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ISSUE 7ISSUE 7ISSUE 7
MEDIUMSHIP
PARANORMAL PAGES
TEAM FEATURE
INTO THE VOID
& MORE INSIDE.
Here we are, 7 issue strong and
doing pretty well, again we would
like to thank all of our readers and
contributors for your amazing
support, this wouldn't be here if it
wasn't for all of you.
Its that time of year when the
nights are drawing in and we have
more hours of darkness to do what
we all enjoy the most.
It is also getting closer to what is
promising to be the event not to be
missed, PARACON UK.
November 22nd & 23rd at Derby
Conference Centre, it is going to
be one amazing weekend.
Paranormal experts from many
fields will be attending, giving
lectures, answering your questions
and giving advice.
Everything the paranormal
investigator could possibly want
will be there all under one roof.
Meet other investigators from
teams from all around the country
and share the passion we have
for the paranormal.
There will be amazing prizes to
be won throughout the whole
weekend, family fun and parties.
The whole weekend and all the
money raised will be donated to
two great charities, Troop Aid
and Wounded Warrior so come
on paranormal world this isn't
just a chance to get together with
others investigators this is a
chance to support our wounded
heroes, lets get behind this
fantastic event, lets,
UNITE TO HONOUR.
Mediumship Past Hauntings medium
Kevin explores the
different forms of
mediumship.
Clairvoyance.
A person with this type of ability
can see things not apparent to
others, like receiving a vision of
events or a visual impression
about a person.
This ability is often combined
with others and is the most
common.
Clairsentience.
This is the ability to receive
impression that are more feeling
in nature.
Psychics associated with this
ability are called empaths
because they can feel the
emotions of others.
Clairaudience.
This is the ability to hear things
that are outside the normal
hearing range.
This can be persons who have
passed on or a spirit guide.
A famous Clairaudient is John
Edwards.
Telekinesis (or Psychokinesis)
This is the ability to move
objects without physical
intervention.
This is a very rare ability and
even the greats of this ability are
questioned in terms of
authenticity. One of those
people is Uri Geller, a world
renowned spoon bender.
To the disbelief of sceptics
though, he's shown that he can
bend metal objects, such as
spoons and forks, from great
distances and in several
locations.
And even more strange, is that
people who are near him or
can hear him while he does his
bending can have this ability
temporarily.
Psychometry.
This is the technique used by
psychics by which they pick up
energy patterns from a physical
object.
We have our own
electromagnetic properties and
can leave these impressions,
like fingerprints, on objects.
A psychic using this technique
will have subtle enough
sensitivity to pick up those
energy fields. This is why
psychics like to use objects that
were a "favorite" of the person
in question, like a hat, ring, or
something that only they
generally touched.
When other people touch
objects, they too leave behind
their energy imprint which can
dilute the reading.
Another example of psychometry
are people who use Tarot cards
or other tools of divination.
They place their hands on the
cards, and let the subconscious
mind send energy signals back
through the hand. This is not to
be confused with electrokinesis
which is the ability to produce
and expel electricity from our
own body.
Remote Viewing.
This is the ability to see, hear or
feel target locations unknown to
the viewer.
This was established by the
military and they wished to
differentiate it from the label of
'psychic' because it followed
strict protocols and the target
was often blind (meaning
unknown).
It can involve all of the psychic
senses and is associated with the
term bi-location which means
the viewer can actually
experience a hyper reality,
as if they were there on location
with the target.
Some advanced viewers have
even claimed that they can
interact with the target, such as
swimming in a lake, having a
conversation with a person
(dead or alive) and so on.
Kevin Cohen
Spiritualist Medium
PARANORMAL PAGES
Ghost Excavations
We survey and “excavate”
abandoned sites, re-configured
places (changed functionalities),
and landscapes of rubble to
determine “what” and “who”
may remain from the past in the
form of non-visual sensory
modalities. We begin with a
“baseline” of “this happened
here” (as ethno-history) and what
individuals occupied these
spaces (as biographical data).
Using storyboards and
contextual performance practices
(as cultural entanglements), we
immerse ourselves into past
fields of memory, “unearthing”
presences through ethnographic
resonance, and recording what
materializes. Behaviors, objects,
historical narratives, and past
ethnographic situations are used
to “trigger” particular layers of
memory. We also use material
“recovered”, through
archaeological means, at the site
as “triggers”.
