Cosmic Shock: THE OBSERVERS

Alien Base: The Evidence for Extraterrestrial Colonization of Earth: THE OBSERVERS

‘Since time immemorial,’ Janus continued, ‘there have been tales of vessels coming out of the sky bringing strange visitors. Observers do come among you and make contact on a very selective basis where they judge that such contact could not harm either party.’

These observers have studied Earth for a long time. With advanced medical science they have been fitted with the right sort of internal equipment to allow their bodies to operate normally until they leave. It is not very difficult to obtain the right sort of clothes and means to move around quite freely . . .

The observers are not interested in interfering in your affairs, but once you are ready to escape from your own solar system it is of paramount importance that you have learnt your responsibilities for the preservation of life everywhere . . .

While you are still far away from travelling in deep space, such contacts will be infrequent and must be conducted with great secrecy . . .

The observers have very highly developed mental powers, including extra- sensory, thought reading, hypnosis and the ability to use different dimensions . . . and rely solely on their special powers to look after themselves. They make contact only with selected people where secrecy can be maintained. In the loosely-knit societies of the Western world, particularly in England and America, it is fairly easy with the help of friends to do this but not in police and dictator states.

The discourse ended. Sir Peter bade Mr Janus farewell, saying that he would give consideration to the request to meet Prince Philip. ‘What was Janus?’ asks Sir Peter. Was he part of an elaborate hoax or plot, was he a teacher, an imaginative prophet of the future or what hehad insinuated — an observer? Whatever else he was, Janus left me with the impression of a force to be reckoned with. He appeared to know a great deal and spoke with authority about space technology. If he was part of any kind of plot, it was my duty to report the meeting to the security authorities, particularly if it had anything to do with the Royal Family.’

Immediately following the meeting, Sir Peter wrote a verbatim report and gave it to Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick ‘Boy’ Browning, Treasurer to Prince Philip. By this time, Browning had become fascinated by the subject, and was keen to arrange another meeting with Janus. Sir Peter was not so sure, but nonetheless made several phone calls to Mrs Markham over the next few days.

There was no answer. Eventually he contacted General Martin, ‘who suddenly became distant and evasive’. Finally, Sir Peter went round to Mrs Markham’s flat in Chelsea. There was no sign of life. According to her neighbours, Mrs Markham had left in a hurry. ‘The curtain had dropped,’ writes Sir Peter. ‘Had Janus sensed that I was in two minds about informing the security authorities of my meeting? I never saw General Martin, Mrs Markham or Janus again.’

‘I thought I would see them again and discuss it further, and I thought it very odd that the flat was empty,’ Sir Peter told me in 1997, in the peaceful garden of his Hampshire home beside the River Test. I asked him for more details of the meeting with Mr Janus. ‘It was a winter evening,’ he began. ‘Mrs Markham’s flat was on the first floor and she introduced me to Janus in the drawing room, which was dimly lit by two standard lamps. He sat in an easy chair by the side of the fire. He didn’t get up when we shook hands. I sat in an easy chair on the opposite side of the fire and Mrs Markham sat on a sofa between us.’

Somehow, he was difficult to describe. What made it strange is that I have no lasting impression of him: he seemed to fit perfectly in his surroundings. If I have any impression of him, it was his quiet voice which had a rich quality to it. He looked about 45 to 50 years old, with thinnish, slightly grey hair, and he was dressed in a suit and tie. He was quite normal in every way, except that he seemed to be tuning in to my mind, and gradually seemed to take over the conversation. Mrs Markham offered me coffee and didn’t interrupt the conversation at any point. My initial reaction was one of scepticism, but by the end of the meeting, I was quite disturbed, really. ‘And what of the reaction at Buckingham Palace — apart from that of General Browning?’ I queried. ‘Michael Parker, Prince Philip’s Private Secretary, thought it a joke,’ he replied. ‘But Prince Philip had an open mind.’

In 1969, Sir Peter Horsley was posted to the Ministry of Defence as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations), responsible for the management of air operations worldwide and reporting to the Vice Chief of Air Staff. In his remarkable autobiography, he reveals that in the Air Force Operations Room (AFOR) he discovered ‘a rich vein of UFO reports in the form of an Annexe to a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) where every report of a UFO, from whatever source, was logged, examined and filed; those which might have either public or political repercussions came to my desk’.

‘There were a great many reports,’ he told me. ‘Of course, 95 per cent were explainable. Our main concern was the Soviets invading our airspace. But they were sent to the RAF’s scientific [and technical intelligence] branch for detailed analysis. I also learned that the Americans were treating the subject with great secrecy.’

‘I admire your courage in coming forward with such a story,’ I said. ‘How do you feel about the ridicule you received from the press when the Janus story came out, particularly the article in The Times by Dr Thomas Stuttaford, wherein he states that you must have suffered an hallucination or delusion?’

‘It didn’t take much courage, as I was only reporting what actually happened,’ he responded. ‘I’ve met a number of senior RAF officers who agree that something strange is going on. It’s only the papers that make up that you’re hallucinating or have had an illusion . . . As to the incredible Mr Janus, the very credible Sir Peter Horsley retains an open mind