West Midlands Ghost Club

Dudley / Holly Hall Ghost Appeal????

2011-10-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

Hot on the heels of our last post, comes another appeal for information about hauntings and potential folklore associated with the Dudley area of the Black Country. The WMGC has recently been contacted by an interested party, who tells us that they are currently endeavouring to find out as much about the ghostlore of the region in question as they can. In particular, they are interested in the Holly Hall region of the town - between Dudley and Brierley Hill - because of a snippet of intriguing 'spooky-ness' that they have been aware of for many years.

In short, the account concerns a trustworthy gentleman who was walking along a stretch of the Holly Hall Canal many years ago and reported having seen what he could only describe as a 'devil-like' figure!!!! Interestingly, this is not the only sighting of this type to have occurred in the region, it seems, as our correspondent also received potentially corresponding information from another, unrelated source.......

Needless to say, the W.M. Ghost Club has taken considerable interest in this matter, as it was only in a recent website update that we happened to mention an interest in the 'Blue Devils' that have long been associated with the Rowley Regis area, just South of Dudley.

If you might have any information or snippets of local folklore to impart, then our contact can be reached directly via the following email address: schloe12345@aol.com

Stourport On Severn Ghosts / Hauntings?

2011-09-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

We've just this week heard about an intriguing project, concerning the paranormal history of Stourport On Severn in Worcestershire.

Ex-Stourport and now Devon resident, John Bolton, has just started a group dedicated to ghost stories in and around this region, with a view to writing a book on the history of the town. John tell us that this is an area that he's always been particularly interested in and would very much like to build a better idea of any parts of the town that are haunted, creating a picture of how those stories may relate to the town's history......A FaceBook page dedicated to the project can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/Stourportghosts .

Needless to say, John would very much like to hear from anyone who has anything to add to his research and he can be contacted directly on: jbeebus1@gmail.com

All the best to everyone,

The W.M.G.C.

Brief Update......

2011-09-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to remind blog visitors that we've been updating the W.M.G.C. website recently with some fresh data in our 'Archives' section, with more to follow shortly. Links to recent pieces can be found below:

Group Related Cases
Hopwas Wood Witchery
Ghosts At Work
Group Experiences
Shop Hauntings

It should also be mentioned that the website which has always hosted our popular 'Photo Album' closed down earlier this year, so, obviously, this link will now have to be removed from all of our blurb and some alternative service found.......

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

Hereford Ghost Fake?

2011-08-09T02:46:00.000-07:00

Needless to mention, this matter isn't West Midlands based, of course, but it was just so refreshing to see an allegedly paranormal image that didn't show little more than photographs of dust particles these days!

The following article appeared in the Hereford Times newspaper for Thursday, 31st of March 2011:

"Smith family photo shows up 'ghost' next to grandson in Hereford"

ONE county family claims to have proof that a property does not need to be ancient for it to be haunted.

Pensioner Fred Smith’s grandson Sirus appeared to have a mysterious playmate in tow when his mother Sarah Walsh snapped the five-year-old on her mobile phone.

“If she lived in an old house or if there was a cupboard with a reflection or something fair enough, but she lives in a 1950s house in Redhill – we have no idea who this might be."
Fred Smith

Fred, from St Weonards, said he and his wife Julie were “gobsmacked” when Sarah emailed the picture over shortly after she took it at home in Hereford.

“If she lived in an old house or if there was a cupboard with a reflection or something fair enough, but she lives in a 1950s house in Redhill – we have no idea who this might be,” Fred said.

“She goes to mediums quite a lot and a friend of hers called Pete, who has ‘the gift’, previously said he felt a little girl in the house.”

Since then more strange events have followed, Fred claims, after the image was inexplicably wiped from Sarah’s phone and her Facebook page.

“Pete says it’s a little girl but I can’t make up my mind - whoever it is obviously does not want to be seen though,” he added.

Sadly, it has to be said that the photograph accompanying the article concerned certainly seems to fall short of being any form of evidence for paranormal activity in the house involved.....

Unfortunately, following hot on the heels of the so-called Orb Phenomenon, we now appear to have a glut of poorly photo-shopped, semi-transparent figures appearing on images. As one national newspaper reporter pointed out to a W.M.G.C. member recently: "I've seen hundreds of these pictures lately - you can now get an app for your mobile phone that actually creates these types of image......!"

Website Update!!!!!!

2011-08-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

Just a brief note to say that the 'Latest News / Activities' page of the official W.M.G.C. website has now been updated, along with a slight re-vamp of our 'Group History' section........ Please view relevant pages at: http://www.westmidlandsghostclub.com/

Edited Version of Main Website Update for December 2010.

2011-08-07T08:08:00.000-07:00

Sandwell Investigation:

On April the 16th, 2010, W.M.G.C. members paid a return visit to the Sandwell Council Training Centre in Oldbury, West Midlands. The investigation was arranged by John Conway. The group - shown below, readying themselves in the restaurant area - have previously investigated this site on two other occasions within recent years.

Since it's development into a training centre, this former primary school has allegedly been the site of potentially paranormal happenings. A number of apparitions have supposedly been seen within the property, including those of caretaker-style figures, a woman clad in grey… and that of a small girl. Poltergeist-like activity has also been reported at times, including the sound of a piano - seemingly 'playing itself' - and the movement of objects. Peculiar lights have been reported by people in upstairs offices and staff speak of the sensation of 'being followed' in certain areas of the building…..

