Episode 109: The Solway Spaceman
In 1964, a firefighter in Cumbria was surprised when a photo snapped on a weekend trip revealed a strange figure behind his young daughter—and ignited an international mystery that stretched far beyond Solway Firth.
Written, Researched, and Hosted by Laurah Norton
Additional Research by Anna Luria
Engineered and Produced by Maura Currie
Episode Intel:
In this investigation, we look back at one of the most famous and hotly debated photographs in the history of the unexplained. Taken in May of 1964 on the salt marshes of Burgh Marsh in Cumbria, England, the image captured by firefighter Jim Templeton appears to show an impossible figure standing behind his five-year-old daughter.
Subjects of Investigation:
The Kodak Analysis: An examination of the technical review performed by the Kodak company, including their standing reward for anyone who could prove the negative had been tampered with.
The Blue Streak Missile Connection: We explore the reported link between the Solway photograph and an aborted missile launch on the other side of the world in Australia.
Geographical Significance: The proximity of the sighting to the Anthorn Radio Station and the Calder Hall nuclear facility, leading to local theories regarding surveillance.
The Skeptical Perspective: A look at modern photographic analysis that suggests a "missing 30 percent" in the camera’s viewfinder and the role of overexposed film.
The Men in Black Encounter: We analyze the strange 1960s visit reported by Jim Templeton involving two unidentified men in a black Jaguar and the potential "leg pull" that followed.
Archival Records: A review of reports from the BBC, the Daily Mirror, and local Cumbrian newspapers that documented the event as it transitioned from a family snapshot to a global phenomenon.
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Works Cited
Jim Templeton’s Photo, 1964 (Public Domain)
Simon Armstrong, “The Mystery of. . .” BBC, 2014.
N/A, “Picture of a Man. . . “ The Daily Mirror, 1964.
Dr. David Clarke, “The Solway Spaceman. . . “ Dr. David Clark, 2014.
Matthew O’Hara, “Solway Spaceman Mystery. . .” The News and Star, 2024.
A Thompson, “Famous UFO Sightings. . .” (Archived), The Whitehaven News, 2005.
N/A, “The Mystery of. . .” The Financial News, 2018.
Paul Baldwin, “The Alien Men. . .” The People, 1997.
The Lovecraft Investigations (BBC Radio 4), “Eight Unsolved British. . .” BBC, 2025.
N/A, “Rocket Clue to Spaceman.” The Daily Mail, 2002.
How Stuff Works, “Men In Black.” HowStuffWorks, 2023.
Office of Nuclear Regulation, Chapelcross
The Institution of Civil Engineers, Caldwell Plant
Heritage Gateway: Anthorn Airfield
Anthorn, Military Wiki
James Conrad, bio