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The Ghost Club Founded 1862

AUTUMN 2009

Autumn 2009 The Ghost Club Newsletter “Nasci, Laborare, Mori, Nasci”

The Ghost Club Newsletter Autumn 2009

Editor’s Welcome………………..…...……………….. ...2 Would you be interested in a Ghost Club trip to the Pacific Northwest coast Diary Dates and Club Notices……………………… …..3 of the United States for a spooky Tour? Ghost Club friend Jeff Davis has offered to put together a Ghost Tour exclu- Notebook…….…………...……………………………….5 sively for Ghost Club members. He writes:

Haunting Scorland—Mary, Queen of Scots.…………...8 “To Ghost Club members visiting the Pa- cific Northwest, I can offer a free ghost walk of Old-Towne Portland, Oregon. A Sensing Ghosts—Alan Murdie...………………………13 haunted walk around Fort Vancouver and the Vancouver Barracks, what was the last bastion of the British Empire below The White Lady of Glenmorangie Distillery………... .19 the 54th Parallel.

Depending on itineraries and the desires Book Review………………...…………..……………....20 of my friends across the water, I can cer- tainly put them in touch with other para- normal groups here in the US. Together, Ghosts in the News...………….……………………….. 21 I am sure we can plan many day trips to many locales, and arrange guest invita- tions at different properties, other ghost The Dangers of Darstardly Digital…………………….26 walks and aid in finding food and lodgings in haunted venues.

Hoddesdon & Broxbourne Investigation Report ...…..30 I also worked for our National Forest sys- tem for several years. Depending on the time of year, I can also act as guide to Dr John Dee...…………..……………………………….38 some locales in the pacific Northwest. Possibly to Native American vision quest sites, certainly to some wild woodlands.” Christmas Lunch….…………...…………..……………39 If anyone is interested and would like to know more, please e-mail Front Cover: The Stone Witch of Wookey Hole [email protected] or edi- [email protected] and we will put you in touch with Jeff, and each other.

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Mark Salmon reports on the Ghost Club’s activities over the summer months. time prosecution and the spiritual The Law And The Super- photography of William Mumler; natural David talked us through the ramifi- cations of each. As was to be ex- By David Allen Green pected from a barrister, he came prepared with an argument and set Lecture 11-07-09 out to prove his premise that: ‘the law is inefficient at establishing truth Something of a thespian theme of claim.’ Rather worryingly for our emerged this month, what with justice system, I think he suc- Philip Hutchinson excusing himself ceeded. He did confine his talk to to tread the boards, as did our pre- those three cases which he had re- viously planned speaker, Emma- searched, but Alan Murdie offered Louise Roberts. (Plus, Paul and I plenty of other examples, after- met an old actor called Jeff, down at wards. At any rate, David provoked the bar, who told Paul the tale of plenty of debate within the audience when he stayed in Ludlow Castle and continued the arguments after- with the resident spook--but I di- wards at the bar, which he plainly gress…) Anyway, our replacement relished. Although I, for one, found speaker was the barrister and skep- it refreshing to have a speaker who tic-with-a-K, David Allen Green, who was prepared to challenge my views brought the drama of the courtroom and theories, quite understandably, into the VSC. some did not. But hey, law is about Picking three cases to concentrate influencing people, not winning on; the Jane Wenham witch trial, friends, isn’t it? the obligatory Helen Duncan war- Autumn 2009 The Ghost Club Newsletter 3

five o’clock on a Saturday, the Farnham Ghost Walk nutter-repelling techniques of a low- By Tony Rayer key delivery just meant that only about half of us heard anything at 15-08-09 any one time. Thus I would love to tell you about the spooks of Farn- Ah, Farnham, the perfect place for ham, but what I actually heard was: a Ghost Tour! The history, the “This pub the… THRUUUMMMM!!! hauntings, the… desperate need for BRRRRRRRRRUMMMM!! … said to be a bypass. Tour guide Tony Rayer the home of… (police sirens) … did warn us to gather around when- Ghost of Lady… (more police sirens) ever we stopped around the route, … interesting thing I shall tell you as he speaks quietly to avoid the at- about… BRRRRRMMMMM!! BRRRRR- tentions of drunks. Which is fair RRRRR-RRRRR!!!” enough. However, whilst we British What I can say is that Farnham, are constantly informed by the beyond the choking pollution and ‘latest poll’ that we’re the fattest/ noise, is a pleasant, urbane, expen- stupidest/most violent/drug- sive town with a very nice Parisian- addicted/snaggle-toothed litter-louts style café and a hugely disappoint- in Europe, we generally don’t get ing castle. Also, it has some ghost drunk before seven-thirty. And at stories. Very quiet ones. From

4 The Ghost Club Newsletter Autumn 2009 what I could make out, the usual the first mur-r-rder he worked upon fare of monks, white ladies, dead remains unsolved and the second, nobles, locked rooms and staff who he actually knew the culprit from ‘refuse to work there on their own’. work, but failed to link him to any If you decide to take the tour your- wrongdoing. Tom said that he didn’t self, brave the freaks, drunks and think psychics would ever give mutants and book a night-time slot, 100% proof, but could nevertheless when the atmosphere is a bit better, supply crucial details to the investi- (and more breathable,) and you gation. Understandably, the cops might actually hear something. blow hot and cold on the issue, some shunning the idea whilst oth- ers embrace it. Psychics in Crime Tip: if you get the opportunity, it’s actually a good idea to sound out Detection many of our speakers in the bar af- terwards. Here, where everyone is By Tom Johnston relaxed and conversation is a two- way process, you can hear all kinds 12-09-09 of fascinating things and opinions.

