On Saturday, Linda and I, together with friends Jason & Thomas, spent a day with Colonel Charles Halt (Commander of RAF Bentwaters at the time of the Rendlesham Forest UFO incident)
The day started with a small group accompanying the Colonel around the forest, where he pointed out the sites of the major events of December 1980. The press were in attendance, so it was surprising how forthright the Colonel was with his reminiscences, particularly in regard to the accounts of some of the others who were involved.
On a wildlife note: the forest was full of dragonflies, despite a total absence of nearby water! There were Emperors, Brown Hawkers and Common Darters, as well as lots of newly-emerged Graylings...
The day started with a small group accompanying the Colonel around the forest, where he pointed out the sites of the major events of December 1980. The press were in attendance, so it was surprising how forthright the Colonel was with his reminiscences, particularly in regard to the accounts of some of the others who were involved.
On a wildlife note: the forest was full of dragonflies, despite a total absence of nearby water! There were Emperors, Brown Hawkers and Common Darters, as well as lots of newly-emerged Graylings...
After lunch we moved on to Woodbridge Community Centre to set up the hall for six hours of talks and discussion: I was MC of the event and (despite the lack of decent mikes) received plenty of gratifying feedback: thanks to all for that! I enjoyed delivering my forty minute lecture and, again, there was plenty of positive comment. The Colonel spoke for around 80 minutes and mingled with attendees throughout the event, signing autographs and posing for photographs.
I have to say: purely as human beings, the Colonel and his son Clifford were pleasant company and it was enjoyable to spend the day with them.
How different to the response of some people on the social network sites! Bear in mind that I attended the conference as an unpaid guest speaker, talking on an entirely unrelated topic to the Colonel, and that I was asked by the organiser John Hanson (since I am an experienced professional lecturer) to act as MC. Within hours of the event, I began to receive abuse from all sides of the Warren - Halt - Penniston - Burroughs debate.
Now personally speaking, face to face I have always found Larry Warren a pleasant enough person: I knew he had an ongoing conflict with Colonel Halt, but hadn't realised that everyone is supposed to take sides! Larry has often been 'frank' when discussing the Colonel, but apparently his supporters don't feel Halt is entitled to respond...
The online 'dialogue' has polarised the UFO fraternity, attracted comment from people who didn't even attend the event and unfairly heaped invective on totally neutral pundits such as Nick Pope.
The festering sore between Larry Warren & Charles Halt and the two most credible other witnesses - Jim Penniston and John Burroughs - does nothing to further the cause of disclosure and adds fuel to those who seek to dismiss the entire incident. Astronomer and UFO debunker Ian Ridpath must be laughing himself sick!
As for me? After ten years trying to help raise the profile and credibility of the event in lectures, websites, articles and, latterly, books, I'm done with the RFI: it seems unlikely that, after 35 years, any resolution will ever occur and, having met most of the major characters, I have been able to draw my own conclusions.
I have to say: purely as human beings, the Colonel and his son Clifford were pleasant company and it was enjoyable to spend the day with them.
How different to the response of some people on the social network sites! Bear in mind that I attended the conference as an unpaid guest speaker, talking on an entirely unrelated topic to the Colonel, and that I was asked by the organiser John Hanson (since I am an experienced professional lecturer) to act as MC. Within hours of the event, I began to receive abuse from all sides of the Warren - Halt - Penniston - Burroughs debate.
Now personally speaking, face to face I have always found Larry Warren a pleasant enough person: I knew he had an ongoing conflict with Colonel Halt, but hadn't realised that everyone is supposed to take sides! Larry has often been 'frank' when discussing the Colonel, but apparently his supporters don't feel Halt is entitled to respond...
The online 'dialogue' has polarised the UFO fraternity, attracted comment from people who didn't even attend the event and unfairly heaped invective on totally neutral pundits such as Nick Pope.
The festering sore between Larry Warren & Charles Halt and the two most credible other witnesses - Jim Penniston and John Burroughs - does nothing to further the cause of disclosure and adds fuel to those who seek to dismiss the entire incident. Astronomer and UFO debunker Ian Ridpath must be laughing himself sick!
As for me? After ten years trying to help raise the profile and credibility of the event in lectures, websites, articles and, latterly, books, I'm done with the RFI: it seems unlikely that, after 35 years, any resolution will ever occur and, having met most of the major characters, I have been able to draw my own conclusions.
No comments:
Post a Comment