BUFORA Bulletin No. 4, July/August 1998

This document is the July/August 1998 issue of the BUFORA Bulletin, published by the British UFO Research Association. The issue serves as a transition point for the organization, with editor Steve Gamble stepping down and Robert Moore preparing to take over. The editorial reflects on the organization's recent history, noting the impact of popular media like 'The X-Files' on the UFO field and the subsequent decline in serious research. It highlights the organization's desire to move toward a more scientific approach, bolstered by the recent publication of the Sturrock Report, which advocates for the scientific study of UFO evidence. The bulletin includes an obituary for Major Sir Patrick Wall, the long-standing President of BUFORA, and a tribute to Ralph Noyes, a former senior civil servant and consultant to the BUFORA Council. A significant portion of the bulletin is dedicated to investigative reports. Nick Redfern provides a detailed analysis of a 1966 UFO sighting in Wilmslow, Cheshire, involving Police Constable Colin Perks. Redfern reveals that the Ministry of Defence's Defence Intelligence Staff (DI61) conducted a covert investigation into the incident, which included an on-site inspection and the discovery of a glass-like substance. This finding challenges the MOD's public claims regarding their investigative procedures at the time. Another article by Robert Bull investigates 'swirling rings' in East Anglia, concluding that these sightings were likely caused by laser light shows from local nightclubs. The bulletin also features a case history by Paul Ascough regarding a 'time loss' incident in Sowerby Bridge in 1995, where four witnesses experienced a 70-minute gap in memory, accompanied by physical symptoms and the observation of 'children in black'. The bulletin also addresses the ongoing controversy surrounding the 'Roswell' film footage, with Steve Gamble providing an update on BUFORA's investigations into the authenticity of the 'Tent Footage' and 'Autopsy Footage'. Finally, the issue provides administrative information, including details on upcoming skywatching events, the BUFORA web site, and a list of available publications.