The eponymous notebook is firmly Funny the things that get you in- closed at that point, but very often terested in the paranormal; a spec- it’s worth turning up for these con- tre, a disembodied voice, a visit versations alone. from a departed relative. For our speaker Tom Johnson, it was a stopped clock, UFOs and a dead whippet named Sherry. These three things led him on a journey into Spiritualism and eventually into the world of psychic detection, where he has helped to solve crimes across his part of Scotland. After establishing that, the talk got a little jumbled and tended to jump back and forth between his own experiences and those of other psychics. Things weren’t helped by his sometimes thick Scottish brogue, although I did get a nervous shud- der every time he said the word ‘mur-r-r-der’, (a condition medically known as ‘the Taggart Tingle’). Re- gardless, his talk enlightened us about the work of psychic detectives and the attitudes of the police to mediumistic help. Unfortunately,

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and then soured because Mary re- THE GHOSTLY TRAIL fused Darnley the right to succeed OF MARY, QUEEN OF her on the throne if she died. Mary now facing a marriage in ruins SCOTS. turned her affections to David Riz- By Derek Green zio, her Italian Secretary. An an- gered Darnley ordered Rizzio to be Mary Stuart, known to everyone murdered and this was carried out as Mary, Queen of Scots was born at on the back stair of Holyrood Palace, Linlithgow Palace on 7 December Edinburgh in 1566. Three months 1542. She was the daughter of King later Mary gave birth to her son James V of Scotland and Mary of James VI (later King James I of Eng- Guise. Sadly six days after her Mary, Queen birth, King James V died and Mary of Scots became Queen of Scots. During her infancy the Pro-English and Pro- French factions plotted to gain full control of Mary. Her Mother who was French was chosen as Regent and Mary was sent to France. In 1560 at 18 years of age and wid- owed after 2 years of marriage to the Dauphin of France, Mary re- turned to her beloved Scotland. From there on Mary lead a turbulent life, in 1565, she married Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, her first cousin. The marriage was frowned upon due to religious differences 6 The Ghost Club Newsletter Autumn 2009

In life, Mary was a far travelled Queen and visited many grand properties. In death, she contin- ues to keep up her active lifestyle and there are numerous accounts of her apparition being sighted in over 12 properties in Scotland. Here are some more important ones. Borthwick Castle, Midlothian was built in 1430. Mary and James Hepburn, Earl Of Bothwell stayed at the castle in 1567 and during their stay, an attempt was made to beseige Mary. It was recorded that the Queen fled the castle dressed as a page boy. Borthwick Castle, now an hotel, has regular reports of the apparition of a page boy being witnessed in different Borthwick Castle, where an attempt was areas of the castle. The ghost is made to besiege Mary in 1567 also said to bear a striking resem- land) Mary then fell in love with blance to Mary herself and her appa- James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell and rition has been reported in different shortly after their love blossomed rooms in the hotel. The former Cov- Darnley was mysteriously murdered. enanter Hotel in Falkland is now It was believed that Bothwell insti- Luigino's Italian Restaurant and is gated this. Later in life, Mary was said to be haunted by the apparition forced to surrender the throne and of Mary. Her ghost is said to be she was moved to England for regularly spotted in the upper part safety near her cousin Queen Eliza- of the building and one sighting is beth I of England. Elizabeth, feeling reputed to have Mary being seen to threatened by Mary, ordered her to fly through an upper chamber! spend the next nineteen years of Craignethan Castle, a grand and im- her life in captivity in England. posing ruin near Lanark, is said to Later, Mary was named in the be haunted by a sinister Mary. In Babington Plot which called for the 1568, the Queen spent a number of assassination of Elizabeth I. nights in Craignethan prior to the Through this, Mary although claim- Battle of Langside. Craignethan, ing innocence, was found guilty of now owned by Historic Scotland, complicity and was beheaded in have received reports of a headless Fotheringhay Castle on 8 February apparition dressed identically to 1587. In 1612, James I requested Mary. The ghost has been wit- that his Mother be interred in West- nessed in one of the chambers in minster Abbey. the castle that would have housed

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Craignethan Castle

the Queen's Room. Other reports of a suite of rooms in the Kitchen Poltergeist phenomena have also Tower are haunted by Mary. Her been reported at Craignethan and it apparition has been reported in re- is believed that Mary is behind this cent years in the area of her bed- activity. room and the Queen's Chamber. Dalkeith House, Midlothian, also is Falkland Palace, a magnificent Ren- said to house a headless apparition aissance building, is located in Fife. of Mary. A recent account described The Palace was a favourite of the a student claiming to have been Stuart Monarchs and it's here where awakened out of sleep to find a the ghostly apparition of Mary has headless apparition at the foot of his been witnessed in the Tapestry Gal- bed with the head tucked under the lery. Her Phantom form is seen arm. The student claimed that the gliding down the corridor and disap- facial features bore a resemblance pearing through a walled up door- to Mary. This apparition has been way. There are also reports of Mary reported on a few occasions. On the appearing in the form of a Grey banks of the River Teith, stands the Lady in the Chapel Royal. In a dif- impressive Doune Castle, once a ferent way, the Queen is also Royal Hunting Lodge and a favourite sighted in the form of a White Lady haunt of Mary in life. It is said that in Hermitage Castle near the Scot-

8 The Ghost Club Newsletter Autumn 2009 tish Borders. In 1567, Mary was imprisoned in Linlithgow Palace, Birthplace of Lochleven Castle, it was here where Mary, is haunted in two areas by the she signed her Abdication, miscar- Queen of Scots. The first area sees ried a child and today haunts the Mary as a Blue Lady who walks from castle walls as though in search of the former entrance of the Palace to something. the Parish Church of St Michael Melville Castle, Midlothian, is now which is very near by. This sighting a hotel and was built in the early takes place in the morning around 9 18th century, on the site of a former am and in the month of April. It is castle which was visited by Mary also said that she is seen at similar during her "world tour" of Scotland. times in the month of September. The hotel claims to have Mary as a The sound of her rustling dress has guest and it is said that during reno- also been heard in the area of the vations her spirit was regularly wit- Church. The second sighting sees nessed walking down a corridor and Mary in a kneeling position in the ru- simply vanishing into a brick wall. ined Palace Chapel. In 2004, A Research carried out seemed to paranormal group claimed to have prove that the area was indeed once photographs of the ghost of Mary in the castle entrance. the Chapel. In the photographs Mary's final Scottish sighting lies they described seeing a blue ball of in Stirling Castle. It is here where light. Linlithgow Palace however her ghost has been sighted in three does not have the photographs and locations. Visitors and staff have re- also claims not to have seen them.