Our goal is to recover what past
functions, meanings (“semiotics”),
and human aspects remain (from
all past occupations) that are not
part of the contemporary ruin or
rubble.
A “ghost excavation” is an attempt
to “open-up” the process to
perceive/sense/record other
realities of presence. The basic
unit of “recovered” material
remain is the “afterlife sensory
materializing artifact”.
An “afterlife sensory materializing
artifact” (A.M.S.A.) is one that is
recorded in more than one venue
by more than one individual,
simultaneously, during a
“controlled” and contextual
performance practice, and that
materialization represents,
mimics, alludes to, incorporates,
or is entangled with a known past
layer of presence pertaining to
situation, event, or individual that
occurred (or occupied)
The ‘’Ghost Excavation Team’’
a particular space at a specific
time in the place that we are
investigating. This “A.M.S.A.”
becomes the baseline from which
hypotheses are developed and
tested as to what social
entanglements remain from
multiple layers of past presence.
Now follows the biographies of
the various members of this
fascinating team.
Biographical Data on
John Sabol
John Sabol is an archaeologist,
cultural anthropologist, and actor.
As an archaeologist, he has
documented and recorded the
manifestations of past
soundscapes at various ruins and
sites of rubble and destruction in
England, Mexico, and multiple
sites in the U.S. He has written
28 books on his fieldwork and
methodology called
“Ghost Excavations”.
As an actor, he has appeared in
such 80’s blockbuster films as
“Dune”, “Rambo 2”, “Conan the
Destroyer” and the James Bond
film, “License to Kill”.
He is the director, and
co-producer, along with Mary
Becker, of several documentaries
that are accounts of immersions
into past ethnographic
soundscapes at sites perceived to
be haunted by past presence.
He has developed numerous
scripts and storyboards for these
documentaries.
He has presented these
documentaries at various
scientific conferences and
popular culture expositions in
Europe, Canada, and the USA.
He has spoken at such varied
venues as the Space and Place
Conference in Prague, Czech
Republic, a conference on
liminal landscapes at the Royal
Geographic Society in London,
Exploring the Extraordinary
Conferences in York (UK) and
Gettysburg College (USA),
Conference on European
History (University of Canter-
bury, UK), the ASSAP Seriously
Strange Conference (University
of Bath, UK), the GHost
Conference (London, UK), the
CHAT Archaeological
Conference (York, UK), TAG
(Theoretical Archaeology Group)
Conferences at Berkeley
(California), University of Illinois
(Champagne-Urbana), University
of Buffalo (New York), the
Popular Culture of Canada
Conference (Niagara Falls,
Canada), and the Society for
Mexican Architects (Mexico
City). He has also appeared in the
TV series, “Paranormal State” as
an investigative consultant for
haunted American Civil War
battlefields.
John Sabol
John Sabol Filming At The ‘’Daniel Lady Farm’’
Biographical Data on
Mary Becker
Mary Becker is the researcher,
operator, and case manager for
C.A.S.P.E.R. Research Center.
Mary is also the organizer and
contact person for Ghost
Excavation©™ investigations as
well as the co-organizer and
co-host, along with John Sabol, for
their “Ghost Excavation
Conference”.
She assembles, edits, co-directs,
and co-produces, along with John
Sabol, for John’s lectures and
presentations of documentaries
that showcase his work of sites
perceived to be haunted by past
presence. Mary and John travel
the U.S.A., Canada, and Europe
to present these documentaries
and presentations.
She is the editor and publisher
of Ghost Excavation Books, Inc.
™©
She has made guest appearances
on international radio and
internet talk shows discussing
their work on Ghost
Excavations.
Mary is the storyboard
continuity assistant and
performs in scenarios on the
“Ghost Excavation” team.
Mary Becker as ‘’Storyboard Continuity Assistant’’
(Mike Stevenson in the background)
Biographical Data
on Renee Cannon
Renee has been actively
investigating for over 12 years.
She prefers investigating sites with
layers of history, especially social
history.
She is a retired Emergency
Medical Technician/Firefighter
(EMT/FF) and presently works as
a film and TV makeup artist.
She has extensively investigated
haunted sites in Europe.
She is the makeup artist and
costume designer for the Ghost
Excavation team.
Renee Cannon
Jonathon Williams in the foreground
Renee Cannon in the background
Biographical Data on
Matt James
Matt started in the field in 2001
as an Urban Explorer.
