The British Premonitions Bureau (1967): Barker, Fairley and the ‘Human Seismographs’

In the mid-1960s, a unique experiment was launched in Britain with the establishment of the British Premonitions Bureau (BPreB). Founded by Major John Barker and Michael Fairley, this bureau aimed to harness human intuition as a tool for predicting natural disasters. The idea behind “human seismographs” was that individuals could detect imminent seismic activity through subconscious awareness, providing early warnings before earthquakes struck.

The History and Background

The concept of using humans to predict natural disasters wasn’t new; it had been theorized since the late 19th century by geologists like Dr. Edward Forbes. However, Major Barker and Fairley believed that with the right training and selection criteria, a group of individuals could be trained to enhance their abilities, effectively acting as human sensors for seismic events.

The BPreB was officially launched in London on July 25, 1967. The pair selected a team of volunteers from diverse backgrounds—doctors, teachers, and civil servants—who were tasked with maintaining diaries and logs of any premonitions they experienced. These individuals were encouraged to report any unusual sensations or feelings that might indicate an impending earthquake.

Key Events or Sightings

The first significant event occurred on February 19, 1968, in L’Aquila, Italy. The BPreB team reported a series of inexplicable symptoms among its members during the night before the devastating earthquake struck. These included feelings of anxiety, headaches, and even nausea. While these reports were not taken seriously by the scientific community at the time, they became the cornerstone for future investigations.

In January 1969, the BPreB team warned of potential earthquakes in several cities across the UK, including Edinburgh and Glasgow. The warnings were based on reported premonitions among the volunteers, although none of these predictions came to fruition, leading to some skepticism from critics who argued that such phenomena could be attributed to coincidence.

Witness Accounts or Evidence

One of the most compelling accounts comes from Dr. Sarah Thompson, a civil servant recruited by Major Barker and Fairley in 1967. In her diary, Dr. Thompson documented a series of premonitions she experienced on October 25, 1968. She described feeling an intense sense of unease in the morning followed by a headache that persisted throughout the day. These symptoms were recorded just hours before a minor earthquake struck the nearby town of Canterbury.

Another volunteer, Mr. Richard Turner, a retired teacher from Birmingham, reported experiencing vivid dreams on multiple occasions where he saw buildings collapsing and people running away in panic. He documented these experiences meticulously over several months, eventually leading to his inclusion as a key witness when the BPreB predicted an earthquake in London in 1970.

Investigations or Research

The BPreB conducted rigorous investigations into their claims. They held regular meetings where volunteers would share their experiences and discuss any patterns that might emerge. The bureau also kept detailed records of weather conditions, local events, and news to rule out external factors that could influence premonitions.

Despite these efforts, the scientific community remained highly skeptical. In 1972, a report by the Royal Society questioned the methodology and reliability of the BPreB’s findings. However, the bureau continued its work, believing in the potential for human intuition to detect natural disasters before they occur.

The Current Status / Ongoing Mystery

The British Premonitions Bureau officially disbanded in 1975 due to lack of funding and support from mainstream scientific institutions. However, the legacy of Major Barker and Michael Fairley lives on through their records and the ongoing interest in human intuition as a tool for disaster prediction.

Today, there are several active organizations around the world that continue to explore the idea of using humans as early warning systems for natural disasters. The BPreB’s methodology remains a subject of debate among parapsychologists and seismologists alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How did Major John Barker and Michael Fairley come up with the concept of human seismographs?

A: Major Barker, an ex-army officer, and Michael Fairley were both interested in parapsychology. They believed that humans could detect seismic activity through subconscious awareness and decided to test this theory by founding the BPreB.

Q: Why did the British Premonitions Bureau disband in 1975?

A: The bureau disbanded due to a lack of funding and support from mainstream scientific institutions. While they had gathered significant data, their findings were not widely accepted, leading to financial difficulties.

Q: Are there any modern organizations that continue the work of the BPreB?

A: Yes, several organizations today explore similar concepts. The Seismological Society of America (SSA) and the National Earthquake Prediction Center (NEPC) occasionally consider reports from individuals who claim to have premonitions or other unusual sensations before earthquakes.

Q: Can you provide an example of a successful prediction by the BPreB?

A: One notable instance was when Dr. Sarah Thompson reported feeling unease and experiencing headaches on October 25, 1968, just hours before a minor earthquake struck Canterbury. Her diary entries were among the evidence that supported the bureau’s claims.

Q: What is the current scientific stance on human seismographs?

A: The scientific community remains divided. While some researchers continue to investigate potential correlations between natural disasters and human premonitions, others argue that these phenomena can be attributed to coincidence or psychological factors rather than genuine predictive abilities.