Linlithgow Palace— Mary’s Birthplace

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Melville Castle to haunt over twelve locations in Scotland and at least eight in Eng- land including Tutbury Castle, Bolton Castle, Nappa Hall, Turret House in Sheffield and on the Oak staircase of the Talbot Hotel in Oundle. It is said that the staircase came from Fother- inghay Castle, her place of execu- tion. When you are in any historic cas- tle, remember to check the guide book to see if Mary has a connection ported her appearance as a young to the building. If you're lucky, be and beautiful lady wearing a pink prepared to bow or curtsey to her dress. Her ghost has been wit- Majesty as you never know she nessed in the Queen's Bed Chamber could just be lurking around the cor- of the Royal Apartments, in the ner! Church of the Holy Rude and most commonly, at Ladies Rock between the Castle and the Church. There are a few other sightings docu- mented and at present, Mary is said

Stirling Castle

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happy, but the children were disap- pointed that they had not seen the SENSING GHOSTS OR ghost.”I did not think they would,” re- plied the agent “you are the ghost. I SENSING THE PAST, PRESENT have seen you here many times”.(1)

This is a great story but has all the AND FUTURE? hallmarks of a contemporary oral leg- end. Certainly, it is frustratingly vague, By Alan Murdie and should undoubtedly be dismissed if we are to take (as several contributors One of most oft-told popular to our newsletter have urged recently) ghost stories is the tale of the a scientific approach to ghost hunting. I dream house. I don’t know quite agree we should take a scientific the original source for it but I approach, but I also find myself think- am sure many people will ing what if science is not up to the job? How would we investigate such a story, know a version. It goes some- and what sense could we make of it, if thing like this: the events were as is claimed?

A lady dreamed regularly of visiting a What if ghost and poltergeist phe- certain house she did not know. As her nomena are actually quite different to children grew up “Mama’s dream what we believe them to be, be they house” became a family joke. The time came for the father to retire (in one ideas of discarnate spirits, or theories version he was a Navy Lieutenant) and based on scientific understanding? In- so they began to look for a house in the deed to paraphrase one famous scien- country. Sure enough, as they ap- tific quote of the early 20th century, proached one place on the house ‘what if they are stranger than we can agent’s list, the mother said excitedly imagine’? (2) “But we’re coming to my dream house”. The family laughed until she The point is often made that ‘normal’ began to tell the route they would take explanations may lay behind suppos- and on reaching the property she at edly paranormal incidents, such as mis- once recognised the interior. As they perception of figures in the open at went round the house with the agent, night and hearing strange noises which she would remark on changes. “But have a mundane cause. The problem surely, the stairs used to come down has been recognised for hundreds of here? Oh yes, I remember when we years and the late Andrew Green gave were away it changed, about 15 years some amusing examples of these in his ago” she observed and so on, with the Ghost Hunting: A Popular Guide agent confirming her description and (1973). But we ought to remember that the changes. She was right every time every time a “normal explanation” is and the children were thrilled. As it was postulated, we are also avoiding the an old house, they asked if there was a fact that we do not understand ordinary ghost and was told that there was. Of processes of consciousness and that course they had to buy it and soon af- and we are wholly at a loss when we ter they moved in. Later the lady met try to apply many scientific and mathe- the house agent who asked if they were matical concepts to many everyday happy. She replied they were perfectly sensory experiences. Autumn 2009 The Ghost Club Newsletter 11

Although scientific explanations may fully by different witnesses (including it account for many experiences on one would appear animals) and follow cer- level, they cannot account for the ac- tain patterns. Ghosts may even belong tual fundamental processes of experi- to another dimension or even the popu- ence themselves. They cannot explain lar idea of ”a spirit world”. If so, our how a mechanism of matter yields con- current technology is not sensitive sciousness, or any personal sense of enough to register them, as would be self or the experiences of which we are expected if are actually occurring on a aware, within our heads. different level of reality altogether. Like many sensory experiences they cannot be registered or even described by sci- ence or mathematics. Whilst scientific concepts work bril- liantly on a material level, they flounder when applied to perception and con- sciousness itself. Scientific and logical methods and systems such as mathe- matics, geometry and even words themselves that we use to measure the physical universe are wholly inadequate to convey our experience of it, when considered in terms of colour, smell, taste, thought, feelings and emotions. WHAT GOES ON IN DREAMS ? These experiences cannot be wholly or partially expressed in words, nor in A good example are our dreams, graphic form or in symbols. For exam- which in many ways are comparable ple, try drawing a picture of a smell. with ghost experiences. There is actu- Similarly, how would you try to quan- ally no scientific evidence for the con- tify the power of imagination, except by tent of our dreams as we each individu- results? Indeed, the very process of in- ally experience them. We may be able spiration is a mystery - ask any original to say there is neurological activity in and decent creative artist, writer, poet, your brain at night, but there is no way composer where their inspiration comes of proving by instrumentation what you from, and they usually say they have are having your dream about. If you no idea how the process works, it just dream of meeting the Prime Minister comes from somewhere within them- the only way this can be established is selves. by your testimony on awakening. Yet no-one doubts the existence of dreams. ‘TIS A PART WE SEE AND NOT A I think that ghost experiences are WHOLE – RECENT EVIDENCE FROM similar in this respect, and we have PARAPSYCHOLOGY only witness reports to study. A num- ber of researchers such as G.N.M Tyr- Meanwhile, intriguing evidence is be- rell and Andrew MacKenzie considered ing accumulated that our everyday no- that there is a link between dreams tions of time and space are at best in- and many ghost experiences (3). How- complete. This has been accepted by ever, the difference between them is physics at the quantum level for dec- that ghosts appear to more than one ades, but there has been marked reluc- person at a time, can be seen success- tance to extend it beyond the realm of

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atomic and sub-atomic physics. showed that the heart rates of partici- Thus, the findings of parapsychology pants responded to both pleasant and over the last seventy years, and par- unpleasant sounds in a five second run- ticularly since the 1990s have not been up period, but prior to the warning sig- fitted into the picture at all. For a con- nal and the sound actually being gener- cise summary of just how far the field ated. Effectively, the hearts rates of has developed, the books of Dean participants were showing an effect of Radin, The Conscious Universe (1997) anticipating the sounds before they and The Entangled Mind (2008) which I were delivered, suggesting the exis- recommend as a summary of the evi- tence of what the authors term ‘a pre- dence obtained in the last two decades. alerting effect’. Precognition is one such phenome- Further experiments also suggested non. One recently published study sug- that the anticipatory effect could be gests that your heart rate may alter in used to permit pleasant sounds to be anticipation of events which have yet to delivered more often than unpleasant happen. This staggering possibility has ones in tests. been the subject of experiments by re- The researchers are cautious about searchers at the University of Padova, their findings, stating, “Further studies Italy. are obviously necessary to confirm the In a paper entitled ‘Implicit Intuition: main results obtained”. Stopping short How Heart Rate Can Contribute to pre- of calling the phenomenon precognition diction of future events’ published re- (a term which implies some kind of cently in the Journal of the Society for mental perception), preferring to adopt Psychical Research, four researchers, the term ’presentience’. Consider a re- Patrizio E. Tressoldi, Massimiliano Mar- laxed state coupled with a positive tinelli, Eliza Zaccaria and Stefano Mas- emotional attitude could enhance the saccesi, set out results from their ex- effect in ensuring the perception of periments to determine whether a per- pleasant stimuli. son’s heart may show anticipatory The results add to an intriguing body changes to approaching sounds, but of evidence gathered by experiments before the sounds have actually been since the late 1990s suggesting that generated.(4) parts of the human body may show Twenty six volunteers from among physiological responses to future staff and students of the Department of events. Presentiment experiments in- General Psychology of the University volving skin conductance, heart rate participated in a series of controlled and EEG measurements have previ- tests which monitored pulse rates by ously been published, including a study way of a optoelectric sensor applied to reported in The Journal of Alternative the index finger of the left hand. The and Complimentary Medicine by Rollin sounds were stored on a PC and deliv- McCraty in 2004. This found that heart ered by way of headphones to the vol- rates slowed down before the subject unteer over a period of approximately 6 was exposed to emotional pictures, minutes. One category of sounds was suggesting that the heart played a role labelled pleasant and a second set un- in perceiving future events.(5) pleasant. The heart rates of volunteers Another researcher in the field, Dean were continuously measured before Radin at the Institute of Neotic Sci- and after a warning signal was given ences has described the idea behind that a sound was about to be played. presentience as being “that we con- Statistical analysis of the results stantly and unconsciously scanning our