Midlands Investigation:

May the 8th and June the 5th saw group members paying a visit to a government related property in the West Midlands region. The events concerned were again orchestrated by John Conway, whose attention had been drawn to this site during the course of enquires involving a separate property.

While details concerning the precise location of the building will have to currently remain unreleased, it can be noted that the reported ghostly activity has become so interesting to staff members that 2 vigilant employees have even begun conducting their own night-time investigations there within the last year or so….!

Inexplicable happenings at the site include the shadowy figure of a man being seen a number of times, walking across a corridor, from one office to another. A woman has also been seen standing in a small, secure area, just in front of a strong-room. The movement of objects has been reported in 1st floor offices and, within a few days of the W.M.G.C. investigation, a staff member saw a small, screw-like object seemingly 'thrown across' the room and bouncing onto a nearby desk…..

Elsewhere in the building, a recording made by one of the staff members during their investigations contained the sound of a child singing 'Happy Birthday'. A later recording is said to have contained footage of a ball appearing to move, off a window ledge, apparently of it's own volition…..?

During the W.M.G.C. visit to the site, the only item of interest to be recorded was a peculiar, z-shaped 'scratch' that turned up on the neck of group member Steve Chew during the night! Until the bizarre mark was pointed out to Steve, he had no idea at all about it's presence..... and, just prior to it being noticed, it had most certainly not been there! Steve could not recall having recently caught himself in the area concerned - the rear of the neck, just below the hair-line - so, while not probably 'ghostly' in nature, the event remains perplexing, to say the least!?!

Midlands Investigations #2:

Taking advantage of the lovely, warm Summer evenings, group members paid 2 investigations to one of our favourite - allegedly haunted - sites: the ruins of 'Richards Mansion' in the Midlands. Investigations were conducted on July the 9th and August the 28th.

Not a lot can be said about this site that hasn't already been mentioned numerous times on our website. Suffice it to remind our visitors that the area surrounding the Mansion ruins are allegedly haunted by the figure of a 'phantom monk'…. reported sightings of this solitary apparition spanning back many decades.

During our visits to the region, WMGC members have also experienced some peculiar happening and effects, including seemingly disembodied footsteps; a tall, monk-like figure and a form in period costume witnessed…. not to mention a 'head-count' of 7 people present on one investigation, when there were only 6 group members in attendance!!!!

Poltergeist House - Visit:

In late August, group members were invited to visit a Walsall home, where some rather perplexing poltergeist-like activity has been said to have been taking place since early 2010. Details concerning the nature of the intriguing happenings experienced in the property were posted up on the 'W.M.G.C. Blog' in mid-October:

"The effect began earlier this year - some time in March - when a daughter of the family reported hearing a slight scratching noise from under her bed (on her 20th birthday, as it happens). While the family (initially) passed the matter off as nothing, the girl was sufficiently perturbed as to bother recording the noises on her mobile phone. (A recording which she still has). Strangely, these noises only happened in one, small, front bedroom… and only when the girls boyfriend was staying overnight with her. If the girl, or anyone else stays in the room alone.... then there is no perceivable disturbance whatsoever!?

Within a short period of time of initially beginning, the scratching noises had escalated into two separate sounds: a rapid, short scratching and a long, drawn-out noise like something being slowly, deliberately dragged over some form of surface.

Members of the family - and neighbours - were asked to come and hear the noises concerned and endeavours were soon being made to 'converse' with the noises (with, by this point, a knocking sound also regularly manifesting). Interestingly, the sounds seemed quite happy to 'speak with' people - knocking out answers in reply to 'yes and no' questions and imitating sequences of knocking noises that were being made by spectators.

A typical instance of this form of 'interaction' came where there were 7 witnesses (in the bedroom concerned and on the landing of the house) to a question and answer session. Three other people were allegedly asleep (elsewhere). They asked how many people were in the house and it knocked back 10 times.... They then asked how many people were asleep and it knocked back twice...... Knowing that there were 3 people in bed, not two, as erroneously indicated by the knocking noise, they checked and found that one of the children was out of bed and playing on his X-Box at that time!!!

The mother of the family told us that they had first assumed the intelligence behind these things to be a deceased relative - but she had then changed her mind about this, relating the effect as more like the actions of a sub-human, 'goblin-like' intellect!! (This, it has to be said at this point, is a motif that appears to crop up in a lot of poltergeist cases). In asking questions of the thing, she observed that 'you didn't know whether to trust it' - i.e. some of it's answers appear to have been obviously contradictory, or just plain and simple, blatant lies, etc.

Over the space of some six months (give or take), the nature of the activity had escalated - again, only when the boyfriend made endeavours to stay in the room with the daughter concerned. The problems had then become exceptionally bad..... with loud banging sounds (loud enough to disturb the neighbours on occasion); manipulation of the mattress on the bed (mattress being 'lifted up', or seemingly 'pushed up' from underneath the bed). The young couple had tried to 'sit out' the effects concerned, but they just seemed to get worse and worse over the duration that they tried to stay in the room. The end result was invariably the same; an admission of defeat in the end and a retreat to the sitting room to spend the night! (On one occasion, the effect was so bad, the banging noise appeared to follow them down to the living room). This was on a night when the bedroom concerned had just been freshly decorated. We were told by the mother of the family that this was the worst night that they had experienced, so far....."

