This article was published in the daily newspaper Highland News, Inverness, Scotland, on January 9, 2003.
GRAMPIAN TV’S People Show presenter Chris Harvey had a close encounter of his own when he spent a night under the Wester Ross stars with UFO spotter Derek Lauder.
Derek had been using his torch to signal skywards in the hope of a response, when the pair got just that.
Said Chris: "The hairs were standing up on the back on my neck when somethingflashed back. I was really spooked. I have never seen anything like that in my life."
Chris met Derek at his caravan home in the remote West Highland village of Aultbea and soon discovered his fascination with the night sky. Derek spends every clear evening looking upwards for UFOs and claims he can make contact with UFOs using his flash light.
"I would love to go on one of these craft and travel to other parts and meet other people."
"I believe there are people from other planets here now – they walk among us and look the same," he says.
Derek, who keeps his special signalling codes secret, used to keep records of all his sightings, but doesn’t bother anymore because he says they are now a nightly occurrence.
"If anyone is going to meet the extra terrestrial – it’s Derek," predicts Chris.
Also on the first programme in the new series of The People Show are the Perth girl who wants to throw her way to becoming the world darts champion and the young Forfar pianist being tipped to become the next Bobby Crush. (etc...)