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future, and preparing to respond to it.” consciousness – raises interesting questions for the experience of the TIME AND SPACE ARE NOT AS THEY feeling of a presence which is reported SEEM at so many haunted properties. Many members of the Ghost Club If this research stands up and is rep- claim to have had this experience licated then we really have to begin to along with so many others. Such sen- realise that we’re living in a fundamen- sations frequently occur in the context tally different universe to the one sug- of other manifestations. To give one gested by everyday commonsense and example, the Court House at Monmouth purely materialist science. However, is reputedly haunted and visitors often sceptics towards the paranormal should feel as though they are being watched. not see this as a horrifying vista, since Coldness on the stairs and the smell of both philosophy and other branches of perfume has been experienced and science are partly prepared for it. doors are reported to close by them- Over two hundred years ago, Imman- selves. Tony Lambert, 61 has been uel Kant proposed that time and space caretaker at the Shire Hall for ten years could be radically different from our and is convinced it is haunted. Last built-in perceptions of them. (6). Kant year he was on the top floor when he maintains that our perceptions of invisi- heard a door close on the landing be- ble time and invisible space are actually low. He turned and saw the bottom of a programmed into us – we could not black cloak and a man’s legs disappear- perceive or imagine any object if they ing behind a pillar. Clairvoyant Debbie were absent. However, time and space Gilbert says she senses a figure in may be wholly different in character to black robes and a wig, a phantom our own limited experience of them. If judge (pretty obvious guesses a scep- one stops to think about it, we realise tic might say!) and smelt a burning that we cannot actually conceive the smell, although she allegedly did not nature of universe fully in terms of time know that an earlier building on the site or space, since we cannot comprehend had burned down. (7) the infinity of either. Instinctively, we On occasion the experience of a pres- ask what came before time, and where ence may even include the physical does space end, since we cannot un- sensations of being touched. Sceptics derstand the concept of something maintain these sensations are caused without limit. by auto-suggestion, or alternatively by Such philosophical insights have been the body reacting to stimuli not per- confirmed by physics since 1900 – as ceived on a conscious level. Possible mentioned, time and space on the culprits include infra-sound or electro- quantum level are interpreted and un- magnetic fields; Dr Richard Wiseman’s derstood in wholly differently ways experiments at the haunted gallery at from everyday experience. Altogether Hampton Court and in the Edinburgh the universe is far stranger place than vaults in 2003 also suggested that fea- we consciously perceive. tures of the environment contribute to such impressions. A good play or film, THE FEELING OF A PRESENCE music or poetry in the right conditions can also spook you. Telling or reading The possibility of a pre-sentient body ghost stories by candlelight is another – which seems to have access to a dif- effective way of inducing such sensat- ferent zone of time than our waking ions!

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However, we may also note Dr Rupert Sheldrake’s experiments which suggest that people know when they are being observed and stared at, be- yond what chance guessing would allow (8). Sheldrake argues this is a genuine paranormal effect – people somehow know when they are being observed. Despite being mentioned in many re- ports, it is rare for the sensation of a presence to be described in detail. In an account given by a servant at the allegedly haunted Ballechin House in Perthshire (‘The most haunted house in Scotland’) in the 1890s, the description given was a feeling of going into a room in which someone is about to speak to you (9). Joan Forman de- scribes it differently in her book been subject to analysis (only two seri- Haunted Royal Homes (1987) in an en- ous studies of Scottish second sight re- try on Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. At ports have been undertaken by psychi- the spot where Rizzio, lover of Mary cal researchers, a century apart). Queen of Scots was murdered, she Claims of intuitions and feelings affect- writes “The sensation is so intense that ing the body prior to significant events it almost seems to have weight – as have been reported by people for cen- though the very air were thicker at that turies, but have hitherto remained spot.” firmly in the realm of anecdote and For myself, I would endorse Joan For- folklore. man’s description. In some haunted lo- Certainly, in many cases, what we cations, the air seems to be too heavy don’t know is whether a person who or too thick. It seems to have a con- experiences a presence is experiencing centrated quality, as though you would something to do with a past, present or be able to feel something invisible future event or mental state, either of within it. Again this is an entirely per- someone else (living or dead), or even sonal perception, and we lack a lan- themselves in the future (‘déjà vu’ feel- guage to properly express such sensa- ings). Many people have experienced tions. this. What if ghost experiences are an aspect of the same phenomenon, or GLIMPSES OF THE FUTURE? conversely, the unconscious scanning of the past or the future? The possibility that ghost experiences Although it can be flawed, the human have some precognitive element is one organism remains the best detecting that is seldom examined in any depth, mechanism known for many purposes, despite the popularity of such stories as not least ghost hunting. Technology de- The Signalman by Charles Dickens. ployed on ghost hunts seems to yield There is a whole popular tradition of little useful information, not least be- second sight, ghosts-as-warnings and cause we have no idea of what is being visions, but such reports have seldom measured – if anything. Indeed, equip- ment breakdown is frequently encount-

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ered when investigating haunted places! Perhaps this is a mechanical response to some kind of energy (one interpretation) or could be the reaction of the material world to the operation of a deeper level of the self or mind. But in the meantime, we have only wit- ness accounts, coupled with our own personal experiences if we are lucky, to study. Perhaps with the sense of a presence, we are experiencing a human intuitive faculty scanning the past and the future (including our own future). In one sense, and certainly the material sense, “there is nothing there” as a sceptic will claim. But what if you are sensing something that was there, or will be there, existing in a different time? In collecting witness accounts and in- vestigating hauntings, we should not overlook the possibility that there could be a whole new dimension to such ex- periences, as yet unrecognised. The sense of a presence could indicate the operation of our own presentience pow- ers, or even an example of the ‘dream house’ phenomenon, rather than a re- sponse to a deceased spirit manifest- ing in our time and space, or a reaction triggered by some purely material stimulus.