Thankfully, at our request, the family have agreed to keep in touch with the group and sporadically give us updates on the troublesome affairs that are occurring in their home.....

Strange Goings On Down In The Woods:

On December the 4th, two W.M.G.C. members paid a visit to a site that had initially become a matter of some, passing interest to us last year…. namely, a tract of woodland - Hopwas Wood - situated just outside Tamworth in South Staffordshire. Our attention had first become drawn to the area concerned when sightings of an overly tall, ghostly figure were reported to the group some short while earlier……

As a result of the above, a visit was made at the time of the report and research carried out into the history of the general area. During the course of this research, stories of 'Occult' or 'Witchcraft-like' activities, being performed in Hopwas Woods, were discovered. Such activity - when it first came to light during the early 1980's - merited a considerable amount of both media and public interest and speculation.

Purely as a matter of ongoing interest, our early December visit was subsequently planned….. the trip to the area being carried out with a metal detector. The latter mentioned item was included in the visit because, according to some reports, 'metallic' items of 'ceremonial' significance had allegedly been discovered in the region in the past…..

As it transpired, the presence of this piece of equipment proved of intrinsic value to our visit, as - during a sweep of a particular area of woodland - a copper plate adorned with (presumably 'Occult-related') script and designs was unearthed….. As photographs of the visit show (see our online photo album), there was a considerable blanket of snow on the ground at the time of the find and the plate was discovered some inches underneath the earth below.

Because of such an intriguing find, the W.M.G.C. contacted the Tamworth Herald with a view to potentially appealing for information on the object. The ensuing article appeared on Dec. 9th - resulting in the group being inundated with general enquiries and suggestions…. some even originating as far away as the U.S.! The story itself has now, subsequently, been picked up by a number of different blogs - frequently Pagan orientated - and other websites.

A slightly sad - nay somewhat 'pathetic' - footnote to the above mentioned matter is a small amount of animosity which seems to have been generated (in some quarters) by the events concerned….. Despite endeavours to remain 'veiled' in the execution of these sad ministrations, it is quite clear to all concerned where such childish face-pulling originates. 'Nuff said…..!'

Midlands Investigation #3:

On December the 10th, the West Midlands Ghost Club took part in an investigation of the premises of a financial advisory company based in the West Midlands region. Again, the visit was arranged by John Conway.

Originally part of an ecclesiastical complex and school, the building concerned has a considerable reputation for 'ghostly-goings-on'. Over the years, staff and clients at the company have reported a vast array of peculiar happenings… from sightings of young children (in places where young children couldn't possibly be), to incidents of poltergeist activity.

Staff are so used to the happenings now that they have nick-named the poltergeist 'Annabel'. It would appear that almost every section of the building has an intriguing story attached to it, with the movement of objects in ground floor offices - e.g. plants and stationary equipment - the sound of rattling pans from the kitchen area and sensations of being 'shoved' by 'something invisible' in an upstairs corridor…..

As with most W.M.G.C. investigations, nothing of a potentially paranormal nature was detected, but an enjoyable night - in such an historic building - was had by all present. Our thanks goes to staff and friends, Robin, Sue Val and John, for accompanying us on our investigation!

Media Watch:

*In early September, Club member Steve Chew appeared on the Danny Kelly Show (Radio W.M.)

*The Tamworth Herald - December the 9th - carried a report on the discovery of an occult-related copper plate in Hopwas Woods, South Staffordshire. (See report above for details). The story was subsequently carried through to other newspaper related sites, blogs and web pages.

*Also in early December, the Shropshire Star and Newport Advertiser carried W.M.G.C. enquiries concerning hauntings within those regions.

*In October, the Fortean Times Magazine carried a small mention of the W.M.G.C. in their 'GhostWatch' section.

Edited Version of Main Website Update for March 2010.

2011-08-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

Leicestershire Investigation:

On Friday, November the 6th, 2009, W.M.G.C. members conducted an investigation of the Dixie Arms Hotel in Market Bosworth. The visit was organised by group members Marianne Barker and Deborah Green. The Dixie Arms has a somewhat varied and colourful history, parts of the building having previously been utilised as a court room, bicycle shop, boxing ring / gym - by the black, American boxer, Larry Gains, in the 1930's - and a prison for local 'n'er do wells'!!

Ghostly activity at the site is as varied as it's history. Previous owners have allegedly reported seeing 'indistinct figures' gliding from doorway to doorway and there is a long history of animals behaving strangely - for no apparent reason?

Staff visitors and workmen alike have spoken of uneasy feelings in the cellar; a place where seances have allegedly been carried out over the years. One such event is said to have led to a lengthy conversation with a long dead owner of the hotel, containing pertinent data about the name of his favourite dog!! (Cue suitably spooky laughter, a la Vincent Price!!! Laugh!!) One recent occupant at the site reported seeing something described to the group as a 'patch of dark air' floating in the doorway to the room she was in!

Whatever the ghosts said to haunt the Hotel, it was customarily quiet throughout the group visit. Still - an enjoyable investigation was had by all.. no doubt helped in part by a midnight, pizza feast in the bar!!! Laugh!!

