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The Centre for Fortean Zoology [CFZ] Newsletter
2006-09-26
Dear Friends,
I am only too aware that it has been a long time since the last newsletter, but not only has a lot happened, but I have been extraordinarily unwell. As many of you know, I have never made any secret of the fact that I am bipolar, and I am presently in the middle of the worst episode I have experienced for about four years. I am just about managing to function, but at a much lower level than usual. I am bedridden much of the time, and when I do manage to get some work done it is a titanic effort. Please forgive me, therefore, if I am much slower than usual in replying to letters etc.
WEIRD WEEKEND
The Weird Weekend was a great success. A splendid time was had by all, and a full account of it can be found at:
http://forteanzoology.blogspot.com/2006/08/weird-weekend-day-one.html
http://forteanzoology.blogspot.com/2006/08/weird-weekend-day-two.html
http://forteanzoology.blogspot.com/2006/08/weird-weekend-final-day.html
Plans are already afoot for next year’s event, which will be held on the weekend of the 17-19th August 2007, again at Woolfardisworthy Community Centre here in balmy North Devon. Our decision to stop just preaching to the converted, and to appeal to a broader church, has worked. For the first time at a Weird Weekend, a significant proportion of the audience were non-forteans. Most importantly, however, everyone – especially the children – seemed to enjoy themselves, and although we didn’t make as large a profit as we had hoped, the consciousness-raising value was immeasurable, and we are looking forward to next year already.
THE GAMBIA EXPEDITION
For the first time, an in-depth account of a CFZ expedition is available in book form.
From the publishers blurb:
“The Centre for Fortean Zoology [CFZ] is the only professional,
scientific and full-time organisation in the world dedicated to
cryptozoology - the study of unknown animals. Since 1992, the CFZ has
carried out an unparalleled programme of research and investigation all
over the world. In July 2006, The J.T.Downes memorial Gambia Expedition - a
six-person team - Chris Moiser, Richard Freeman, Chris Clarke, Oll Lewis,
Lisa Dowley and Suzi Marsh went to the Gambia, West Africa.
They went in search of a dragon-like creature, known to the natives as
`Ninki Nanka`, which has terrorized the tiny African state for generations,
and has reportedly killed people as recently as the 1990s. They also went
to dig up part of a beach where an amateur naturalist claims to have buried
the carcass of a mysterious fifteen foot sea monster named 'Gambo', and
they sought to find the Armitage's Skink (Chalcides armitagei) - a tiny
lizard first described in 1922 and only rediscovered in 1989. Here, for the
first time, is their story.... With an forward by Dr. Karl Shuker and
introduction by Jonathan Downes”.
The book is also available from us at the address below, priced £12.50
LAKE WINDERMERE MONSTER
It is looking very much as if the CFZ have found our next research project.
It has always surprised me that the Lake District in northern England has no tradition of lake-monsters. There have been a few sightings of odd animals over the years, but in July this year a spate of sightings have been made of what appear to be a huge eel.
On the thursday of the Weird Weekend I received a telephone call from a jolly nice chap at the Westmoreland Gazette who tld me that his august publication had just printed the following story:
"A HOLIDAYMAKER has spoken of his horror at seeing a Loch Ness-type monster' emerge from the depths of Windermere, report Paul Duncan and Peter Otway. University lecturer Steve Burnip and his wife, Eileen, were shocked at seeing the serpent-like creature surface from the waters as they stood at a well-known viewpoint. "I was absolutely flabbergasted, I just stood there and couldn't believe what I was looking at," said Mr Burnip, who has been holidaying in the area for 13 years with his family. He claimed the creature was about 15-20ft long with a little head and two small humps following in its wake. "It was like a giant eel." Mr Burnip, who is 51 and from Hebden Bridge, was looking out from Watbarrow point that looks across the lake to Waterhead. Ian Winfield, a fish ecologist for the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at Lancaster University, believes Mr Burnip could have seen a catfish, as they have been introduced to a lot of lakes for angling. "The Wels catfish comes from mainland Europe and can grow to about 500cm and weigh up to 306kg and there have been numerous records of catfish washing up dead in Cumbrian lakes," said Mr Whitfield. "
Following a newspaper appeal, we now have laf a dozen witnesses, and we shall be travelling to Cumbria on the 11th of October to spend a few days gathering more information. We are hoping that this will prove to be the beginning of a long-term investigation into the mystery. If we can prove that there are, indeed, eels in the lake which are significantly larger than they should be, then this may well be the first step towards proving our theory that giant eels are the cause of the reports of `monsters` in Loch Ness, Loch Morar, and other monster-haunted lakes across the Northern Hemisphere.
For the latest news on the project see http://www.forteanzoology.com/cgi-bin/CFZ/YaBB.cgi?board=nw1;action=display;num=1158149529
CFZ TV
Having overcome to horrendous technical problems, something in excess of four hours of footage is now available on the CFZTV site. The whole thing is proving more complicated than we had hoped, but we are expecting much more footage up there soon. In their defence, the CFZ TV boys are trying to do something that has just never been done before (at least, not by people with no budget), and – with the benefit of hindsight – cock-ups were bound to happen. Never mind, it is a brave concept, and we shall get there in the end. Check out www.cfztv.com for the latest postings.
PUBLISHING SCHEDULE
Despite my being hors de combat, the publishing schedule is continuing apace. The latest edition of Animals & Men is being prepared at the moment (issue 39), and we hope that the following books will be available in paperback before the end of the year:
“Smaller Mystery Carnivores of the Westcountry” by Jonathan Downes
“Strength through Koi - `They saved Hitler’s koi` and other stories” by Jonathan Downes
Animals & Men Collected Editions Volume 2
Animals & Men Collected Editions Volume 3
“Menagerie of the Damned: an A-Z of Zooform Phenomena” (title TBC) by Neil Arnold
“Big Cats on the Loose” (title TBC) by Marcus Matthews
“CFZ Yearbook 2005/7”
“Dark Dorset” by Mark North and Robert Newland
“Dark Dorset: Calendar Customs” By Robert Newland
We will also be releasing titles by Karl Shuker, Nick Redfern and Chris Moiser in the new year. More details as we get them…..
That just about wraps it up for this time. As always we would like to stress that running the CFZ is an expensive business, and we need as much help as we can get. If there is anybody out there who is minded to give us gifts of time, expertise, equipment, or money then please get in touch.
If you are not a member, why not think about joining. You can do it online at our website or by post from the CFZ office. Subscriptions are £12 (UK) £15 (EEC) £22 (Rest of world). You get four issues of our journal, and the chance to join in our activities around the world….
Onwards and Upwards,
Jonathan Downes
____________________________________________
Jonathan Downes
Director, Centre for Fortean Zoology [CFZ],
Myrtle Cottage,
Woolfardisworthy,
Bideford,
North Devon
EX39 5QR
Telephone: +44 (0) 1237 431413
Mobile: +44 (0) 870 1935443
email: jon@...
website: http://www.cfz.org.uk
yahoogroup: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/CFZ_Volunteers/
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