Chance Encounters in the Valley of Lights by Rik Moran

Chance Encounters in the Valley of Lights tells the story of an unsolved extraterrestrial case from 1980s Todmorden, West Yorkshire.

Photographer Rik Moran combines original imagery with never-before-seen archival material to investigate the possible alien abduction of PC Alan Godfrey.

Moran grew up just a few miles from Todmorden.

Chance Encounters in the Valley of Lights uses his original photography, bolstered by archival material, to reappraise his childhood’s strangest story.

The curious case of PC Alan Godfrey

Todmorden’s ancient standing stones and intricate local folklore have long proclaimed the West Yorkshire market town a site of strange happenings.

In more recent years, it has become famous for its abundant UFO sightings.

But even among such singular company, there’s one story that stands out.

On June 11, 1980, the body of miner Zygmunt Adamski was found in a Todmorden yard.

He had no visible injuries. None, that is, except for a mark – perhaps a burn – on the back of his neck and head.

Coroner James Turnbull’s report cited a heart attack as Adamski’s cause of death but recorded an open verdict.

Later, he would describe the case as ‘quite the most mysterious death I have investigated in 12 years’.

Yet the plot was about to thicken further.

Six months after being assigned to the investigation, PC Alan Godfrey recalled an unusual episode.

In the early hours of November 29, 1980, Godfrey was investigating reports of cattle roaming a nearby estate.

He claimed to have seen a large dome-shaped object.

Blinded by a flash of light, he came to his senses 100 yards away and with 25 ‘missing’ minutes to account for.

When he returned home Godfrey realised his left boot was split. He had an itchy red mark, perhaps a burn, on his foot.

Chance Encounters in the Valley of Lights

Moran first heard Godfrey’s curious tale when his father brought home a newspaper.

His original work focuses on the landscape of Todmorden, immersing the reader into the unearthly atmosphere of rural England.

The case is explored through the use of archival material, including transcripts of interviews, hypnosis sessions and police reports.

Chance Encounters in the Valley of Lights is available to buy from centrecentre.co.uk.

A limited edition, complete with a silver cover and a visual bibliography booklet inserted into the small run, is also available.

Find out more about Rik Moran at rikmoranphoto.com.

Moran is taking over Spectrum’s Instagram account until tomorrow (April 1).