South Staffs. Investigation:

Friday the 13th of November - spooky laughter again!! Laugh!! - saw group members pay an overnight visit to the magnificent Pendrell Hall in Codsall Wood. This investigation was organised by John Conway.

Despite its historic appearance, Pendrell Hall was only built in the middle of the 19th Century by a local businessman. By the late 1800's, the house had become the property of the nearby Giffard family, of Chillington Hall. The property shortly came into the hands of art connoisseur, Frank Gaskell, and was finally purchased by Staffs. County Council in 1955.

It would be sad to imagine that such a gothic-looking building might not contain the odd ghost or two and, thankfully, Pendrell Hall certainly doesn't lack in this quarter! Numerous apparitions have been reported at the site, including those of a couple - a man and a woman - in period costume seen walking through walls and closed windows, by a number of witnesses.

In other parts of the property, the ghost of a young, blonde boy has been seen by visitors, sitting on beds and seemingly playing in corridors. One of the most startling encounters reported concerns a staff member being approached by the solid-looking figure of a period-dressed maid in one of the utility passage ways... The figure is said to have walked into a tiny room off the passage and vanished without a trace!!

Footsteps have been heard in empty rooms, along with oppressive feelings of being watched. The movement of objects has been reported - a bottle of whisky being one such popular 'toy' - as well as lights playfully switching themselves on and off in the empty and locked building!! As with most of our investigations, the group visit passed without event.... though it was an absolute pleasure to be able to spend the better part of a night in such an atmospheric setting!

Shropshire Investigation:

On Friday the 20th of November, 2009, a return visit was made to the luxurious Prince Rupert Hotel in Shrewsbury. Accompanying us on this investigation was our old mate Wayne P. of the Black Country Paranormal Society. The event was organised, once again, by John Conway.

Our first visit to the Hotel was carried out in January 2009 in the presence of Chris Kennedy and Martin Wood of the popular Shrewsbury Ghost Walk. The haunted history of this (in parts at least) 'ancient' site is long and chequered. As well as being the site of inexplicable, poltergeist-like activity, the shades of two suicide victims are alleged to haunt separate rooms in the building. Both of these poor unfortunates have allegedly been seen 'dangling' from ropes attached to ceiling beams by occupants of the rooms concerned!

Three ghosts are said to haunt the cellar area - our favourite part of the hotel by far - and these are said to be the shades of a young boy, a maid and a very angry spirit called Henry! The latter is said to show great disdain at the presence of visitors to the cellar - his anger greatly acerbated, no doubt, by the appearance of the local Ghost Walk, as it makes one of its regular stops in the area concerned!! During the filming of the movie 'Scrooge' during the 1980's, a 'Wee-Willy-Winky-style' apparition was reputedly witnessed by a film-crew member in one of the upstairs corridors....

Below: the group 'chilling' in the haunted conference room....

West Midlands Investigation:

On Friday, December the 4th, 2009, West Mids Ghost Club members conducted an investigation into alleged ghostly happenings at the 'Withit Witch' Knitting Centre in Halesowen.

The group had initially been contacted and asked to investigate the site by its current owners Nici and Andy in the early Autumn. However, news of the haunting was carried by a local newspaper prior to our being able to visit the site and this coverage alerted another local group to the matter. This resulted in their conducting their own investigation at the shop before the W.M.G.C. could react - heavy case-load and all that - thus 'pipping us to the post', as it were....

It has to be mentioned here that a lot of the alleged activity at the shop has been reported as being 'picked up' in conjunction with 'sensitive' or 'psychic-types', so the data concerned has to be treated accordingly. However, the smell of cigarette smoke - as mentioned in the article noted above - is said to have been experienced by a number of people visiting the site at the same time. This activity has been ascribed (by one sensitive) to the spirit of a man called Edward and - when the smoke is now subsequently detected - 'he' is politely asked by staff to conduct his anti-social habit elsewhere...!! Laugh!! ....And, apparently, this is said to work!!

The sound of footsteps have been heard by more than one person in empty rooms above the shop and a feeling of being watched from a first floor, rear window reported by people using the nearby car park. On one occasion - but one occasion only - Nici says she looked back at the property to see a vague face staring down at her from the aperture in question. The shop was locked and completely empty at this time. During the investigation held by the other local group, one of their members also spoke of seeing someone passing a ground floor window at the rear of the premises....

It goes without saying that any spooks associated with the shop were impeccably behaved at the time of our visit and not even the slightest whiff of a Woodbine was detected! Laugh!!

West Midlands Investigation #2:

On the 4th of January, 2010, group members carried out a most interesting investigation at the Express and Star Offices in Wolverhampton City Centre. Accompanying the WMGC on the night in question were a small number of staff members and interested parties attached to the newspaper itself. The visit was co-ordinated by John Conway in conjunction with the Ex. and Star staff.

The building itself has a long standing history of ghostly activity, much of which is ascribed to the spirit of a little girl - Alice - who is said to have died in a fall down a lift shaft in the 19th Century.

A few years ago, a night watchman was in the building after closing, when he saw the figure of a small girl at the end of a corridor. He chased after the figure and, when he got to the place where she had been standing, he found a door swinging, as if someone had just gone through it. A subsequent check of the premises showed that there was no one else in the building but him....

