The Australasian Ufologist Magazine 4/2003 [antikvár]

EditorialGORDON CREIGHTON GRAHAM W. BIRDSALLHere is a brief biography of the late Gordon Creighton written and forwarded to me by Paul Whitehead, FSR Director, July 16th 2003. It was approved by Philip Creighton, Gordon's son."Gordon Creighton, who died peacefully with his family at his bedside on July 16th, was bom in 1908. His first years were spent on a farm, in Hertfordshire (near where he will be buried, just outside Rickmansworth, in the cemetery where his wife, Joan, is buried).He ran around bare foot for a few years, on the farm - with his grandfather standing in for his parents. He used to drink milk straight from cows - which is how he contracted tuberculosis. His friend died from the disease, but Gordon survived after an operation.When he did eventually go to school (age 11?), it was discovered that he had a bent for being multilingual and academic. This combination led him to a career in the diplomatic service, with elements of the secret service thrown in.He never learned to drive a car, as his job - which took him to Brazil and China and the US - came with chauffeur driven cars.He had some lucky turns. He survived the very heavy shelling/bombing of Shanghai by the Japanese in the 1930s. He had to leave China, and went to Sydney. A ship that he was due to leave on for England (but didn't) sank en route - sunk by the Germans, after WWII had started. He instead caught a boat that sailed east from Sydney, to South America. This sailed up the east coast of South America; Gordon had to disembark (in Brazil, I think) and was airlifted to the US because he was very ill. In a storm, the ship that he had been on broke up, with large or total loss of life; not surprising, the ship was in fact the front and rear sections of two other ships that had been welded together and was thus inherently weak, structurally.Gordon worked in the UK for the UK government for some years. His interest in UFOs had been aroused in China in the 1930s, if my memory serves me, and he eventually joined Flying Saucer Review (FSR), where his multilinguism and very sharp memory were to prove very useful for many years.I first met Gordon (and his wife) in 1984. I remember on several occasions - during (very stimulating) discussions on religion, the meaning of life, philosophies and ufology - when he would say Oand this is mentioned on page xxx in XXX book' - and he would go to his vast array of books and take down a book and show me thepage he was referring to. Or he would refer to an obscure back issue of FSR, and show it to me.Gordon will be remembered for his vast knowledge of philosophies and religions, and of the ufo/'flying saucer '/'alien' subject, and his sense of humour. He will be remembered by many people for his interests outside of Ufology - religion and politics, for example, and his continued interest in China - her culture, religions and politics. And he will have been pleased to know that his resting place will be so close to his beloved adopted home town of Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire.Gordon leaves twin children -Philip and Roz. Philip will be known to readers of FSR for the work he has undertaken - and continues to undertake - for the magazine."Ironically, on the 19th September 2003, at 5.05am Graham W. Birdsall suffered a heart failure. Graham died just two days after undergoing a seven hour operation following his recent brain haemorrhage. His wife Christine and daughters were by his side.Within two months two very well known ufologists parted this earth. They both will be missed.Cheers3 THE AUSTRAUSIAN UFOLOGISTwww.contactpubLishing.comVOL.7 4.