Latest news with #RobertTaylor
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Science
- Scotsman
Should Scotland do more to celebrate its distinctive UFO history?
Robert Taylor, who is said to have encountered a spaceship in woods near Livingston | Contributed From world-famous cases to the Falkirk Triangle, items linked to this bizarre history risk being lost forever Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In 1979, an alleged alien encounter in woods near Livingston sparked a police investigation and made headlines around the world. Robert Taylor, a 61-year-old forestry worker, was left in a state of shock after apparently encountering a large "dome-shaped" craft in a clearing in Dechmont Woods. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He later told officers two spiked spheres had rolled towards him, and he was aware of a strong smell of burning and being grabbed on either side of his legs before passing out. Robert Taylor, who is said to have encountered a spaceship in woods near Livingston | Contributed The case has since become the stuff of legend, not least because of the police involvement. Mr Taylor, a teetotal churchgoer and war hero, was also seen as an honest witness. He died in 2007. It is undoubtedly the most famous alleged alien encounter in Scotland, but far from the only one. Dr Gavin Miller, an academic at Glasgow University who has researched the cultural history of UFOs in Scotland, believes more should be done to preserve and celebrate this bizarre history. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The UFO phenomenon has been "remade and reinvented" over the decades, he said. Scotland was initially slow to catch on - some early press coverage was dismissive of what it considered to be American mass hysteria - but this attitude gradually shifted. In the 1950s, reports were influenced by Cold War anxiety. In November 1957, around the time of the Sputnik spacecraft launches, a group of tattie howkers, or potato pickers, were supposedly pursued by a flying saucer - more likely a weather balloon - while returning from Musselburgh to Edinburgh in a lorry. An "occult version" of the UFO phenomenon flourished in the 1960s and 70s, Dr Miller said, involving "contactees" who claimed to have communicated with entities or aliens. But a more hard-nosed, investigative approach also emerged, led by groups who were interested in gathering evidence through interviews and physical traces. They seized on Mr Taylor's story. "They all descend upon his house and his home," said Dr Miller, who is giving a talk on Scotland's history with UFOs as part of the Royal Society of Edinburgh's festival of knowledge in September. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "They quiz him and they interview him and they take photographs and they write up reports. And there's even an official British UFO Research Association report on that encounter. They go to extraordinary lengths. "They have soil samples tested. He said there was a mysterious smell that made him pass out, so they get examples of gasses and put them under his nose to see if he can identify it, but he can't, and all the rest of it. "That gave a lot of energy and impetus to Scottish UFO research groups. They start to spring up around this and after this." An artist's impression of the Dechmont Woods incident | Contributed In the 1990s, the small town of Bonnybridge became an unlikely hotspot. The so-called Falkirk Triangle attracted international press coverage, and some enterprising locals sensed an opportunity. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Whatever really happened in Bonnybridge and Falkirk in the 1990s, the locals, in particular Councillor [Billy] Buchanan, who's still with us, were clearly aware of the tourism potential, or the economic potential as they saw it, of having a town associated with UFOs,' Dr Miller said. He has been working with Bonnybridge library to preserve some of this unique history. "There's endless stuff - national, international - and you also see just how much TV coverage and radio coverage they were getting,' he said. 'It really was enormous at the time." The popularity of The X-Files, first aired in 1993, no doubt helped. Other alleged incidents attracted press attention. In August 1992, Garry Wood, a 33-year-old ambulance technician from Edinburgh, and 25-year-old Colin Wright were supposedly abducted by aliens while driving on the A70 near the Harperrig reservoir in West Lothian. Billy Boyd was later attached to a mooted movie adaptation of the sensational tale. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But Dechmont Woods remains perhaps the most enduring mystery. "I think the great thing about the Robert Taylor incident is that it is so baffling,' Dr Miller said. "There is an enormous list of possible explanations, but every possible explanation brings its own problems." Mr Taylor's ripped trousers were taken by the police for forensic examination and later passed into the possession of UFO investigators. 'They've been called the Turin Shroud of Scottish ufology,' Dr Miller said. 'It's this kind of relic. The trousers get exhibited, there's psychic readings, they are shown around, they're passed around.' The trousers are still in the possession of Scottish UFO investigator Malcolm Robinson. In February this year, it was reported he had offered them to the National Museum of Scotland, which turned them down. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "There is perhaps a moral there about Scottish museums and collections and what they do or don't want, and what they think is respectable and what they should be having, and what parts of history they record,' Dr Miller said. "I think it's a bit of a pity that we don't have a more positive attitude to collecting and preserving this heritage. "There's an archive in Sweden, Archives for the Unexplained, and they're collecting stuff from all over the world, and I think our UFO heritage is going there, to be honest. It's not being preserved nationally." There have been high-profile UFO sightings elsewhere in the UK, of course, and Dr Miller does not believe Scotland in itself is a particular hotspot. But it does have its own distinctive history, he argued, and one which plays into wider narratives such as deindustrialisation. "That's a distinctive story, I think, in Scotland because the Bonnybridge hotspot was so obviously, in some ways, about deindustrialisation,' he said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "The heavy industry and manufacturing industry have collapsed, the town was in industrial decline, there was quite a lot of unemployment. And so whatever was really going on in the skies, if it could be regenerated as a UFO hotspot, that would do something for the local economy." A Dechmont Woods UFO trail was launched in 2018. But Dr Miller said more could be done to preserve and promote items relating to Scotland's UFO history. "We don't have to naively endorse them, but if we don't get hold of this stuff and collect and preserve and promote it, it will be lost,' he said. 'I think that's the problem - it will be lost. Somebody will have all this stuff and it will just go in bin bags and it will be in a skip."