In a ladies toilet, a pair of red, girls shoes have been seen on numerous occasions under cubicle doors and the sound of giggling heard. In the area of the printing hall, people complain of being poked and prodded by something unseen, while photographic timers - set by members of staff - have been found altered (turned back to the beginning of a cycle) when no living soul has allegedly been near the area concerned....

Midlands Investigation:

On Saturday, March 20th, the W.M.G.C. paid another visit to one of our favourite sites - an unidentified, historic location, previously investigated numerous times by the Club over the past 4 years.

Ghostly activity reported at the spot includes poltergeist-like occurrences and sightings of groups of figures dressed like Roman soldiers. People staying at the site report having been 'physically attacked' by shadowy figures - one such terrifying occurrence allegedly happening to a gentleman while he was in the process of taking a bath!!

There is a lot of ancient history / archaeology associated with the area in question - some dating back to prehistoric times - including potential burial mounds. It is said that some researchers have apparently discovered a crossing of 'Ley-Lines' at a particular spot in the grounds of the property, a spot where, coincidentally, numerous people have reported uneasy feelings....

During past investigations by the group, two members were seated in a car outside the property when they heard a fleshy knock or thump come from the rear window of the vehicle.... despite the fact that there was no one else in the area. On a separate occasion, a group of people situated inside the buildings heard - for some while - noises coming from a nearby entrance area which sounded like someone entering the property and moving a chair along the floor. There was no one there when the sounds were checked out....

Edited Version of Main Website Update for November 2009.

2011-08-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

'Welcome Re-Visit'

On August the 7th, group members paid yet another visit to one of our favourite sites of recent times - namely, 'Richards Mansion', in the heart of the Midlands. As our more regular visitors will no doubt know, the property concerned has been the focus of numerous W.M.G.C. investigations over the past few years.

An added bonus for this most recent visit was the fact that a young lady had recently contacted us with details of a peculiar incident in the general locality. She informed us that she had been travelling down a particular lane, only a stones throw from Richards Mansion, when she had seen a 'monk-like figure' with a 'glowing face', standing at the side of the road. She said that a few other people known to her had also reported seeing such a figure too, including passing taxi drivers. The road in question is notorious for traffic accidents, despite being a completely straight stretch of road. It is said that a number of people who had crashed in the area had spoken of a 'figure' stepping out in front of their vehicle, prior to their accident.

Our informant made the comment that, despite the fact that monks are supposed to be 'holy people', both she and her partner sensed a presence of evil during their encounter! While Richards Mansion isn't mentioned in the account concerned, the lane in question lies very close to the building and the figure mentioned - or something almost identical - does tie in with the ghostlore surrounding the site. However, the monk associated with 'Richards Mansion' itself is always said to be a most benevolent soul.....

While the road remained quiet during our visit, two group members - Marianne and Deborah - reported a strange experience in the churchyard that adjoins the mansion grounds. While situated on the lawn on the Northern side of the church - in position shown in pic above - they clearly heard a brief sequence of, what seemed to be, some 3 or 4 steps on the wet grass at a point close to their rear. The event had stopped them both in their tracks - they having initially considered that another of the group members were running up behind them. Needless to say, there was no one else present when they checked!?.....

'I'm a Footballer - Get Me Out Of Here!!!'

It's true to say that, sometimes, the most ridiculous stories and events can merit close media attention... especially when a celebrity is concerned!!

In mid to late August, the W.M.G.C. were called upon by a handful of media related sources for input concerning the alleged haunting associated with the luxurious New Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield. The underlying story behind this interest apparently concerned Aston Villa striker, Fabian Delph, asking to be removed from his rooms at the aforementioned hotel after colleagues joked with him over the sites supposed 'haunted' reputation! The 'Sunday Express' newspaper reported on the matter thus:

'HOW A SCARED PLAYER GHOSTED PAST DEFENDERS AND HOTEL STAFF TO ESCAPE TOMB SERVICE'

Sunday August 23, 2009

Premier League hot shot Fabian Delph has been left quaking in his boots by ghost stories. Aston Villa's teenage star made a hurried departure from his temporary digs in a former manor house last weekend after team mates told him it was haunted. The 19-year-old was supposed to stay at the New Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield, a few miles from the club's training ground, but refused to spend a night there after hearing about its phantom guests.

To avoid any brushes with the paranormal he has switched to a modern hotel in the centre of Birmingham. Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov revealed: "Like most of us, he finds that kind of thing a bit disturbing so it didn't help when he was booked into the New Hall Hotel to be told by some of the lads that the place is haunted. He went along but couldn't bear the thought of spending a night there, so he asked to be moved."

Delph's fright-fest came as he arrived at the Midlands club after transferring from Leeds United.

New Hall was built 800 years ago and has been run as a hotel since 1988. Guests and staff have reported several bone-chilling encounters. The most commonly seen spook is the white lady who has been blamed for unexplained loud bangs. Other restless spirits include the former owner George Sacheverell, who was suspected of practising black magic and devil worship, a cavalier who appears in the kitchen courtyard and a mysterious lady in dark clothing always accompanied by a spectral hound.