REFERENCES

Haunted Britain (1973) Anthony Hippesley Coxe, introduction Attributed to Professor J.B.S. Haldane, Apparitions (1943) G.N.M. Tyrrell ; Apparitions and Ghosts (1971) Andrew MacKenzie SOURCES: ‘Implicit Intuition: How Heart Rate Can Contribute to Prediction of Future Events’ by Patrizio E. Tressoldi, Massimili- ano Martinelli, Eliza Zaccaria and Stefano Massaccesi in the Jour- nal of the Society for Psychical Research’ 2009 Vol. 73.1 pages 1-16.; Entangled Minds:Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality (2006) by Dean Radin. ‘Electrophysiological Evidence of Intuition, Part 1: The surprising role of the heart’ Rollin McCraty. M. Atkinson and R.T. Bradley in The Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine 2004 10, 133-143 The Critique of Pure Reason (1784) by Immanuel Kant Section 1 Pt I and II Palgrave and Macmillan edition (2007) (7)Monmouth & Raglen Free Press 7 March 2007. (8) The Sense of Being Stared At (2003) by Rupert Shel- drake (9) The Alleged Haunting of B------House (1900)Ada Goodrich Freer and the Marquess of Bute

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cosmic energy that is all around us, and has The Force Is With Us been since time, immemorial. When we talk about belief what do we mean, take for in- (The Higher stance this statement from the author. A small boy finds a dead squirrel in the street, he is an animal lover and holds the dead Consciousness That squirrel up into the sky and says, “God, if you really exist and everything that I have read and Science Refuses To heard about you is true, please bring this squir- rel back to life” Accept) Nothing happens. Now, does this ‘PROVE’ that God does not ex- ist? AUTHOR: Thomas Walker. The author tells us that our experience of the PUBLISHER: Quest Books, Theosophi- world is tightly constrained by the limits of our cal Publishing House P.O. Box 270 physical senses, that 93% of the universe con- Wheaton IL 60187-0270 sists of dark matter, that there are realities be- www.questbooks.net yond our known realities that exist somewhere ‘out there’. However, it’s with ‘blind die hard’ ISBN: 978-0-8356-0867-1 scepticism that some, not all scientists, view these fringe sciences which infuriate those with It only took a few paragraphs and I knew an open mind. We all know that many fringe that I had a cracker of a book in my hands. The sciences are not accepted within the frame style, the information and the way that the au- work of science, but we still have this arro- thor was putting it into layman’s terms, was gance of mind that ‘it can’t be so therefore it enough to convince me that I was going to en- isn’t’. When oh when will we ever get away joy this one. As I progressed reading this from this way of thinking? book, it soon became apparent to me, that it The author then discusses the amazing re- would quite easily be in my top six books that I turn from the grave of his 25 year old son Clint have ever read, and for me, that’s a BIG state- who passed away with cancer last year (2008) ment. No matter what words follow, this book Clint came back to prove to his father (through review can never do the book’s contents justice various ways) that he was still very much alive, but I’ll sure as hell try. albeit in a different environment, this brought What this book is trying to put over to the much comfort to the author. reader is the many scientific findings of our age The author states that the ancients knew that and how they came into being, and at that we are living in a spiritual universe and brings point of being, being lambasted and discounted to bear a number of examples in this book. In by the peers of the day. The book then goes the main though, the author continually states into the numerous un-accepted scientific ideas that here in our modern world, the truth of that get such a hard time today but what the these ancient sciences are being ignored, and main thrust of this book is all about, is ‘the in some cases, are being suppressed. force’, ‘the energy’ this seemingly untapped We know that many things cannot be detected

Autumn 2009 The Ghost Club Newsletter 17

by the human eye, but due to Newtonian phys- Uri Geller. Geller takes a lot of stick from not ics and modern technology, new findings are only scientists and Joe Public alike but some- exploring and uncovering the once hidden sub times from his own fellow psychics. Nonethe- atomic world and some amazing discoveries are less, there is no denying when you look at taking place which clearly show us humans that Geller’s track record and his workings with sci- the world is indeed a far stranger place than we entists and researchers alike, he has done ever can imagine. Modern physics would seem some amazing things, no doubt about it and the to show us that there are ‘other dimensions’ author is happy to go into great detail of just other worlds but sadly here in today’s world not some of Geller’s successes. a lot of people are taking notice. The author then looks at the power of prayer The book goes into some of our scientific greats and what the power of thought has done in re- the likes of Albert Einstein. But we start with corded studies of animals and plants and also William Tiller who looked at Einstein’s world but the dramatic affect that prayer has had in re- in a different way. Tiller believed that human ducing bacteria growth etc, amazing stuff, read consciousness is a force, or an ‘energy’. Tiller it all here. developed his own scientific model which There is so much in this book that I loved, clearly showed that Einstein great though he even the part about WHY do people, even when was, still had a way to go and should have presented with the evidence before their very been thinking ‘out of the box’ as Tiller has own eyes, still REFUSE to believe what they done. are looking at! The book also takes us into the worlds of In the Afterword, the author nails his colours Near Death Experiences, Remote Viewing and to the mast about what he believes about all how the American Military were quick to get in the aforementioned, all I’ll say is, he is a man on the act when they learned that the Russians after my own heart. had been using it for years, Life After Death Look the simple fact of the matter is, this is a (where do we go after death), Alternative ‘blinder’ of a book it’s a terrific work that de- medicine, past lives and OOBE cases. serves to be in every single home on the planet The author looks at Cellular Memory and how from Bombay to Blackpool. I just cannot speak other parts of the human body, not just the highly enough of this book. No book in twenty brain, retain ‘memory’. I’ve written before years has moved me, has tested me, has where people have had heart transplants and taught me, has introduced me to the fact that who hated motorcycles but then suddenly after wherever man’s ingenuity in science brings they get the heart of someone who died in a forth new paradigms they should be looked at motor bike accident, they want to get on a mo- studied with compassion and a sense of hon- tor bike and start buying all the motor bike esty, not hostility. It beggars belief that we, magazines etc. Why/How can someone else’s humankind can be so narrow minded to new heart being put into your body suddenly give adventures in science. Are we still using the you memories of the person you got it from? same mobile phone that we did back in 1998? He then looks at the church and Christianity No, of course we’re not, science has progressed and how they perceived ‘psychic phenomena’. pushing boundaries beyond the ken. Don’t get What I will say it this, I didn’t know how exten- me wrong folks; I’m not so naïve to accept that sive the Church’s views and hatred of psychic all inventors and forward thinkers are the real phenomena was and how much destruction deal, of course not. But to put all these won- they did of psychic books and to the reputation derfully free thinking men and women into the of gifted psychics. That old saying comes back same category of quacks and fools, well that is to me again. “It can’t be, so therefore it not being scientific. isn’t”. More people have seen ghosts and UFOs This then is a classic book; a book that I’m than Jesus. Scientists want proof of a God, of proud to say is definitely in my top six books a ghost, of a UFO; we don’t believe willy nilly. that I have ever read. I could easily lose my The amazing ability of Scottish medium voice in shouting how good this book is. All I’ll Daniel D. Home is looked at very closely by the say is this, you owe it to yourself to buy and author and if Daniel could do but half of what read this book, and when you do, sit back and he was said to have done, then believe you me be prepared to be catapulted into a world psychic phenomena is indeed very very real. where not everything is so plain and simple as Home managed to make an accordion float it seems. Enjoy. around the room in front of startled witnesses playing a tune, this and more can be found in Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson, this book. No book would be complete without Strange Phenomena Investigations. the amazing abilities (or showmanship) of one