The highlight of this time
period was when, in 2003, he
was able to urban explore the
Tower of London during the
Changing of the Keys.
Around 2010, he started toying
with the idea of a much more
theatrical style of Ghost
Hunting. He has a double
major in History and Theatre.
Currently, he is a period
performer with the “Ghost
Excavation” team.
Matt James
Biographical Data
on Alex Matsuo
While Alex is an actor,
dramaturg, and playwright by
day, she is also a paranormal
researcher, investigator, and
radio personality by
night.
After doing solo investigation
and research work since 2002,
and 4 months after graduating
with her Master’s degree in
Theatre Arts, Alex founded her
own team in 2011 called the
Association of Paranormal
Study, which is a solutions-based
group specializing in private
home investigations and
consultations. Two years since
its inception, APS has grown to
three branches based in
San Diego, CA, Raleigh, NC,
and Uniontown, PA.
She is also an honorary member
of Evermore Paranormal in
Virginia.
She has taken courses with Loyd
Auerbach, and has been
fortunate enough to have had the
opportunity to be a part of the
Ghost Excavation team with
John Sabol and Mary Becker.
Alex recently was a part of the
ghost excavation at the Daniel
Alex Matsuo (John giving direction for the next scenario)
Alex is also a paranormal radio
host, earning herself a Shorty
Award nomination in 2013 She is
currently the host of the radio
show, ParaNation, which airs
bi-weekly on Sundays at 6pm
PT/9pm ET as well as The
Wicked Domain on Live
Paranormal/History.FM Sundays
bi-weekly at 6pm PT/9pm ET.
Alex currently speaks and writes
on numerous topics from basic
paranormal concepts to advanced
theory and methodology.
2014 also marked the publication
of Alex's first book, "The Haunted
Actor". She is currently working on
two more books, one being about
how to approach client
investigations, which will be
released later this fall.
Alex Matsuo
(Herman ‘’Mike’’
Stevenson in the
foreground)
Biographical on
Herman (MIKE)
Stevenson, M.S.
Herman (Mike) Stevenson has a
long history in the paranormal.
Being a curious person and
having a thirst for knowledge,
Mr. Stevenson read all he could
on the unknown, while studying
and pursuing a career in
electrical engineering.
He received a bachelor’s degree
in science from The University
of Pennsylvania and soon after a
Masters degree in informational
systems from The University of
Phoenix.
In 2011 he started a Scientific
Paranormal Research
Organization known as,
“The Paranormal Man”,
www.TheParanormalMan.com.
In 2012 he started a Meet-Up
group for research and training of
others following his techniques,
“The Investigators League”.
Currently, Mr. Stevenson is the
tech specialist for the “Ghost
Excavation” team.
Biographical Data on
Brian Parsons
Dr. Brian D. Parsons began
researching parapsychology and
ghost research in late 1996 and
formed the Ohio Paranormal
Investigation Network in early
1997.
Brian has published five books to
date; three on paranormal
investigation and team basics, one
on his unique “E4” Method of
client-based investigations, and his
latest effort, “Handbook for the
Amateur Cryptozoologist”,
released in early 2014 was
featured in the July/August 2014
edition of Sceptical Inquirer.
Brian created the “E4” Method
of client-cantered ghost
investigation by using a sceptical
foundation, parapsychology,
psychical research, psychology,
in-depth interviewing, methods
of his own design, as well as the
Ghost Excavation methodology
created and crafted by John
Sabol.
Brian received a PhD from the
Institute of Metaphysical
Humanistic Science in 2013.
Brian Parsons
Brian began working with John
Sabol shortly after hearing him
speak about the Ghost Excavation
methodology at a convention in
Ohio in late 2009.
John and Brian worked together
on a joint Ghost Excavation on a
historical home used by Brian’s
group as a research facility.
Brian appeared at both of John’s
Ghost Excavation Conventions in
2012 and 2013 and recently
worked with him at the Daniel
Lady Farm in Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania.
Biographical Data on
Brandy Williams
Brandy’s great-grandparents were
spiritualists and members of the
Daffodil Society investigating
paranormal events in their local
area.
That legacy has been passed
down to her. She is an empath
with psychic abilities.
Her specialty is paranormal
research throughout history. She
co-authored the book “Just Me:
A Guide to Professional Ghost
Research” with her husband
Jonathan and she recently
published a paranormal
auto-biography.