The most gruesome tale concerns a man executed by the Duke of Cumberland in 1785 whose severed head apparently floats across the estate looking for his body. A hotel worker said: "There are a number of ghost stories but perhaps the best known is the one about the white lady. She was a former maid from the days who apparently haunts the corridors. Having said that, we have had a number of famous names, including footballers, who have stayed here and slept soundly."

John Conway of the West Midlands Ghost Club said: "One of the most interesting stories concerns guests at a dinner party who were startled by crashes and bangs from one of the rooms. Expecting to find someone trashing the place, they dashed to the room only to find it untouched.

Over the years, Pavarotti, Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue have all stayed without any problems so I have no idea why Fabian Delph couldn't handle at least one night."

An Aston Villa spokeswoman said: "A few of the lads probably wanted to welcome Fabian into the team by ribbing him about the ghosts. He feels settled at his hotel so we hope he'll continue to show plenty of spirit on the pitch."

Of some note to the above mentioned case is the fact that the group has subsequently received a document from an interested party - alerted to our passing association with the site by a local, related article - seemingly outlining details of individual 'ghosts' at the property, gleaned, it is claimed, from 'conversations' with the 'spirits' themselves!?!... Hmmmm???

Hot on the trail of any such stories these days - certainly a most unwelcome sign of the times - we are horrified to hear that a commercial ghost hunting concern is now conducting paid events at New Hall Hotel! With regards to the former status of the site as possibly the most luxurious example of such a property in the West Midlands..... how the mighty have fallen, eh?

'Shropshire Investigations'

On two separate dates within recent months - June 26th and Sept. 12th - W.M.G.C. members conducted investigations at Shrewsbury Library in Shropshire. The events concerned were secured and organised by John Conway.

Historically speaking, the building itself began life as Shrewsbury School, which was housed here from 1550 to 1882. The building was subsequently given to the borough and a public library and museum opened. The oldest part of the library building - 'Riggs Hall' - dates from around 1450 and once served as the Headmasters House...

Needless to say, by far the most famous pupil to grace the school with his presence was none other than the eminent, Charles Darwin, whose impressive statue sits in the gardens at the front of the property.

With regards to the sites more 'ghostly' heritage, the library is said to have been the focus of a number of preternatural experiences. A number of years ago, an archaeologist was working in Riggs Hall late one night and - while looking into a particular excavation trench - kept hearing someone making a 'psst' noise in his ear, as if trying to get his attention. Whenever he looked to see who it was, there was no one there.

The same gentleman slept a few nights at the building and, one evening, heard someone trying to open the padlock that secured the door of his room. He quickly hatched a plan to climb out of the window, in an endeavour to catch the suspected 'burglar'. Having carried out this energetic feat, it was discovered that - while the outer doors to the property were found to be still locked and bolted - the padlock to his room had actually been 'opened'!!! This was apparently more than enough for the poor chap and he shot off back home to Birmingham.... and reports having had the best night's sleep in ages!! Laugh!!

The W.M.G.C. were also told of the figure of a woman - in period costume - being seen walking through the stacks area of the building. A similar form was witnessed both in the old school library and in the basement section of the property by staff members. Also, the figure of a young boy has allegedly been spotted on a small staircase leading up to the clock tower room. The ghost of an old gentleman has also supposedly been seen sitting in a chair in the former Headmasters House....

During our investigation of June 26th, three group members were in the music library when they heard a peculiar 'twang' noise. No one present could account for the sound heard, which was very similar to the 'boing' noise made when someone vibrates a spring, door stop. It was only when one of the group members mentioned having made a similar noise with a ruler on the edge of a desk while still at school that they realised that they were in a part of the building that served as a former classroom....?! Could this have possibly had some bearing on the noise heard, perhaps?

Following this first investigation at the site, group member Steve Chew discovered a section of footage on one of his video recordings which appears to contain the sound of a female voice, when only two male investigators were present at the time!? Nothing untoward was heard by the investigators during this same period, however.

This piece of film caught the attention of the Shropshire press following it's discovery and it's inclusion on our online photo album has resulted in thousands of visits at the time of writing!! The video snippet itself can still be accessed via our album and a slightly enhanced version of the recording heard on the W.M.G.C. Juke-Box, on our web site.

On the weight of the aforementioned events, a second visit to the site was soon arranged.

On the evening in question, a vigil was carried out at 9.52 pm. During this period, the overall group split into 4 separate teams and covered the music library, the old school library, the offices above Riggs Hall and the basement level. At approximately 9.56 - 57 pm, a very loud, metallic sound and a noise akin to a door being slammed shut were heard by the groups stationed in the music library and old school room.

Those in the music library indicated that the sounds had seemingly originated somewhere down a large stairwell at the centre of the room, which runs the depth of the building. (No one inside the building that night were anywhere near the area specified). Immediate investigation revealed nothing of interest and neither of the two other groups had heard anything during the period outlined.

Luckily, digital sound recording equipment was running in the stacks section of the site - downstairs - at the time, which caught the sounds concerned. Samples of the noises can be heard at the Juke-Box link given above...

All in all, Shrewsbury Library has turned out to be one of the most intriguing - and possibly 'productive' - investigation sites ever visited by the W.M.G.C. Our most sincere thanks go out to Kathy Berry for so kindly putting up with our presence and donating her time to our escapades! Also, a big thank you to all of the staff members and associated friends who were our keen companions on the investigations concerned.

