Welcome
I am a folklore researcher, author and broadcaster. I began my career as a journalist at the Sheffield Star and spent four years working as a Press Officer. But my passion was always for folklore and in 1999 I completed a PhD in Folklore at the National Centre for English Cultural Tradition, University of Sheffield. I moved to Sheffield Hallam University in 2005 where for two decades I taught journalism and media law before I was promoted to Associate Professor. Working with colleagues who shared my interest in folklore, I co-founded the Centre for Contemporary Legend research group at SHU in 2018. I was Project Lead the AHRC-funded National Folklore Survey for England until I left the university in 2026 to return to full-time writing and broadcasting. My books include The Angel of Mons, How UFOs Conquered the World and Space Age Folklore that will be published by Reaktion in 2027. Contact me by email at furnival.news at googlemail.com
Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Truth in NOT in here…
The RAF’s secret ‘X-files’ of reported UFO sightings in British skies are to be placed online for the first time – according to the media. This was the hyperbolic story published by the Mail Online, Metro, The Sun, Fox News … Continue reading
Codename Rendlesham
The Rendlesham Forest incident challenges Roswell as the most influential UFO legend in popular culture. Next Christmas marks the 40th anniversary of the story that began on Boxing Day morning, 26 December 1980. This marked the beginning of three nights … Continue reading
Reclaiming Robin Hood project
The Centre for Contemporary Legend is working with Sensoria Festival to celebrate the Sheffield region’s ancient links with Robin of Loxley, otherwise known as the folk hero Robin Hood. Hallamshire – the old name for Sheffield adopted by the university … Continue reading
DRONES AND UFOs: new data reveals rise in close encounters with aircraft in UK airspace
Aircrew have a reported an increase in the numbers of close encounters between ‘unknown objects’ and passenger aircraft since a drone caused chaos at Gatwick Airport. A pattern of disturbing incidents has emerged from data obtained by a team of … Continue reading
British Online Archives: The UFO Files
In episode 2 of the British Online Archives podcast I talk about The National Archives UFO project and my campaign to persuade the Ministry of Defence to open their files to the public. Host Jim Chisem asked me to explain … Continue reading
Who Dares Wins?: Britain’s Roswell meets the SAS
‘If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise…’ (Anne Murray) Christmas 2018 marks the 38th anniversary of the mysterious events in the Rendlesham forest near RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk that became Britain’s best known … Continue reading
Black Projects, UFOs and the mysterious MO D-Notice
Has the Ministry of Defence ever suppressed media stories about Black Project aircraft operating secretly over the British Isles? For many years conspiracy-minded aviation writers and UFOlogists have claimed the government has, on occasions, used its contacts in the Press … Continue reading