She is the former curator/co-
owner of the International
Museum of Spiritual
Investigations which was based
in Gettysburg, PA.
Brandy Williams
(John Sabol in the background)
Beyond Parazine would like to
thank John Sabol for this
fascinating insight into the
‘’Ghost Excavations’’ team and
it’s members.
You can hear John Sabol speak
and get the chance to ask
questions at this years Paracon
UK event being held at Derby
Conference Centre, Derby UK
on the 22nd & 23rd of
November.
Into the VoidInto the VoidInto the Void What is the lifeblood for
paranormal investigators?
What keeps us going and
brings us together with each
other?
Apart from the obvious answer
of a common interest in the
spirit world there is something
else that unfortunately seems
to be getting harder and harder to
source, yes its venues, those
wonderful places with numerous
reports of ghosts and demons
wandering around inside them
waiting for the next bunch of
investigators to come in and look
for them.
Now this is were the problem
begins, we all have our favorite
venues to investigate but recently
things seem to be changing,
prices seem to be getting out of
reach for the intrepid
paranormal team.
I am sure we have all heard the
familiar answer on the other end
of the phone when calling places
to check availability, ‘’sorry but
we only deal with ……. now, they
have exclusivity’’.
Exclusivity!! How can anyone
claim to have exclusivity on a
venue, are the spirits there their
own private ghosts??
Due to this practice there are
now less and less venues
available to hire for the
paranormal investigators to
share the cost and get to meet
each other.
We are all aware of the high
costs of hiring venues, but why
do they charge as much as they
do?
Is it because of the massive rise
in interest in the paranormal and
they know they can get away with
it, or is it because big event
companies are willing to pay the
prices because they easily cover
it along with nice profits due to
some crazy ticket prices?
Don’t get me wrong here, this
isn't about having a dig at the big
companies, everyone in business
is there to make a living but
more and more of these
companies are springing up, all
claiming to offer the ‘best’
experience, but also seemingly
they are monopolising venues,
a recent search showed that
between three such companies
14 venues were booked for
Halloween, yes 14 venues
between 3 companies!!
Is that because Halloween is
thought to be the best night for
an investigation or is it just
simply cashing in on the most
popular date in the calendar?
Are regular paranormal
investigators gradually being
pushed out of these places
unless they pay to go on an
event with one of these
companies, which compromises
their aim of doing a ‘real’
investigation due to being
herded around with members of
the public.
New ‘event’ companies are
springing up every week at the
moment, perhaps to cash in on
the rise in popularity? Or is that
being too cynical?
With no regulations apart from
most venues requiring them to
have public liability insurance
anyone can set up their ‘event
company’ and sell tickets, we
have all surely heard of the
practice of people selling tickets
for venues that they haven't even
booked, just to see if they can
make enough money before
committing to the booking, or
worst still having no intention
of ever booking a venue, they wait
until the last minute then cancel
the event and pocket everyone's
deposits.
We have seen and heard the
stories on social media and the
press concerning a ‘event
company’ that is being sued
concerning an event they hosted,
surely this begs the question as to
why there are no real regulations
on who can run a paranormal
event business.
Of course there are professionally
run companies out there hosting
events but for every good one
there sadly seems to be more bad
ones.
Due to the ever increasing
number of companies out there
all vying for venues, more and
more are getting the dreaded
exclusivity to the places, surely
this is not only bad news for the
regular investigator but also for
the venue as they are then
losing out on money from other
teams.
As less venues become
available for the paranormal
team to hire what happens
then?
Many teams do have private
clients contacting them but
many do not, they enjoy sharing
the cost of hiring these haunted
locations and spending a night
investigating with like minded
people.
Sadly due to venues over pricing
and companies getting exclusivity
the genuine investigator is
increasingly finding themselves
with less and less opportunities to
get into venues.
It almost seems like a competition
to see who can get the best venues
just for themselves which in turn
while the companies fight it out the
regular investigator who isn't just
doing it for the ‘entertainment
factor’ is losing out.
I do realise this might not be a
popular article and some may
disagree but lets look at what is
happening before we disappear
Into The Void.
The Jewel Of York
I have recently returned from
a fantastic trip in York with
my fiancée and a weekend
stay was most definitely not
long enough to cram in
everywhere worth a visit here.
