Berwyn UFO puzzle to be solved at last - Daily Post North Wales

Berwyn UFO puzzle to be solved at last - Daily Post North Wales

Dec 29 2007 by Steve Bagnall, Daily Post

MINISTRY of Defence files on what conspiracy theory fans believe may have been a UFO crash in North Wales are expected to be released next year.

The Berwyn Mountains incident sparked mystery in 1974 with unexplained lights in the sky, an earthquake and secretive men in suits.

MoD chiefs confirmed yesterday they are publishing a raft of so-called UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) files stretching back to the 1960s.

This is because of the huge number of inquiries on UFOs.

The Berwyn Mountains incident happened on January 20, 1974.

The people of Llandderfel and Llandrillo villages in the Berwyn mountains near Bala, sat down to that evening’s TV.

But the quiet was shattered by the rumbles of an earthquake, registering 3.5 on the Richter scale.

As people ran from their houses, fearing another tremor, they witnessed a blaze of light on the mountainside above.

A local nurse and her daughters claimed they watched as a huge egg-shaped craft lay on the ground with a pulsating orange and red glow.

Police and the military converged on the hills, expecting to discover a crashed passenger jet – but what they did find has never been divulged.

Some think it was an experimental man-made top secret military aircraft, possibly a prototype Stealth bomber.

Local farmer Hugh Lloyd was just 14 at the time.

He told the Daily Post: “ It was pretty scary. I have never experienced anything like it.

“It was pretty dark. You could hardly see anything on the mountain and then all of a sudden this incredibly bright light lit up the sky, like an arc welder, two or three miles away, lasting for about 20-30 seconds. You could make out details in the countryside around.”

In the days following, scientists and investigators, some of whom could have been from official departments, combed the area.

Mr Lloyd was questioned about the incident, the light and asked exactly what it looked like. “I do not believe that it was a UFO but I would like to find out exactly what it was.”

Although the MoD would not confirm categorically the incident – widely dubbed the “Welsh Roswell” – would be in the documents, it said a large amount of material would be released.

An MoD spokeswoman said: “There is no date set but it will be published next year.

“It is going to take time because there are a lot of handwritten documents.”

Things that go bump in the night... - icWales

Things that go bump in the night... - icWales

Dec 27 2007 by Sian Watts, Merthyr Express

TALES of the unexpected have fascinated people for centuries, but never has the search for the paranormal been so popular.

There seems to be almost an obsession (well, on satellite channels anyway) with things that go bump in the night, so I went along to Llancaiach Fawr Manor to see for myself.

Having visited the museum on school trips, the most scary experience I had had was nearly being sick on the bus from eating the ridiculous amount of sandwiches and chocolate my mam always used make me take on every outing.

I didn’t expect this night to be any different, although I promised myself I’d only eat the one KitKat this time.

Llancaiach Fawr Manor in Nelson has a rich and colourful history, after being built in 1530 it has survived through the reigns of the Tudors and Stuarts and it is thought played host to King Charles I during the Civil War.

The living history museum has such a reputation, that a team from the LivingTV series Most Haunted, stayed overnight in their quest to prove that ghosts exist.

After it was voted one of the top ten most haunted places in Britain, Yvette Fielding, and animated scouse psychic Derek Acorah investigated the possibilities that a former housekeeper, known as Martha or “Mattie” still stares out of her bedroom window, and children from hundreds of years ago still play on the stairs.

During the programme, Derek said Martha was murdered and one of the crew witnessed a shadowy figure.

I’m neither a sceptic or a believer, so I was keeping an open mind. To be honest, I desperately wanted something to happen, but no matter how much I squinted my eyes I just couldn’t see that lady in the window who so many people have reported....

Students’ spooky ordeal for zoo fund - Daily Post North Wales

Students’ spooky ordeal for zoo fund - Daily Post North Wales: "Dec 8 2007 by Carl Butler, Daily Post

A GROUP of National Diploma Animal Management students from the Welsh College of Horticulture have donated a cheque of just under �200 to the Welsh Mountain Zoo after completing a scary enterprising challenge.

A group of six level two students at the Northop college, accompanied by two tutors and the Cheshire Paranormal Society, spent the night in the apparently haunted Stanley Palace in Chester.

During the night the students used the powers of a medium to try and make contact with spirits present in the Grade I listed building, which was built in the 17th Century.Š

The night proved to be a hive of activity with moving tables and alleged communications with another world.

With the hard bit over, the students took the opportunity to enjoy a day out of the classroom at the Welsh Mountain Zoo to hand the cheque over to management for the new alligator exhibit."

Waunlwyd beast seen on the prowl by dog walker

Nov 29 2007 by Jamie L. Robins, Gwent Gazette

A MYSTERIOUS large black cat has been spotted in the Waunlwyd hills for the second time in two weeks.

Last week we reported how father and son Peter and Gareth Whittle spotted an unusual beast as they were travelling to the Silent Valley rubbish tip on Wednesday, November 14.

Exactly a week later cat lover Denise Selway spotted a similar cat while walking her dog George not far from her home in Hillside Terrace, Waunlwyd.

Ms Selway was unaware of the Whittles’ sighting, featured in last week’s Gazette, until her friend Caroline Road, tried to play a practical joke on her.

