cold sober landlord, watched the mysterious lights. Mr. Clarke explained: A customer came in shouting he could see something in the sky and then someone else said that they had seen it earlier, so we went to look. They saw two white lights which seemed to have a shape to them. They were visible for several minutes around 8.30 p.m. There were theories that the lights could have been a helicopter, but most witnesses were un-convinced by this explanation. Mr. Clarke added: Despite what anyone might say about a pub full of people seeing objects in the sky, I was perfectly sober because I dont drink.” (7).

(Item 18): Hinckley Times - October 13th., 1978 - UFO Sighting Over Hinckley…

Mysterious lights in the sky were spotted by a Hinckley man on the evening of Sunday, 1st., October. The man, a Mr. Hopewell, saw what he describes as a “huge white light” over the Richmond park area. He says he watched it for several minutes at around 10.00 p.m. Mr. Hopewell, a keen astronomer, also sceptical of UFOs, said: “The object was definitely something strange, it did not appear to resemble an aircraft light and made no sound whatsoever although it was very, very low. It was something that I could not identify.” (51/77/78/126-193, Appendix A, The October Lightshow, Case 2). (8).

(Item 19): Nuneaton Evening Tribune, October 24th., 1978 - Did you see a UFO?

Did you see a UFO last night? Attleborough mother is convinced she did. Margaret, of Gadsby Street, was walking with her Husband and children near Park Avenue school. We looked up and saw a long, bright object that hovered for a few minutes before shooting up into the air, she said today. It certainly was not a plane - and I was not the only one who saw it she added. A group of youngsters who were playing in Attleborough playing fields also reported seeing the object. (51/77/78/126-193). (10).

(Item 20): Nuneaton Evening Tribune, October 25th., 1978 - Dozens report UFO sighting

North Warwickshire has had its own encounter of a strange kind. Dozens of people have reported seeing a large, brightly-lit craft early on Monday night. The Tribune switchboard has been jammed with people informing us about the sighting. Many of them believe they have seen a UFO - an Unidentified Flying Object. Ice-cream salesman Peter Hutton, of Chapel End, was working in Sycamore Road, Camp Hill when he saw the object. It was nothing like a plane and seemed to hover for a couple of minutes with the lights dimming and brightening. I am not sure what to make of it - I am not sure what I believe he added. Most of the callers have come from Nuneaton but there have been reports of sightings in Bedworth, Hinckley and Atherstone. Mancetter schoolboy Tony Hiatt said: I am sure it was a UFO. I never believed in them - but I do now. Two of my mates also saw it and thats enough for me. added Tony who lives in Mancetter Road. (51/77/78/126-193). (10).

(Item 21): Leicester Mercury, October 26th., 1978 - DELTA UFO SIGHTING SETS LINES BUZZING

REPORTS are still coming in from all over Leicestershire and beyond following the sighting of a bright delta-shaped Unidentified Flying Object last Monday evening. Already more than 20 separate sightings of the object have been reported to the Leicester branch of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation (UAPROL). Organiser Mr. Trevor Thornton has received calls about the object from Burton-on-Trent, Measham, Leicester, Hinckley, Coalville and Wigston. All have described it as a delta-shaped object with a mass of lights. From a distance some said it looked like a red light. According to Mr. Thornton, witnesses said that it stopped, hovered, and then shot away. Reports flooded in between 6.30 and 8.30 p.m. on Monday, after which time it moved away from the area. (51/77/78/126-193). (7).

(Item 22): Leicester Mercury, October 27th., 1978 - Delta -shaped UFO brings 100 calls

More Leicestershire people than ever before have been reporting Unidentified Flying Object sightings this week. The object which aroused so much attention was bright and delta-shaped and seen in Leicester, Hinckley, Wigston, Coalville, Measham and Burton-on-Trent areas on Monday night. Mr. Trevor Thornton, organiser of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation, said he had received more than 100 calls last night from people who had seen the object and read about it in yesterdays newspapers. This is twice as many calls as he has ever had in a day before, and all the information provided will be used to try to discover what the object was. (51/77/78/126-193). (7).

(Item 23): Burton Daily Mail, November 3rd., 1978 - More reports as UFO pays a return visit

Monday nights light blazing, silent UFO seen by scores of local people just after dusk, is not a spent force - it was back again flying over Repton last night. Mrs. Jane Lovett (22), of Meadow Close, Repton, was in the kitchen when a shout came from her Husband Clive, outside. It was 7.50 p.m., and Clive had just gone outside for his motorbike. He yelled out that we were being invaded, and I rushed outside to see. Four red lights came from different corners of the sky and met in the middle. Two white lights came on, one the shape of a crabs back. The crab-like one had two white headlights. It flew off with the other one following. By this time a number of children were shouting by the school gates. Then the lights split up. One flew over Willington, and the other that headed for Breby, was joined by a small plane - you could see the little red lights of a plane and hear it. I have no idea how high the lights were but there was no noise at all until the plane arrived. And a new theory on Mondays night rash of UFO sightings was today put forward by Mr. Albert Wright, of Victoria Crescent, Burton. It was a glider, I am certain of that. I can put everyones mind at rest. Mr. Wright said that he was in Victoria Street, Burton, around dusk on Monday when he heard an aeroplane engine. I took no notice at first, but then the engine sort of revved up, and I looked up. I saw that a small aircraft had just released a glider. The glider had bright lights on it. It circled around then flew off in the general direction of Ashby. The plane also circled and then went off. It looked as if it was making for the old Church Broughton airfield. But Mr. Wrights theory was shot down in flames by Long Eaton dentist Mr. Andrew Cluskey, a member of the Burton and South Derbyshire Gliding Club. I am not aware what activities the gliding club were involved in on Monday - though it is unlikely that anything was happening - but if these sightings took place after dark then it was not a glider. Gliders do not operate in darkness, and they certainly do not carry any lights Mr. Cluskey said today.(36).

(Item 24): Nuneaton Evening Tribune, November 29th., 1978 - Nancy saw a UFO - from 150 yards…

Everyone’s talking about UFOs these days, but do they really exist? It’s so easy to be cynical, but so many sightings have been reported in the Nuneaton area during the past few months. And a Nuneaton woman claimed this week that she observed a visiter from outer space - just 150 yards away. Nancy Savage, of Camp Hill Road, says she was in bed when she saw a bright light passing her window. Estimate - “I’d never seen anything like it before so it certainly wasn’t an aeroplane. Besides, it was totally noiseless. I would estimate it to have drifted within 150 yards of my window. The object was very bright with a blue haze at the edge.” Ironically, Nancy - one of Nuneaton’s best-known photographers, had left her camera downstairs and could not take what could have been the world’s first picture of a UFO. In February this year, Nancy claimed she saw another UFO floating past her house. This was later confirmed in a national newspaper by a reader who saw the object near Chapel End. (77/78/211). (10).

 

Source Codes:

(7): The Leicester Mercury

(8): The HinckleyTimes

(10): The Nuneaton Evening Tribune

(36): Burton Daily Mail (The)

(39): Hinckley & District Focus Magazine

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Main Log, 1978

 

(Item 7): Leicester Mercury, June 5th., 1978 - UFOs are identified as Venus and Jupiter