This city is oozing with
ghostly tales and buildings
that make you stop, and stare
in ore of their beauty.
With a choice of ghost walks
taking place each evening
within the historic city walls,
and the variety of supposed
haunted inns we were unsure
where to begin!
Most of the places we visited,
publicly advertised (with large
boards and plaques on view
at the entrance of the
building) that they are
“haunted” some even going
on to describe in detail their
paranormal residents.
We did half expect this,
as after all for some of them
this is their main selling point,
and I must agree I think it
does definitely draw people
in, but when you visit a
supposedly haunted inn you
don’t really want to share your
experience with plastic
skeletons at the bar, and
flickering lights along all the
corridors.
Although a lot of the places
we visited were very
much on the
“haunted old pub”
bandwagon, I can
recommend one
definite stop off for
anyone with any sort
of interest in the
paranormal.
I am of course
talking about the beautiful
Treasurer’s House which is
located within the vicinity of
York minster.
The building itself is incredible
and holds within its grounds so
many ghost stories, upon visiting
and speaking the National Trust
volunteers and staff, you will
begin to understand why it is
claimed that this is one of the
most haunted buildings in
Europe.
From Phantom cats to roman
soldiers it really does have a vast
array of sightings, with reports of
these dating back 100’s of years
ago.
The real gem to this house is
York’s most famous ghost story
to date.
The story I refer to
is the truly
remarkable account
of a young
apprentice plumber
on his second day
of a new job at the
Treasurer’s House.
It was 1957 and
Harry Martindale
(an apprentice plumber) was
working away alone in the cellar,
when he unwittingly came face
to face with an unbelievable
sight.
He was using a set of steps to
access a part of the cellar wall
and as he worked he noticed a
horn like sound which
emanated from the wall, he
merely shrugged it off thinking it
may have been a car horn, but
as he carried on with his work
he heard an even louder horn.
Harry again looked to see where
the sound was emanating from
but he just couldn’t find any
source to the distinctive horn
sound, within a matter of
seconds a horse’s head emerged
from the cellar wall.
Then followed the rest of the
horse’s body carrying a rider.
Harry was so shocked that he
dropped his tools and scuttled
into the far corner absolutely
frozen with fear, as he watched
in disbelief.
As Harry stared at the rider he
soon realised that there where
men on foot in the cellar who
were marching rather dejectedly
across the cellar floor.
The sixteen men or so were
covered in mud, unshaven and
looking extremely tired and the
men seemed to be dressed with
kilt-like skirts.
Each wore a helmet and carried
a spear or sword, often both.
The strange thing was all the
men seemed to have no legs
from the knee downwards.
It was not until the men
marched through a whole dug
in the cellar floor Harry began
to see their shins and feet.
Harry waited until they
appeared to have passed and shot
up the cellar stairs at high speed,
when he reached the top of the
cellar stairs he collapsed in front
of his fellow colleagues.
He told the story to his
workmates who understandably
doubted the whole story.
Now the interesting part of this
story was that it caused a problem
for the archaeologist’s at the time.
The description of the men just
didn’t match the usual Roman
soldier from that period.
York University later found out
that auxiliary troops wearing
somewhat similar uniforms, had
indeed been stationed in York
towards the end of the Roman
period.
Not only this, but they had
discovered that the Treasurers
House was built on top of a main
Roman road which was located
about a foot under the cellar
floor.
This remarkable account has
made me study countless
versions of the story and watched
many interviews with Harry
himself.
All sources state the same thing,
which makes me believe that
Harry really did witness probably
the most famous set of
apparitions noted so far in
history.
When Harry had witnessed this
horrifying account he went to see
his Doctor who immediately
signed him off work with stress
and the story was kept hidden
from the public, which is another
reason to believe that Harry did
not make this up for his own
financial gain.
It wasn’t until archaeologist’s
confirmed years later that Harry’s
description of the Roman
soldiers
was in fact correct for that time,
that he then began to feel
confident enough to tell his story
to the world.
I myself do believe he witnessed
this amazing account and after
visiting the cellar myself one
must ponder at how frightened
and confused he must have
been.
If you’re a keen investigator this
place is for you, why not go
down and take a look for
yourself at what I believe is the
Jewel of York- no Halloween
props, no gimmicks, and
nothing to draw you in other
than history which speaks for
itself…
“I don’t know about ghosts-you
know, I had never seen a ghost
before and I’ve never seen one
since. But I do know what I saw
in the cellar that day in the
cellar” Harry Martindale.
