The Premonitions Bureau
Summary
This episode explores the 1966 Aberfan disaster and the subsequent "Premonitions Bureau" established by psychiatrist John Barker and journalist Peter Fairley to investigate claims of psychic foresight. Drawing from Sam Knight’s book, the story details how individuals like Lorna Middleton and Alan Hensher reported visions of the tragedy, leading to a year-long experiment that logged thousands of premonitions.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Sixpenny sustainable clothing
The morning of the Aberfan disaster
History of Aberfan and coal waste piles
The landslide and immediate aftermath
Community response and public grief
Blame and the failure of the National Coal Board
John Barker's arrival and initial observations
Early reports of premonitions
Sponsor: Talkiatry mental health services
Profile of Lorna Middleton
Profile of Alan Hensher
Barker's background and the nocebo effect
Launching the Premonitions Bureau
Operations and goals of the Bureau
The Montreux plane crash prediction
Sponsors: Bombas and Quince
The Soyuz 1 astronaut crash prediction
Train derailment and one-year results
Warnings regarding John Barker's safety
Legacy and conclusion of the experiment
Credits and show information
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