Spaceman mystery?
Published on 08/01/2008
Snap: Jim
Templeton, of Coledale Meadows, Carlisle
By Dave Gudgeon
A PENSIONER is hoping
that unseen files being released this year may solve one of the great Cumbrian
mysteries – the spaceman on the Solway.
Jim Templeton’s photograph, which
showed the mystery “spaceman” behind his daughter, was taken on Burgh Marsh in
1964 and has been seen around the world.
No-one has yet come up with an
explanation for it but the Ministry of Defence is just about to reveal details
of files which chronicle UFO (unidentified flying object) activity over
Britain.
And Jim, who is 87 and lives in Coledale Meadows, Carlisle,
believes they may contain some answers to a mystery that has puzzled him for
half his life.
He said: “It would be absolutely amazing if there was
something in the files about the Solway spaceman. It is incredible but I still
receive letters about it now.
“I have no explanation for the image but
what I can say is that it is not a fake. The film was sent away for processing
and came back like that.
What is even more strange is that shortly
afterwards the launch of the Blue Streak rocket at a base in Australia was
delayed because two similar spacemen were spotted on monitors
there.
“Apparently they searched the area at the time but could find
nothing, They said the delay in the launch was down to a technical hitch and it
went ahead later. The interesting thing, of course, is that the Blue Streak was
developed at Spadeadam to the east of Brampton. I was told about this by someone
who worked there at the time.”
Every year around 100 people contact the
Ministry of Defence to report sightings of unidentified flying objects, and they
are the subject of scores of Freedom of Information Act requests.
The
files, which are more than 25 years old and many of them handwritten, are being
processed into an electronic format and will be released this year.
An
MOD spokesman explained they regularly releases files through Freedom of
Information and that it is policy to release old files.
They said that,
contrary to reports, the MOD does not investigate UFOs and no UFO branch exists.
They only investigate perceived military threats to UK
security.
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