18 The Ghost Club Newsletter Autumn 2009

At one point their camera is pointed down a long hall-way when the shad owy figure appears at its far end. Chat forums were flooded with mes- sages from fans who insisted the shadow was Michael's ghost.

The full story can be found at: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ news/2518485/Fans-claim-that-Michael-Jacksons-ghost-has-been-spotted- at-.html

On 8th July 2009, the BBC reported on Wookey Hole Caves in Somerset, ad- vertising for a Witch. The position came with a £50,000 per anum salary to be paid to the successful applicant! I have pleasure in sharing the usual selection of strange stories The witch job that pays which have appeared in the media £50,000 in recent months. Many thanks A job centre is advertising a "witch" vacancy with tourist site Wookey Hole, this time go to Paul Collins, Mark in Somerset, for £50,000 a year. The Salmon and Milton Edwards for witch, who has to live in the site's their contributions. caves, is expected to teach witchcraft and magic. Wookey Hole staff say the On the 6th July, 2009, The Sun, among role is straightforward: live in the cave, others, ran the story that Jacko’s ghost be a witch and do the things witches was seen parading the corridors of his do. Neverland Ranch, a week after his The advert for the post, placed in the death. It reported: MICHAEL Jack- local press as well as job centres, says son fans are in a frenzy over a applicants must be able to cackle and cannot be allergic to cats. The job has possible sighting of the star's come up after the previous witch re- GHOST at Neverland. tired from the role. An eerie shadow resembling Jacko's fig- Wookey Hole want the appointee to ure appeared on a wall in the singer's go about her everyday business as a former home during a live television hag, so that people passing through the programme and walked across the cor- caves can get a sense of what the place ridor. It moved quickly from left to was like in the Dark Ages. This was right before disappearing. when an old woman lived in the caves The spooky sighting came during with some goats and a dog, causing a CNN's 'Inside Neverland'. variety of social ills, including crop fail- Neither the presenter nor the cam- ures and disease. eraman noticed the spectre. But after The £50,000-a-year salary is pro it was posted on YouTube fans picked rata, and based on work done as up the shadow and rumours spread needed, largely in the summer holi- across the internet like wildfire. days, but also at Halloween and at Christmas. Autumn 2009 The Ghost Club Newsletter 19

it started to speak. It told them to get out of the house. A local court says it is trying to verify the truthfulness of the claims "despite the difficulty" of doing so. Many West- erners know the term genie from the tale of Aladdin and the magic lamp. But genies, or jinn, in Islamic theology can be a lot more sinister. They are be- lieved to be normally invisible but with the ability to assume human or animal form, and are often said to be moti- vated by revenge or jealousy. There is a lingering belief in genies in the Mus- lim world that predates Islam.

The full story can be seen at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/

middle_east/8145862.stm

On 5th August, BBC Wales reported Wookey Hole’s famous Witch, who it is that there will be a Permanent claimed, was turned to stone by a Monk 'ghost' for lighthouse on the Flintshire coast. It said ambitious witches looking for The owners of Point of Ayr lighthouse a "key career move" should arrive off the Flintshire coast have applied to dressed for work armed with any erect a "human sculpture" inspired by "essential witch accoutrements". Inter- views, which will involve on-site as- sessment incorporating a range of standard tasks, will take place on 28 July at 1100, stipulates the advert. The full story can be found at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/ business/8138665.stm

On the 11th July, 2009, The BBC web- site reported that a Genie in Saudi Arabia was to be sued for harassment. It goes on to say: The family accuses the spirit of threat- ening them, throwing stones and steal- ing mobile phones, Al Watan newspa- per said. They have lived in the same house near the city of Medina for 15 years but say they only recently be- came aware of the spirit. They have now moved out. The family are reported to have said that the children got scared when the genie started to throw stones, and then Plans, with sketches of the ghostly figure, have been submitted. 20 The Ghost Club Newsletter Autumn 2009