“I couldn’t believe it when she told me,” Miss Road said.

“I was laughing for ages so when I went home I decided to play a joke on her.

“I went on the internet and tried to find a story about a sighting somewhere in Wales and I was going to change the name to Waunlwyd to wind her up.

“When I typed it all in and the Gazette story came up from last week I couldn’t believe it.

“Denise still thought it was a wind up but I didn’t have to change anything – it was a mad coincidence.”

Over the years Ms Selway has rescued and rehomed hundreds of cats, she keeps several at her Waunlwyd home and as a result she is very familiar with the shapes and sizes of domestic and feral cats.

“I know exactly what I saw,” she said picking up one of her bigger cats.

“This is a big cat, cats do not grow much bigger than this but the one I saw was much bigger and a different shape.

“It was totally black and it had a long tail, I would say it was about four foot long.

“I was less than 30ft away from it and walked past quite slowly, I feel quite privileged to have seen it.”

Good luck for builders as big cat crosses their path

Nov 22 2007 by Jamie L. Robins, Gwent Gazette

A LARGE black “mountain cat” has been spotted prowling the hills overlooking Waunlwyd.

Shocked father-and-son builders Peter and Gareth Whittle caught sight of the unusual beast at 11.40am on Wednesday, November 14.

Peter, aged 55, and Gareth, 28, are self-employed and at the time they saw the creature they were making their second trip of the day to the Silent Valley refuse tip.

As they crossed the cattle grid outside Cwm cemetery the big cat walked out in front of them.

“We were driving up the mountain as normal and all of a sudden we saw this cat,” Gareth said.

“It walked in front of us and jumped over the fence without any effort – like it was stepping on to a kerb on the side of the road.

“We both looked at each other, we just couldn’t believe it.

“I phoned my missus and she said ‘Don’t be so stupid’ – but I know what I saw.”

The father and son, who say they were cynical before the sighting, are no strangers to the Waunlwyd mountainside.

“I have been walking these hills for 40 years and me and the boy go hunting most weekends – I know what animals look like.

“I’ve heard there have been sighting before and I have always been cynical but now I believe it after seeing with my own eyes.

“I’ve got nothing to gain from making it up.

“If it was 12 o’clock at night or I was walking home from the pub I would doubt myself, but this was 11.40am and it was a very clear day.

“There was no mistaking it – it was about four foot in length, black and had a big tail.

“It was very, very agile but the head was quite small so I think it would have been a female.

“It was big, too, not as big as a lion or panther but it was still very big.

“It was one big lump of a feline.”

Have you seen this mystery beast? Ring our newsroom on 01495 304589.

Exploring the paranormal at Margam Park - icWales

Exploring the paranormal at Margam Park - icWales

Nov 15 2007 by Emma Pengelly, Port Talbot Guardian

PEOPLE who went ghost-hunting in Margam Castle last Saturday had a frightful night.

Up to 300 people wanted to attend the annual Hallowe’en event put on by Geraint Hopkins of Ghost Watch Wales.

He was able to allow only 25 people on the ghost hunt on Hallowe’en night itself, so he decided to hold a second hunt on Saturday.

Deleine Hitchens from Margam went to the event with her daughter Lisa and partner Simon Williams.

“It was action from the word go,” she said.

“I went with an open mind because it was my first time, but I was nervous about the whole thing.”

Although Mrs Hitchens did not personally see anything, she saw other people experience things, including her daughter who felt her hair being touched.

“There is definitely something out there,” she said.

Mrs Hitchens described her night as a “wonderful experience” and is looking forward to her next paranormal investigation with Ghost Watch Wales.

The group is one of the longest-running paranormal investigation teams in the country, and it has used Margam Park as a location for numerous television appearance on programmes such as Most Haunted, I Love Wales and Weird Wales.

One of the most famous ghosts believed to haunt Margam Castle is the “White Lady”, who Geraint believes to have seen on several occasions.

He said: “I once saw a woman walking down the stairs in period costume, and as she walked down it went really cold in the room.”

To find more about Ghost Watch Wales visit www.ghostwatchwales.co.uk or call Mr Hopkins on 07879 021348.

TV celebrity is lined up for a ‘spooktacular’ - icWales

TV celebrity is lined up for a ‘spooktacular’ - icWales

Oct 23 2007 by Katie Norman, South Wales Echo

A CELEBRITY paranormal investigator will be joined by psychics for a spooky show.

Richard Felix, from television’s Most Haunted, will be joined by South Wales psychics for a paranormal show in a giant marquee on Newbridge Fields, Bridgend, from 2.30pm on Sunday.

Admission is £12, of which £2 goes to charity.

The event is part of the town’s Spooktacular Halloween Festival, which also features a themed market from Thursday until Saturday in Bridgend town centre.

Felix is also expected to attend an evening of entertainment with live music and a licensed bar at the marquee from 8pm until 1am on Saturday.

Admission is for those aged over 13 and costs £5.

Other activities include a children’s fancy dress parade for youngsters aged six to 12.

It begins at Peacocks, Brackla Street, Bridgend, at 4.30pm on Friday and ends at the marquee in Newbridge Fields for a children’s party with stories, games, competitions and a disco from 5.30pm.

Admission is £2 or £1 for parade participants.