Phil and Sara Whyman Manchester Haunted: Hello Phil and Sara, how are things at the moment with Dead Haunted Nights? Phil Whyman: Hey guys! We're working on some new ideas for 2012, but can't say too much at the moment. Sara Whyman: Hi, we’re just settling down after the Halloween rush, as you can imagine this is our busiest time of year. Like Phil says we have some new ideas that we’re looking at for 2012 and we’re starting to fill up the calendar with bookings. MH: For people who haven’t been on a Dead Haunted Night’s event yet, what can they expect? PW: We're well known for the relaxed and approachable manner in which we run our events, which I think is a vital part of putting our guests at ease (some are pretty nervous!). We aim to give guests a memorable ghost hunting event, where they can participate in such things as seances, glass work experiments, even ouija boards if they want, all under the supervision of our experienced team leaders. Incidentally, for those worried about taking part in experiments all participation is optional. And for peace of mind no team leader is permitted (apart from seances) to take part in any other experiment; as we therefore say, if it happens then it happens for real and not because we are faking anything. We believe we have the best, most trustworthy team leaders in the field working for us. SW: At Dead Haunted we try to give an insight Paranormal Investigation, we look at things more from logical scientific point of view. Although we do use some spiritual based equipment like the Ouija boards etc, we encourage our guests to make their own minds up about any experiences that might occur on a night with us. Like Phil has stated, none of our team leaders will take part in any of the hands on experiments, therefore giving our guests the peace of mind that they have spent their money on a true experience and have no doubt about any activity that does take place. On occasion we do invite a medium to work along with us as we do also appreciate that people enjoy the psychic side of investigating. MH: Having been a person who has joined in and very much enjoyed your events, they are incredibly well run and professionally executed. That being said, has there ever been anything happen, of a paranormal kind that has created a panic/hysteria? PW: We often get guests experiencing all kinds of strange incidents on our events, and inevitably panic does ensue on occasions. Because the way we run events - splitting into small investigation teams - you can often hear screams etc coming from the other groups. Usually it's when someone's clothes or hair gets pulled or 'something' breathes in their ear! SW: There have been numerous occasions where this has happened, thankfully our team are always on hand to deal with any such situation and will calm our guests down the best they can. MH: What initially drew you into the paranormal field? PW: Books. I used to read myths and legends, like Dracula or werewolves, and progressed onto ghosts and hauntings...I was about 11 years old. Then I believe I saw our deceased family cat when I was 14-15 yrs old...just went from there really. At 16 I started my own investigations, mainly at the homes of friends or their relatives. SW: Strangely enough I was only discussing this the other day, for as long as I can remember I have had a fascination with ghosts and hauntings, as a young girl I used to have a subscription to a comic called ‘Misty’ which included stories of the supernatural which I’m sure will have had some part in my interest! Growing up into my teenage years I often suffered from a condition called ‘sleep paralysis’ whereby you wake into a semi conscious state and are able to see your surroundings but your body is still paralyzed as if still asleep. This is a very frightening situation to be in and many sufferers report sightings of ghostly figures in their room or of a huge pressure being applied to their chest. I researched into this frightening ‘phenomenon’ that I was experiencing only to discover it to be a natural occurrence. Even now I still see many ghost or alien abduction reports that could be explained away rationally by sleep paralysis! MH: A question to Phil. You have recently been part of the upcoming Most Haunted Christmas DVD, “Christmas Spirits,” how did it feel to be with the Most Haunted crew again? PW: It was awesome, just like old times again! Everyone was really excited about the whole thing; there was definitely a buzz about being together again. MH: Obviously, people know you best from your work with Most Haunted. What is an average investigation like with the crew and do they take the investigations as seriously as it appears? PW: Hectic from the get go. Everyone on the crew takes their role very seriously and professionally, and it's great being part of such a team. It's hard to describe the excitement of wandering around in the dark with just a night vision camera for company, knowing that a place is haunted and wondering what might be round the next corner! And every so often you'd hear some kind of commotion in another part of the building from some other team members, which really puts you on edge. MH: Sara, before Dead Haunted Nights you had and still have your own team called White Rose Paranormal, are there any particular investigations that stand out to you personally. SW: I founded White Rose Paranormal in 2005 and more or less from the offset we were quite busy investigating local hauntings. There are a few that stand out more from the rest, one being at RAF Holmpton where I believe I witnessed my first apparition, I don’t say that lightly either as I’m a very sceptical person, however I have never been able to give a rational explanation for the man I saw in the camera flash whilst taking a photograph of an empty space! The other one I would like to mention was at a Knottingley Town Hall, during our first investigation there we experienced lots of banging and footsteps coming from the lower floor of the building whilst we were upstairs. The noises were that loud that I was convinced that someone had broken into the building! Upon inspection there was no one to be found and again no logical explanation could be given! MH: Sara, you have many ‘special guests,’ join you on your events. I particularly enjoyed John Callow’s talk on the Pendle Witches when we came along. Are there any special guests lined up you can tell us about? SW: We are very lucky to be able to boast some of the most famous names in the paranormal field as having joined us on our events, with Phil’s connection to Most Haunted we do on occasion have members of the show as special guests along on some of our nights. At present I can’t give out dates for you, but will say ‘watch this space!’ MH: Phil, tell us about Scream Team? PW: In 2002 Living TV ran an ad campaign looking for 3 guys 3 girls to take part in a new investigative show; Scream Team. After 2 audition stages I was chosen as one of the members. We then travelled the length and breadth of the UK looking into accounts of ghosts, hauntings, ufo's and occultism...it was tremendous fun, albeit bloody scary at some points! MH: Phil, you are also a writer and have released a book on the subject of Hauntings, ghosts, investigations etc. have you got any plans to start another book? PW: Not at the moment...might try some fiction next and have some great ideas for at least 3 fiction books! MH: Ghosts have been reported as far back as biblical times for example, King Saul had the Witch of Endor summon the spirit of dead prophet Samuel for advice. Given that the ghost phenomenon has been around for so long why do you think modern day physicists are so ready to throw away the possibility of they’re actually being something to this field? PW: Good question! What do you think (lol)? I think it's basically because they do not have any solid proof (ghost in a jar, etc). I think it's easy to obtain proof; go to eBay and you can by said ghost in a jar! Be careful though, cos if you open it they apparently escape. Simples... SW: That’s a difficult one to answer indeed! I can only assume that said physicists feel this way because like Phil says they don’t have any solid evidence to say otherwise, as you and I know getting that evidence is not an easy task. Even though I have witnessed unexplainable things I still have not gathered physical proof that I can put in front of someone else and convince them of the existence of ghosts. MH: I personally think that 95% of phenomena can be explained by natural or environmental elements but the sporadic nature of ghosts makes it almost impossible to scientifically investigate the phenomena. In my opinion, this is part of the reason why serious scientists feel they can explain away people’s experiences.