Article written by Thomas Warrington.
...
Nottingham's Galleries of JusticeNottingham's Galleries of JusticeNottingham's Galleries of Justice
236236236
Woodchester MansionWoodchester MansionWoodchester Mansion
187187187
Towers AsylumTowers AsylumTowers Asylum
103103103
Newsham Park HospitalNewsham Park HospitalNewsham Park Hospital
868686
Warwick CastleWarwick CastleWarwick Castle
313131
Pendle HillPendle HillPendle Hill
262626
The Ragged SchoolThe Ragged SchoolThe Ragged School
171717
Worthy mentions also go toWorthy mentions also go toWorthy mentions also go to
The Moat HouseThe Moat HouseThe Moat House
Nottingham CavesNottingham CavesNottingham Caves
Ancient Ram InnAncient Ram InnAncient Ram Inn
Drakelow TunnelsDrakelow TunnelsDrakelow Tunnels
Sheffield Services MuseumSheffield Services MuseumSheffield Services Museum
Jamaica InnJamaica InnJamaica Inn
Hellfire CavesHellfire CavesHellfire Caves
Thank you to everyone who voted.Thank you to everyone who voted.Thank you to everyone who voted.
In Tune?
“You’re a sceptic!” I keep telling myself as I try to find logic to the
baffling series of coincidences during Stoke Haunted’s latest
investigation. “There has to be a plausible explanation!”
Let me start at the beginning…
On the 6th of September; only a
few hours before my birthday
would official start, I took the
team to The Dun Cow of
Trench in Telford after we
received a personal invitation
to attend by the temporary
manager who just so happens
to manage The Shrewsbury
Arms in Stafford.
(Image left taken
from Pubs
Galore website)
Usually I have the team’s diary
booked to the hilt; however,
the venue we were meant to be
investigating in Stockport had a
fairly major set-back which
meant that they had to post-
pone our visit. As you can
imagine, I was instantly in a fluster
to fill that gap as the team was all
geared up and raring to go.
Thankfully, Debbie of The Dun
Cow had already invited our team
to investigate although originally we
did not have space in the diary to
accept.
Anyway, back to the point of my
article. In those few days before we
were due to head off to Telford,
Shropshire, I had the most awful
panic attacks, wide awake
nightmares (if such things exist).
I was a wreck. Baring in mind that
I had never ventured into
Shropshire before; other than to
go to Telford hospital years ago,
I knew nothing of the roads or
Trench – before this booking I
didn’t need to know.
During the three nights before our
trip I barely slept. I got so
incredibly anxious that I began to
feel physically sick.
I very nearly cancelled and
allowed the team to go on
without me.
Over those few days I confided
in one of the team’s founders
(Sara Chawner) and one of the
team’s mediums (Laura Ball).
I was beside myself. I told them
both that I kept seeing a
movie-reel type image passing
through my mind and each time
it showed me that I was going to
rear off the road due to
tiredness only to crash into
something.
Both Laura and Sara
understood my apparent
madness, thankfully.
I fought with my subconscious
as it tried to frighten me into
action. As much as that notion
seemed most plausible I
couldn’t help but argue with my
own inner demons.
Why would I be so insecure
about driving home after an
investigation?
It would hardly the first time
that I had driven that distance
and at that time of night.
No.
I am the sensible one. If I am
tired when driving I pull over.
I knew, as did everyone else,
I was more than capable of
getting us all back safely.
The fear was unnecessary,
unhelpful and unsettling.
Less that twenty-four hours
before we were due to depart I
was still experiencing doubts
about whether I should attend.
I can honestly say that had I not
promised to take some of the
team in my car I would have
probably dropped out.
The team knew that what I was
feeling must have been terrifying
as I rarely consider not attending
any of their private events – I
have only ever cancelled when I
have been in hospital; and I
hated it.
The sixth of September rolled
around and I did everything to
dampen my inner fear that I was
going to endanger the lives of my
passengers and myself.
I knew that I would never drive
tired even if it meant that I had
to stop a dozen times on the way
home and annoy those travelling
with me as I pumped my music
higher.
Inevitably, I collected my pas-
sengers and as we drove to our
venue the mood was light and
jovial. For a short time my
The team arrived at The Dun
Cow in Trench in good time
and we were lovingly greeted
by Debbie, the temporary
landlady of the premises.