The Irish Sun
15-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
The brilliant Irish playground with climbing net, swings and slides – and it's minutes from busy town
TAKE a look at the brilliant Irish playground with climbing nets, swings and slides - and it is minutes from a busy town. Located near Balbriggan, in 4 The 194-acre parkland with stunning gardens is only 30 kilometres north of Dublin city 4 It is perfect for a magical family day out surrounded by stunning coastal landscapes Credit: Social Media Collect 4 The fantastic state-of-the-art playground has over 30 pieces of play equipment to enjoy. Credit: Social Media Collect The park is about 20 minutes from Dublin city centre and features stunning sea views, woodland walks and a fantastic playground that is an ideal spot for families. The highlight for This underrated spot is a spacious and well-equipped zone that offers hours of entertainment for kids of all ages. It reads on their website: 'The fantastic state-of-the-art playground has over 30 pieces of play equipment to enjoy, from cradle swings for the very young to a large climbing space net for older children.' READ MORE IN TRAVEL "The playground is set in an elevated location overlooking the Irish Sea and is easily accessed from the main car park through a woodland walk which is very close by." The area features a large country-styled house with castellated embellishments. And the Castle, originally named 'Prospect House', was built in 1738 by Robert Taylor, with the west and east wings added in the late 1800s. The state-of-the-art playground has over 30 pieces of play equipment to enjoy, from cradle swings for the very young to a large climbing net for older Most read in News Travel The playground is set in an elevated location overlooking the Irish Sea and is easily accessed from the main car park through a woodland walk, which is very close by. The spot features swings, climbing areas and slides, while the recent addition of an inclusive swing can be used by a wheelchair user and a non-wheelchair user at the same time. 'It's very important' - Ryanair's 'baggage sizers' warning to Irish passengers ahead of busy Easter break amid €75 fine A lower car park is available for wheelchair access only. The playground is themed on the castle and the sea to identify with the Ardgillan focus. The ground is coloured blue to represent the sea, with aquatic playground equipment, brown to represent the sand of the nearby beach, and the castle is perched on a green mound to represent Ardgillan Castle itself. The park also includes plenty of benches and shaded seating, making it an ideal place for families to spend the day. And there's even a tearoom in the castle to grab BEAUTIFUL COASTLINE Ardgillan Castle is situated between the coastal towns of Balbriggan and Skerries. Both towns are rich in Balbriggan Beach is an ideal walking spot, and visitors can enjoy views of the Martello Tower, Bremore Castle, and an 18th-century Lighthouse. Skerries' picturesque harbour, cosy cafes and friendly bars all act as magnets for people enjoying this seaside fishing town. Visitors will be spoiled for choice when it comes to things to do for all the family, from heritage and adventure to music and comedy concerts. Visitors have taken to One person wrote: "Anyone who visits really enjoys the walks, sea views and the playground. Loads of space for picnics. Feels very safe for kids. "Overlooking the sea with stunning views, wide open spaces, great gardens, interesting architecture, perfect picnic areas - this is an ideal place for families to enjoy a day out, complete with playground for children." 4 The residence at Ardgillan is perfect for an enchanting adventure Credit: Getty Images
Epoch Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
‘Ride, Vaquero!': Decent Ride, Rough Terrain
NR | 1h 30m | Western | 1953 Although Robert Taylor was one of MGM's top stars during Hollywood's Golden Age. He was married to the legendary Barbara Stanwyck and one of the most outspoken anti-communists in the industry. Taylor testified before the House Committee on Un-American Activities about communism in Hollywood (HUAC). He proudly stood for what he called 'pro-freedom and pro-decency.'
