Is Upperthorpe in Sheffield the UK's new extra-terrestrial hotspot? This group thinks so...

Taken in Upperthorpe at around 8pm on May 27 2019, Upperthorpe UFO group thinks this could be a genuine UFO sighting

“I know that’s what a lot of people think and say, but it’s not who we are.

“The strange activity in Upperthorpe is growing, so we’re simply asking questions, and keeping an open mind.”

The man who goes simply by X13 launched the social media page six months ago, which now has a loyal community of around 100 members.

The photo taken in 1962 by then 14-year-old Alex Birch

“We’ve all had similar experiences and sightings,” says X13

“Bright flashes, zipping lights in the sky, strange feelings, and unexplained tremors.

“We decided to create a place where we could all come together to share our experiences and theories.

“We definitely feel that Upperthorpe is fast-becoming one of the UK’s UFO hotspots.”

Taken in Upperthorpe at around 3.30am on May 25 2019, Upperthorpe UFO group identified this unusual trail of lights in the sky

It’s been nearly 60 years since a 14-year-old schoolboy claimed to have photographed five low-flying UFOs in the skies above Sheffield.

The world’s media flocked, and the grainy image was splashed in newspapers and magazines across the globe in 1962. The teenage Alex Birch was even taken to the Air Ministry in London where he was questioned by the MOD and the print was examined by experts.

Now in his 70s, Alex still maintains the image is genuine. So, was it? Did the boy misunderstand what he was seeing? Or was it all an elaborate hoax?

These are among the questions that Sheffield’s community of UFO enthusiasts are still asking to this day.

“To be clear, we’re not saying aliens definitely exist,” X13 explains.

“We’re simply saying there are a lot of unexplained events and experiences, and we’re asking people to keep an open mind.

“It’s a very big universe just for us, and there are so many things we’ve seen and heard that just don’t add up.”

At this, X13 pulls out a battered black notebook bearing the words ‘UFO Spotters book,’ and a doodle of a cartoon alien spacecraft on the cover.

“I’ve been keeping notes since I was a kid,” says the 20-something.

“I’m definitely a UFO enthusiast, and if I see zipping lights in the sky, or a green flash, I make a note.

“The instances have definitely gathered pace recently.”

According to X13, many members of the group feel that the majority of potentially extra-terrestrial activity in the suburb centres around The Ponderosa park, while others identify the former Sheffield Ski Village as the source.

“Everybody has an opinion,” he says.

“One theory is that there are some sort of ancient ruins under The Ponderosa park, and that’s what’s attracting this UFO activity.

“We would like to see an excavation of the park take place, to see if there’s anything down there.”

X13 even admits that he won’t walk in the park after 6pm, for fear of being abducted.

“I trust that instinct, as most extra-terrestrial activity happens after 6pm,” he says.

“I’ve spoken with people who believe they’ve been abducted.

“I may or may not have been abducted, I can’t remember, a lot of people have their memories wiped.

“I also may have seen a UFO, I’m about 90 per cent sure, but it’s so hard to tell, because they use cloaking devices, so the only time you’re actually going to see something is if it malfunctions.

“I’ve certainly had a strange experience…” he trails off, unwilling to elaborate.

Fellow founding member Dick Plottington, who lives near The Ponderosa, has similar stories to tell.

His windowsill is littered with journals - his ‘spotters books’ - and a camera which he uses to capture things he sees in the night sky.

“I think there’s something out there, there has to be, surely, and I want to prove it,” he says.

“I’ve taken two photos recently which have been sent to a team in America for analysis, and we’re keen to hear what they have to say about them.”

Dick has been suffering with headaches and, more recently, nosebleeds which he feels are related to the amount of extra-terrestrial activity in Upperthorpe.

He also claims to have experienced blanks in his memory.

“There’s this prominent theory within our UFO society, drawing a link between the number of times the ski village has burned down, and possible UFO sightings,” he says.

“We have no proof and ultimately that’s what we all want – the evidence.

“We’re not asking people to take us at our word, we want answers.

“As regards proof, I think we’re heading in the right direction, and we won’t give up.”

But despite the seriousness with which the group regards the goings-on in Upperthorpe, both members also insists UFO-spotting can just be a bit of fun.

X13 says: “We have a UFO headquarters in Upperthorpe, and we like to camp out sometimes with our binoculars, and see if we can spot anything.”

At this, his smile drops slightly, as he adds: “Of course sometimes it gets a bit scary, you don’t want to get too close.”

Among the theories the group discusses are those of intergalactic governments, the true purpose of the pyramids, 5G phone masts being used to block alien signals, and the idea that the symptoms of Covid-19 could in fact be the result of ionising rays caused by low-hovering UFOs.

“There are always theories flying around, like are we actually in lockdown because of the amount of alien activity, and too many abductions to keep up with?

“People love to ridicule and debunk the things we say, and of course I understand it, it is kind of silly, and hard to get your head around,” X13 admits.

“The truth is I’m no expert on aliens or UFOs, and I know nothing for sure, so I would just tell people to trust their instincts.

“I do think it would be cool to be the first person to meet an alien and remember it, to be that first initial point of contact.”

And the best thing we can all do, adds Dick, is keep our eyes on the skies.

So, is the truth really out there?

According to these guys, it may be closer than we think.

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