'Walsall Investigation'.

On October the 23rd, group members conducted an investigation at the Jabez Cliff Leather Factory, on the edge of Walsall town centre. The W.M.G.C. first learned of the alleged haunting at this site in 2004, when owner Cliff Kirby-Tibbetts made contact and related some of the sites fascinating, 'ghostly' history to us. Subsequently, we have kept in touch with Cliff sporadically - our continued interest culminating in this recent visit.

It has to be stressed that this most impressive and imposing factory building has clearly been attracting the interest of research organisations of late, our investigation falling only a week after a visit by a friend, Mark Cave, and the Midlands Paranormal Investigations team. Our long standing associates at the Black Country Paranormal Society have also organised an investigation for the near future too.

With regards to the ghostly history of the site, it allegedly boasts a long standing, paranormal heritage. This includes sightings of different apparitions, poltergeist activity - i.e. the movement of objects and auditory phenomenon, such as footsteps passing across empty rooms, etc - and even 'physical assault' on at least 3 separate visitors. One gentleman - known for his size and no-nonsense attitude - was startled to find himself being pushed over by a seemingly invisible hand, while walking up a staircase in the factory on a recent visit!

Cliff himself has previously arranged a number of investigations at the site over the past few years and visiting psychics and sensitives are said to have been both impressed - and disturbed - by different aspects of the factory.

With regards to the W.M.G.C. visit to the site, it has to be said that only one event is worthy of note. In an area of the factory infamous for having a somewhat detrimental effect on electrical equipment, group members found that a freshly charged video camera battery was suddenly - and surprisingly - bereft of power.... While there could be a rational / technical explanation for such an event, a second camera (locked off and running during this same period) was found to have been inexplicably 'switched off' 43 minutes and 34 seconds into the recording!? It was also noted that the battery of the camera concerned had less charge left in it for the duration of recording made.

W.M.G.C. members would like to thank Mr. Kirby-Tibbetts for allowing us access to his superb factory complex. Also, 'cheers' to Barry and Tom for looking after us on the night in question!

'Investigation And Bookish Pursuits!'

Halloween night saw W.M.G.C. members conducting an investigation of 'The Book Farm' at Astley in Warwickshire. The visit was, once again, arranged by John Conway.

Nowhere near as surreal as it might first sound, the Book Farm is just what it implies on the tin..... a farm that sells books!! Situated on the Arbury Estate - the birth place of the Victorian novelist, George Eliot - this most unique and picturesque shop is housed in a range of old farm buildings and boasts a stock of 75,000 used, rare and out of print books!!!

Needless to mention - the reason for our visit to the area - the site is also rumoured to be haunted by three different ghosts!!!!

As usual with a great many W.M.G.C. investigations, our time in Astley passed without event. A number of recordings - both sound and video - were made during the night, but the resulting footage is still being checked through at the time of writing.

Group members would just like to say a big thank you to Book Farm owners Sarah and Vivienne for allowing us to visit their most charming shop!! Your trust in the group is much appreciated indeed!

'In The Media'.

As usual, a number of W.M.G.C. events have recently caught the attention of the media.

*The group Blog was mentioned in articles by the Walsall Advertiser and Sutton Coldfield Observer on August the 20th and 21st.

*Matters pertaining to Fabien Delph and New Hall Hotel were mentioned in the Sunday Express (Aug. 23rd) and Sutton News (See pic below - front page headlines - Aug. 28th). A group member was interviewed on the Radio W.M. Paul Franks Show on August 24th about the subject.

*On Sept. 9th, the Halesowen News ran an article regarding our interest in a potential 'phantom jaywalker' case in Romsley.

*Our involvement with Shrewsbury Library was covered in editions of the Shropshire Star (Sept. 17th) and Shrewsbury Chronicle (July 3rd).

*On September the 28th and 30th, a group member appeared on Beacon Radio and the Radio W.M. Danny Kelly Show to speak about the (so-called) 'Cannock Chase Werewolf'. The B.B.C. online website also mentions the group in a feature on the same subject. See piece HERE.

Our mate Brett Birks - author of the abovementioned article - also recently ran a piece on the B.B.C. website regarding our views on the usage of psychics and mediums in investigative situations.

Edited Version of Main Website Update for June 2009.

2011-08-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

Media Watch: As sometimes occurs, W.M.G.C. activities and investigations have attracted the attention of media related sources over recent months.....

On April 10th (09), the Newport Advertiser ran an article concerning our interest in ghost stories hailing from that particular region of Shropshire. On April 14th, the Shropshire Star picked up on the aforementioned article and ran a similar piece. On the same day, a group member was interviewed by BBC Radio Shropshire on the very same topic.

One of our most productive newspaper appeals to date began on April the 2nd, when the Walsall Advertiser ran an article seeking ghost stories associated with Barr Beacon in Great Barr. Our interest in the site concerned had, at that point, recently been aroused by a story concerning supposed 'phantom highwaymen' in the area.

Following the initial article, the Sutton Observer ran a piece on April the 7th, while the Advertiser featured a follow-up letter on the same date. Both newspapers subsequently carried further articles on the subject on the 15th and 17th of April, respectively.