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Since 1st rocket launch 75 years ago, Brevard undergoes huge development sparked by Space Race
Assembled with a captured German V-2 missile, the experimental Bumper 8 rocket rose above surrounding wilderness on July 24, 1950, marking America's first launch from Cape Canaveral — and sparking the Space Coast's swift trajectory from "a sleepy, agriculture-based community" into the world's top commercial spaceport. Only 246 people lived in rustic Cocoa Beach when Bumper 8 lifted off. Neither the cities of Palm Bay nor Satellite Beach yet existed. And with a mere 4,223 people, Melbourne had fewer residents than Cocoa's population of 4,245. From those humble beginnings, rocket-fueled population growth during the Space Race of the 1950s and '60s propelled Brevard County's economic and community development far faster than U.S. cities that had a century-plus head start. 'You had thousands of technicians and engineers and just plain folks (move here) — everybody from launch directors to the people who clean the offices up there in the space center. So this was good news for Brevard County, and maybe some tough news,' said Robert Taylor, a Florida Institute of Technology history professor. 'The good news is that the economy, of course, is just being stimulated to all get-out. Because these people are relatively well-paid. And they're spending their money here,' Taylor said. 'The downside is the growth in population would happen so fast that there'd be shortages of everything. Shortages of housing. Shortages of schools. The roads very quickly became jammed with cars at certain parts of the day,' he said. In 1950, a mere 23,653 people lived in Brevard, which Florida Historical Society Executive Director Ben Brotemarkle described as "a sleepy, agriculture-based community" along 72 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline. But Brotemarkle noted Brevard's population skyrocketed a remarkable 371% during the 1950s as Cape Canaveral missile testing, NASA and Project Mercury debuted, reaching 111,435 residents by 1960. Then the population more than doubled during the 1960s, surpassing 230,000 residents by 1970. Brotemarkle views this as a microcosm of Florida's population influx as a whole, but the Space Coast's explosive experience was unique — ranking as one of America's fastest-growing counties in terms of percentage. "A lot of infrastructure came with that, too. When the space program first happened, people that worked for NASA were complaining that they had to go to Orlando just to go grocery shopping," Brotemarkle said. "When you talk about population growth, it's important to remember that that led to massive infrastructure here: Neighborhoods being built, and bridges that didn't exist. Causeways connecting the barrier islands. Churches and schools and roads — and everything that goes with more people," he said. Indeed, Taylor mentioned local tales of early Cape employees moving into garages, "camping" in sewer pipes by the sides of roads, and living in tents on beach. 'That may sound nice, but it's hot on that beach — and there's these things called sandflies,' Taylor said. Growing throughout NASA's Projects Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and the 30-year space shuttle program — and the ongoing, accelerating industry transition to commercial companies led by SpaceX — Brevard's population reached 658,447 residents by July 2024, census records show. That represents a healthy 8.5% increase since April 2020. "Those of us who have been around a while have watched that growth continue," Brotemarkle said. "Over the past 60, 70 years, that growth has continued. And we see it every day. The Viera area, in particular: That used to be cow pasture. And now, it is many housing developments and restaurants and shopping malls. "Just amazing growth continuing today, from what started with NASA in the mid-20th century," he said. For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: U.S. Space Race rockets Brevard through decades of swift development
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canoe Financial announces changes to its mutual fund lineup
CALGARY, Alberta, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canoe Financial LP ('Canoe Financial') today announced changes to two of its investment funds. Fund name changes Effective June 20 2025, the following name changes will take effect: Canoe Defensive Global Balanced Fund will be renamed Canoe Fundamental Global Balanced Fund Canoe Canadian Small Mid Cap Portfolio Class will be renamed Canoe Fundamental Small Mid Cap Portfolio Class These changes reflect Canoe Financial's continued focus on clarity, precision and alignment between fund names and investment strategies. Canoe Fundamental Global Balanced FundThe new name reflects the fund's change in investment strategy to focus on fundamental, bottom-up security selection, in alignment with Canoe Financial's investment process. This change also removes the risk management overlay previously managed by Nalmont Capital Inc. ('Nalmont'). With the termination of the sub-advisory agreement with Nalmont, as it relates to Canoe Defensive Global Balanced Fund, Canoe Financial and Robert Taylor as its Chief Investment Officer, will be solely responsible for managing the fund's portfolio. Nalmont will continue to act as sub-advisor to Canoe Defensive Global Equity Fund, Canoe Defensive International Equity Fund and Canoe Defensive U.S. Equity Portfolio Class. Canoe Fundamental Small Mid Cap Portfolio ClassTo broaden the fund's opportunity set, the fund's investment strategy has been changed to increase the foreign equity exposure limit to 49%, up from its previous constraint of 30%. This change enhances the fund's ability to capitalize on attractive small- and mid-cap opportunities outside of Canada. The fund's new name reflects this added flexibility while maintaining its focus on high-conviction, actively managed small- and mid-cap equities. No changes have been made to the investment objectives of either Canoe Fundamental Global Balanced Fund or Canoe Fundamental Small Mid Cap Portfolio Class. About Canoe FinancialCanoe Financial is one of Canada's fastest growing independent mutual fund companies managing approximately $20.0 billion in assets across a diversified range of award-winning investment solutions. Founded in 2008, Canoe Financial is an employee-owned investment management firm focused on building financial wealth for Canadians. Canoe Financial has a significant presence across Canada, including offices in Calgary, Toronto and Montreal. ContactCanoe Financial LP1-877-434-2796info@ Disclaimer Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.
