Come and review The Evidence dates below
Welcome to this secret webpage. We’re investigating a cold case that continues to baffle us, a prime example of what we call a “high strangeness” encounter. We’re talking about the Sandown Clown Incident. This occurred on the Isle of Wight, specifically near the Sandown golf-links, on a Tuesday afternoon in May 1973.
Our primary witnesses were a seven-year-old girl, Fay, and another young boy. They were playing when they were alerted by a truly bizarre sound – a “weird, ambulance-siren-like wailing noise.” Following it to a swampy meadow, they came face-to-face with the subject of our investigation.
Fay described a figure nearly seven feet tall, with no discernible neck, a head “wedged straight onto his shoulders.” Its face had unusual triangular markings for eyes and motionless yellow lips. The attire was striking: a yellow, pointed hat, a green tunic with a red collar, and white trousers. And pay close attention to this detail: it had three-fingered blue-gloved hands and three-toed white feet. Hardly your typical local – I know in some areas that’s debatable.
The being was in a brook trying to retrieve a book. When he succeeded, he walked in a high-stepping manner back to a metallic shed. The two children watched him, transfixed. He eventually reappeared and communicated initially through a “black-knobbed microphone,” asking them if they were still there. He did this without moving his lips. Later the being pointed to some large writing and Fay read out, “Hello, and I am all colours Sam.” Now, the children didn’t seem bothered by his strange clobber and decided to go back with him to his metallic hut.
The metallic hut, had no windows, and inside were some wooden chairs and a fire. Fay described the interior as “wallpapered” in blue-green with a “pattern of dials” and a metallic floor – could the pattern of dials be a superior alien navigation system? Sam apparently told the children he had “just made the hut” – how did he do that? Alien technology? And that there were others like him. Who were they? So many questions. Sam then performed a baffling “berry-eating trick,” placing a berry in its ear only for it to appear at its eye and then mouth. It also claimed it could purify river water for consumption. Could this be evidence of alien technology to render human food palatable?
The encounter lasted for a significant period – thirty minutes or more. The children asked Sam if he was a ghost; he had very white skin, but he neither confirmed nor denied it. It was all good-natured, and the children weren’t scared. Eventually, they bid him goodbye. During this whole ‘strange charade,’ two workmen were nearby and reportedly saw nothing; however, they did chastise the children. Could it be that the event occurred within its own, separate reality bubble?
Perhaps that is the real mystery: How many Island workmen does it take to notice a 7ft, high-stepping, bizarrely-attired clown? It would seem more than two!
Adding another layer of intrigue, Fay’s father, Mr. Y, himself had prior, unrelated anomalous encounters on the Island in 1970, including a playful hide-and-seek UFO sighting in St Helens and strange “yellow eyes” in the sea at Compton Bay. Whether this makes Fay more receptive, or points to something else, is part of the puzzle.
So, clearly, we’re not dealing with a simple lost hiker or MIA carnival clown. This case defies easy categorisation, containing elements that resonate across a spectrum of theories. To frame our investigation, we’ve outlined several hypotheses that we need you to explore thoroughly:
A Ghostly Encounter Was Sam a spirit, perhaps stuck in limbo, only perceptible to certain individuals?
A Costumed Figure/Hoax Was this a human, albeit peculiar, in disguise, perhaps pulling an elaborate prank? One of My Y’s friend’s having a laugh or maybe Fay made it up as she knew her dad was a believer?
An Extraterrestrial Being Does the non-human anatomy, advanced technology, and strange behaviour point to an off-world visitor?
A Frightened, Alienated Outsider Could Sam have been a lonely, marginalised individual, whose appearance and social awkwardness were misinterpreted? Another type of alien.
An Alice in Wonderland Dream? Was the entire “sighting” a powerful, symbolic dream experienced by Fay, much like a personal wonderland? A cheese dream? Or was it shroom season?
And finally, for a less conventional, perhaps more… showbiz line of inquiry, let’s consider the pop star connection. Ringo Starr and David Essex were both right here on the Island in 1973, filming That’ll Be The Day. We know Ringo had an interest in clowns and even sported clown makeup on occasion. He had a penchant for platform shoes. If you refer to the description of Sam, could his antennae be wooden drumsticks? And David Essex’s character in the film famously throws his books into a stream – a bizarre echo of our Sandown Clown’s own encounter with a book in the water. Could Sam have been a celebrity, caught in a moment of eccentric research or OTT method acting? It’s a fun wild card to ponder, especially considering David and Ringo’s heated conversation about clowns witnessed at The Stag in Lake.
Your mission is to dive into the details, weigh the probabilities, and challenge your own assumptions. We need fresh eyes on this. The evidence board is now open. We’ve compiled all known information, eyewitness statements, and relevant context. Take your time. Discuss among yourselves. Look for connections, discrepancies, and anything that jumps out. We’ll reconvene to discuss your findings. Good luck, detectives.
The Evidence Board is open:
Friday 11 July 11am-7pm
Saturday 12 July 11am-5pm
Friday 18 July 11am -5pm
Saturday 19 11am-5pm
Friday 25 July 11am-5pm
Saturday 26 July 11am-5pm
Friday 1 August 11am-5pm then Open View 6.30pm-8pm with project talk.
Saturday 2 August 11am – 5pm
Historian, folklore expert and author, Paul AT Wilson is presenting The Mystery of the Sandown Clown (Declassified) at Bembridge Fort on 9th August, 6:30pm. This is an in-depth examination with the country’s leading authority on the sighting. You can get tickets here
Any new leads, please email: boojumandsnark@gmail.com
Detective Superintendent T and Detective Inspector T (TnT)
TnT would like to thank Tad Avery for his expert counsel on this case.
The Evidence is part of the Arts Council supported project Sandown Rocks, a 12 month programme that explores myths, local phenomena and utopian versions of Sandown #IrisManifesto #SandownRocks #InspiredbySandown