Without further incident the
team were directed upstairs
where we set up basecamp and
got on with the job of
investigating.
(Kit box one)
(Kit box two)
(As you can see from the pictures, I am fairly passionate about what I do alongside the team.)
Our evening, which leaned over
into the early hours of the
following morning, had us
identifying areas of specific
interest.
One area in particular
highlighted itself at around half
past one in the morning when a
staff member; who had worked
at the property before and
during the current temporary
landlady’s reign, pointed out an
area in the rear bar area which
she felt severe unease.
This lady was adamant that the
affected area was reduced to a
single seating position.
With that information I
followed the team into that
space to see if they could find
answers or reasons for the way
that she had been feeling.
The barmaid, Andrea, stood far
back from the team as we all
focused on Matt (one of the
team’s mediums) as he partook
in an automatic writing
experiment.
For me, automatic writing is
always going to be open to
criticism. There is no definitive
proof one way or the other as
to if it is scientifically effective
or whether there is some kind
of conscious or subconscious
influence making the pen flow
over the paper.
I trust these guys one hundred
percent but I still remain on the
fence.
Right, back to my train of
thought.
Not that soon into the
experiment we were advised,
via the automatic writing, that
we were apparently conversing
with a “Mary Allen”. Taking
the information at face value
the team attempted to delve
deeper, to gain more tangible
proof so that we may be able to
research it at a later date.
For whatever reason part of the
team moved over to where
Andrea stood who, to be utterly
honest, looked as if she had
seen what we were all searching
for. I was soon called over to see
if I could document what Andrea
was telling everyone and more
importantly to see if she was ok.
It turned out that Andrea
believed that she had witnessed a
series of cushion movements.
She told us, through near-tears,
that every time the team said the
name “Mary” she saw an
impression form in the cushions
in a nearby booth as if someone
had sat upon the seat.
Could it be a trick of the light?
The way the outside shadows fell
across the interior? I honestly
couldn’t tell you as I didn’t see it
for myself. It was time to call
Laura over to assist Andrea with
reinforcing her protective bubble
to ground herself.
Whilst Laura aided our charge I
moved over to where the rest of
the team sat; where Andrea had
experienced the negative
sensations prior to our visit.
It was at this time that Sara came
up to me and said that I had to
listen to what Debbie had just
told her.
Debbie claimed that each time
she drove back to Stafford along
the A519 she always felt as if she
was going to veer off the road
and crash into something.
Like me, she would have serious
anxieties regarding it.
Could it be a happenstance, it is
a major road afterall, or, could it
be that we both had tuned into
in to something otherworldly?
I knew what my money was on.
It was a terrible feeling to have
but reality bites when
considering how many accidents
must have occurred upon that
stretch of road.
That was when it got even more
bizarre.
Aside from those looking after
Andrea and those with myself,
a small number of the team had
tried to psychically link into the
energy within the room in
continuance with the plan.
I just want to highlight that those
trying to link in with
surrounding energies knew
nothing of my claims
beforehand.
I purposely kept it from them
because they were my
passengers for the night and I
didn’t want to freak them out.
Also, as far as I am aware, they
hadn’t heard what Debbie had
told me either.
How is it possible that they
supposedly received almost
identical information about
somebody who had left the pub
one night only to end up
swerving off the road and into a
tree?
To have all three versions
converging so similarly was
un-nerving I will not lie.
Despite pouring over the details
and trawling over the wonder
that is the World Wide Web I
have not been able to pin point
a singular story to match the
reports - the descriptions were
vast but vague which makes it
all the more difficult.
Did the experience convert
me? I would have to say no
although I will admit that I was
a little “weirded” out, well,
more than a little.
I still don’t know why I was
affected so badly prior to the
night but I am pleased to say
that we all made it home safe
and sound. I am also relieved
that I don’t feel like that
anymore too.
Throughout my time with
Stoke Haunted; nearly three
years in total, I have never felt
such anguish.
I hope that I never will again.
It seems that 2014 is a year of
firsts for me – my first time of
being absolutely petrified, my
first time fearing for the safety
of the team as they were being
picked off one at a time by a
negative force.
And now I can add my first
time of being almost too
apprehensive to make a trip to
and from a venue because of
some unknown influence.
Whatever next?
Follow the team to find out!
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