sightings of a ghostly figure. haunted theatres. He saw the appari- The idea for the 2m (6ft 5in) tion while performing Waiting for Godot stainless steel statue came after re- with Sir Ian McKellen. peated reports of a man wearing an old Stage hands believe he saw the -fashioned keeper's coat. ghost of John Baldwin Buckstone, who The lighthouse has been locked and out was actor-manager of the Theatre of service for more than a century. Royal Haymarket in the mid 19th cen- Flintshire-based owners, Talacre tury and a friend of Charles Dickens. Beach Leisure Group, said it would be a Upon coming offstage for the interval, "serious art installation". Stewart told his co-star that he saw a In recent years, several people have man standing in the wings wearing reported seeing the figure at the light- what looked like a beige coat and twill house, which is known locally as Ta- trousers. lacre Lighthouse. Sir Ian asked him: "What happened, He is reported to wear an old- what threw you?" fashioned dark worsted lighthouse "I just saw a ghost. On stage, during keeper's coat and hat. Act One," Stewart replied. The company is seeking planning per- The episode was related in a docu- mission which would need to be re- mentary about the Theatre Royal Hay- newed every five years. market, produced by television channel A local artist approached the light- Sky Arts. house's owner, James McAllister, who However, it appears cameramen agreed to commission a sculpture. failed to capture images of the ghost The agent for the owners has said: itself. "There's been anecdotal evidence over Buckstone had a long association the years of people having seen some with the Theatre Royal, first as a comic sort of figure. actor, then as a playwright and finally But this will not just be something as its actor-manager from 1853 to quirky and short-term, it's a serious art 1877, during which time it put on some installation off the back of those sight- 200 productions. The house became ings." the leading comic theatre of the day. The full story can be found at: http:// He did not die in the building, passing news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/8183123.stm away peacefully at home in Sydenham,

On 25th August, Stephen Adams of the Telegraph wrote Patrick Stew- art saw ghost performing Waiting for Godot. Patrick Stewart has told fellow ac- tors that he saw a ghost in what is re- puted to be one of Britain's most Patrick Stewart, along with his co-star, Sir Ian McKellen

Autumn 2009 The Ghost Club Newsletter 21

Kent, after a long illness in 1879 aged it's 77. But theatre lore professes that he nevertheless haunts the place to the present day. Nigel Everett, a director of the thea- tre, said: "Patrick told us all about it. He was stunned. I would not say fright- ened, but I would say impressed." Appearances of Buckstone were not that frequent, Mr Everett said, with the last being by a stage hand about three or four years ago. He added: "The last time an actor saw him would have been I think Fiona Full- erton, playing in an Oscar Wilde, 10 or 12 years ago. "The ghost tends to appear when a comedy is playing." While he said he did not consider Wait- ing for Godot to be a comedy, he thought their production did have comic not scary. I'm very, very pleased to aspects. say. "I think Buckstone appears when he "It's Catherine's Parr's old house. In appreciates things," he added. "We fact, we're actually not in the old view it as a positive thing." house, we're in her barn." Robbie and Ayda moved from Los An- The full story can be found at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/ theatre-news/6087811/Patrick-Stewart-saw-ghost-performing-Waiting-for- geles to Britain earlier this year to pre- Godot.html# pare for his musical comeback. The former Take That star is enjoying On the 8th September 2009, Yahoo his new lifestyle, but admits he would- News ran with the following headline: n't have ever imagined himself living in Robbie Williams Haunted By the countryside a few years ago. Royalty. Robbie said: "I can't even believe Robbie Williams is being haunted by that a 35-year old me has bought a the ghost of King Henry VIII's last wife. 500-year-old place. Because at 26 or The 'Bodies' singer is convinced the £7 27 there's no way that I would have million mansion he shares with his girl- chosen to be there or go anywhere friend Ayda Field is inhabited by the near it. spirit of Catherine Parr, the infamous "But it's lovely and the people have British monarch's sixth and final been great with us." spouse. It's not the first time Robbie's house But while he often "feels the pres- has been linked to paranormal activity. ence" of Catherine - who once lived on The star reportedly purchased the the estate in Wiltshire, South West property because it is crossed with 'ley England - the 35-year-old singer is lines' - invisible energy routes believed never frightened. to attract aliens. He explained: "I think there are Robbie is "obsessed" with extra- ghosts. I haven't seen or heard any- terrestrials, and claims to have seen thing. I've definitely felt something but three UFOs during his lifetime.

22 The Ghost Club Newsletter Autumn 2009

By Paul Brown

ment and the frustration at not be- ing able to see the results of my photographic skills until days later when the film was developed I’m sure many can relate to. And of Throughout the history of modern course once developed, even paranormal research, the ‘Holy Grail’ though they were photographs of of evidence sought to try and silence such a widely haunted building as the sceptics and academics who Michelham, that’s all they were, not continually echo the voice of “Prove a mist, an orb or any other corpo- it!” is a definitive photograph of a real apparition in sight. ghost. One of the best known earlier While purists insist that standard photographs using conventional 35mm film cameras should still be photography that appears to show a used for investigative work (and ghost is ‘The Brown Lady of Rain- perhaps for good reason), on most ham Hall’, in 1936 by Indre investigations I’ve been to in re- Shira and Captain Hubert Provand. cent years there’s been a plethora As paranormal research has grown of digital cameras, strobing through in popularity in recent years, un- the haunted site enough to make doubtedly largely due to the in- the place look like a 1970’s disco. crease in ‘reality’ television pro- The simple advantage of course of grams on the subject, so has the digital photography is the ability to thirst for people to make their mark take as many photos as you like and capture their own bit of evi- without incurring the additional dence. cost of film and developing. And When I first joined The Ghost the other main advantage is the Club, on the first investigation I ability to see the image taken im- went on I took my trusty old Canon mediately after. However the very AE1 Program 35mm SLR camera. nature of digital cameras has also While this led to many lovely photo- spawned its own problems in seri- graphs of the interior of Michelham ous paranormal investigation. Priory, the cost of film and develop- Such freely available multiple photograph capability has started

Autumn 2009 The Ghost Club Newsletter 23 to blight investigations. How many apart from over illuminating investi- of us have been sat there in the gations with multiple flashes, per- dark, trying to listen to every creak haps the biggest danger is misinter- of an ancient building, trying to pretation of the results, and not just ‘sense’ every change in atmosphere on dust orbs. With the small LCD and trying to pick out in the dark screen at the back of many digital any ethereal glow of an orb? And cameras giving an instant, if small, then, when there is a faint noise or review of the shot, excitement at somebody senses something, all something possibly captured doesn’t digital cameras point in that direc- always stand up to close scrutiny on tion and the room lights up with a bigger screen. On two recent in- multiple flashes and all of a sudden vestigations I’ve thought I had the only thing that’s really been shot something unusual only to be later is your night vision... for the most disappointed. part. There are many, many digital The first was at a recent Ghost photographs showing dust orbs or Club investigation to Broxbourne insects and these in themselves and Hoddesdon Conservative Club. I have caused much debate and arti- had my camera mounted on a tripod cles of their own. However, I won’t and was taking photos without the deny that occasionally, just occa- flash and with the picture exposure sionally such frantic point and shot- set over several seconds in a semi in-the-dark hopes pick out some- darkened room. The idea was to try thing really unusual. Such a case is and pick out any subtle images that the blue ‘plasma’ orb, taken by might be destroyed by the camera Justin Cooper in the Long Gallery at flash. During the 12 second picture Ham House. I was there on that vigil exposure, other GC members who with Justin and clearly remember were not aware of what camera set- how unusual compared to other orb tings I had, used their own camera photographs that was. Indeed, on flashes several times, whilst another other another investigation vigil in GC member was stood still in the the same room, several people in- middle of the room. The result on cluding myself witnessed an orange- the small screen of my camera was red orb at the end of the Gallery but of a still image of the GC member in as luck would have it, nobody on the middle of the room, but a that occasion got out a camera to ‘sinister’ dark shadow over to one capture the moment! side of the picture where nobody Please don’t misunderstand this had been standing. I gathered peo- article, I’m not against digital pho- ple around and others agreed that tography at all. The availability and something did indeed look weird. convenience of digital photography With the excitement of possibly hav- has in recent years yielded some ing captured something I couldn’t very interesting pictures and en- wait to download the picture and abled the easy distribution of such view it on the screen of my PC. images for us all to analyse and Sadly, on the ‘big screen’ it ap- make our own minds up about. But peared all too evident that it was

24 The Ghost Club Newsletter Autumn 2009

Photograph—Paul Brown

Autumn 2009 The Ghost Club Newsletter 25 just a ‘super shadow’ of the GC strange angle the light was coming member stood in the middle of the in to the tower had combined to room caused by the multiple camera cause a light refraction that gave flashes of the other GC members such a strange effect. cameras. So now I’m back to square one, On another occasion this summer still with my digital camera and still on a private investigation to the re- trying to get something truly unique mains of St Mary’s Church, Cold and unexplainable. Christmas, Hertfordshire, I had en- So, the dangers of dastardly digi- tered the tower of the church and tal? For me just the frequency of again, pointing my camera upwards shots taken during an investigation I took several photos without using can take the edge off the investiga- the flash. The only light was coming tion, spoil the night vision if taken in in from the side through some bro- the dark and at other times just de- ken panels on the boarded up win- tract from the atmosphere. But of dows. About half way up the tower the photographs themselves I think on two separate pictures at about the real danger is of people, includ- the level an upper floor would have ing myself, being too eager to see been in times gone by, I could see things that just perhaps are not on the screen of my camera a blue really there under closer scrutiny. mist. Even when I transferred these And the end result is instead of cre- pictures to my PC they still appeared ating ‘proof’ for the sceptics, we end to be a strange blue mist. Finally! up giving them more ammunition Finally I thought after years of in- with which to pour scorn. vestigations and hundreds of pic- tures I had got something really un- usual. I sent the photos off to Philip Carr, Philip Hutchinson and Sarah Darnell to see what they thought. Now I love taking photo’s with my digital camera and try and keep the Do you have a story you lenses spotlessly clean, but I’m not could share with us? so good at playing with Photoshop PC software for picture manipula- Either a personal ghostly tion. However, the results that came back after the images had encounter or an opinion you been lightened seemed to show would like to air? strange parallel blue lines amongst the blue mist. And on zooming in on Then please get in touch the images I was faced with the with Sarah at truth... the blue lines were partial fingerprints, obviously on the lens. [email protected] And why blue? Well, the oil of a fin- gerprint on the lens, combined with the curvature of the lens and the

26 The Ghost Club Newsletter Autumn 2009

DOCTOR JOHN DEE By Robert Snow Dr John Dee, the alchemist, was born in on the 13th July 1527. He was educated in London and at Chelmsford. In 142 he was sent to St John’s College, Cambridge, where for three years, he stud- ied hard for eighteen hours every day. He was one of the original in 1546 and earned himself the reputation of being a sorcerer by displaying his mechanical beetle. The next year he obtained, from the Low Countries, various astronomical instru- ments. This was the first of many visits that he made abroad, lecturing in Louvain, Paris, between 1548 and 1551. Dee was imprisoned under Queen Mary on suspicion encompassing her death by magic in 1555. However Edward VI had granted him two church livings and Queen Elizabeth I showed him favour and visited him twice at his house in Mortlake. In 1595 she made him a Warden of Manches- died in great poverty and was buried in ter College. John Dee was constantly in Mortlake Church. Aubrey described him as difficulties, although he claimed to have a very good man who was a peace maker found in the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey a with a clear sanguine complexion and a quantity of the Elixir, one grain of which long white beard as white as milk. Dr was sufficient to transmute into gold a Dee’s eldest son, Arthur (1579-1651) was piece of a cast iron cooking pot. also an alchemist, following in his father’s He appears to have been both a cheat footsteps. Dr John Dee wrote seventy nine and a deceiver of his own personal assis- works but only thirteen have ever been tant, Edward Kelly between 1589 published. and1589. Kelly lost both his ears when These works were on such subjects as sentenced to a spell in the pillory for, his logic, mathematics, astrology, alchemy, crime was confessing to communicate with navigation, geography and the reformation Angels when using John Dee’s magic crys- of the calendar. Dee was certainly well tal. ahead of most of his fellow countryman in In 1605 Dr Dee petitioned James I to many subjects. let him clear his name of slander by a pub- I am fortunate to know a direct descen- lic trial. He had been accused of dant of Dr John Dee and am very grateful “CALLING UP DIVELS”. Six months for all the information that he has given to later Dee was back at his old tricks with me about his notorious ancestor. the occult. In December 1608 Dr John Dee

Autumn 2009 The Ghost Club Newsletter 27

The Ghost Club Founded 1862 PO Box 910 Ipswich IP1 9PT THE COUNCIL

Chairman Events Officer Alan Murdie Philip Hutchinson [email protected] [email protected]

General Secretary Treasurer Mark Salmon Lance Railton [email protected] [email protected]

Newsletter Editor Web Design Sarah Darnell Philip Carr [email protected] [email protected]

Press Officer Scientific Officer Natasha Woollard Paul Foulsham [email protected] [email protected]

Membership Secretary Investigations Organiser Paul Collins Derek Green [email protected] [email protected] GHOST CLUB ADVISORS Advisors Legal Advisor Stuart Arnold, WTG Perrott Alan Murdie, LLB Barrister Dr Ciarán O’Keeffe Keith Morbey The Ghost Club website is at www.ghostclub.org.uk

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Please note that all views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the

editor or of the Ghost Club.

28 The Ghost Club Newsletter Autumn 2009

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