Guest Investigation And Site Visit: On May the 4th, group members were invited to take part in an evenings investigation by our friends, the Black Country Paranormal Society. The focus of the visit was a particular area of the Black Country which has been the focus of many B.C.P.S. enquiries over a number of years.

In centuries gone by an infamous murder took place at the site, which - somewhat strangely - led to tales of the region being haunted not by the murder victim concerned, but by the murderer himself. Whatever the truth behind this part of the regions folklore, the locality involved would appear to be 'littered' with seemingly unconnected, potentially paranormal, lore...... Our thanks to Wayne and Heidi - and the B.C.P.S. members - for inviting us along on their investigation!!

Birmingham Investigation.

On Friday, May the 1st, W.M.G.C. members conducted an investigation at the premises of a major, financial company in Birmingham city centre.

Our attention was first drawn to this site by an email from a manager at the company, who told us that she had experienced a number of strange happenings there. Events seemed to begin in September 2008, when she apparently saw the figure of a man - peering at her from behind a concrete post - in the car par / sub-basement level of the building. Immediate investigation had revealed that there had been no one else in the area at the time and all 4 people present in the property - the manager, her grandson and 2 security officers - were accounted for.

Other members of staff have also reported a host of peculiar incidents. One entire section of the building in question is said to play host to virulent, poltergeist-like activity, while, in a ground floor rest room a woman reports having had a cup of coffee seemingly 'slapped out of her hand' by an invisible force. Not far from the site of this latter mentioned incident, a shadowy figure has regularly been seen walking the length of a reception area.

In other parts of the building, disembodied voices and a womans footsteps - the clear impression of high-heels on concrete - have been heard. In the sub-basement, the sound of classical music has been reported (seemingly tying in with an aspect of site history) and a decidedly 'nasty' feeling in a shower room detected by many....

Our most sincere thanks go out to 'Janet' for bringing this matter to our attention and kindly inviting us to take part in an investigation of this fabulous site......

Some Perplexing Footage.....?

During mid-May, the group received an interesting phonecall from staff at an educational centre in Walsall, telling of a peculiar happening from two days earlier.....

At approximately 7.40 am, two staff members had been standing in their main office area - looking at two clients on a security monitor - when they'd apparently witnessed a peculiar, 'smoke-like' effect pass a camera in another part of the building. As they watched, the effect concerned was repeated.... and one of the staff members ran up to the room involved to check no one was inside the room smoking. At the time of doing this, however, it was already known that - because of the time of the morning involved - the area concerned was locked and empty. Upon investigation, this was indeed found to be the case.

On the staff member returning to the office, the effect was seen to occur again... this time by more staff members who had now been alerted to what was happening. What is of considerable interest throughout this episode is the fact that the digital time counter on the bottom of the screen is allegedly seen to 'slow down' and, for a brief period at least, actually 'stop'......?

Within a day of the call, a W.M.G.C. member visited the property to interview witnesses and actually view a copy of the footage concerned. During this period, it was ascertained that, some 2 years earlier, a staff member had reported seeing a dark, shadowy figure in a ground floor corridor of the property. The figure was seen to be holding it's arms aloft - as in an act of surrender - prior to vanishing. Of interest to group members is the fact that the building in question appears to be situated in an area which seems particularly 'rife' with allegedly haunted properties.... many of which appear to contain stories of similar sightings, including 'shadowy', or 'insubstantial' figures.

Unfortunately, our visit itself turned out to be something of an anti-climax when it was discovered that the recorded footage could not be made to work for some reason. s

Midlands Investigation.

May the 15th saw W.M.G.C. members conducting an investigation at a 400 year old, three star hotel in the Midlands area. Our visit was organised by group associates, Debbie Green and Marianne Barker.

Both staff and guests at this popular, city centre hotel have reported a plethora of alleged, 'ghostly' happenings. The manager of the site concerned carries a considerable degree of 'healthy scepticism' when it comes to such matters. He has worked at the hotel for 10 years now, but has never experienced anything 'untoward' himself; however, the stories still persist.....

Some while ago, a former housekeeper at the site reported having seen the figure of a little girl - possibly 5 to 7 years old - on the back stairs of the building. When she was challenged by the staff member, the child is said to have cheekily put her finger to her lips - as in a 'shushing' motion - and then scuttled away, out of sight....

At another point, a cleaner, working in a bedroom in the oldest part of the building, claims to have seen the torso of a black (Afro / Carribbean) man floating towards her!! She is said to have left the hotel that day and never returned. In the same area, vacuum cleaners have been regularly switched off while in use and shoes have been witnessed flying through walls....

On the same floor as the above incidents, a guest is said to have found the contents of his suitcase mysteriously emptied onto the bedroom floor. A number of other guests using the same room - No. 104 - have all found themselves being locked out of the room (frequently naked!) during the night. Apparently, there was a death in this particular room around 6 years ago and, having spoken with people who knew him, the unfortunate gentleman concerned was said to have been 'something of a joker' in life!!

In recent times, a gentleman was said to have been involved in a paranormal related event being held in the city and stayed at the hotel. On taking a look around the property, he proclaimed that there was some form of spiritual 'vortex' in one of the cellar rooms. Strangely, many members of staff are said to be rather reticent to venture down there and a chef recently found the lights being switched off and something brushing past him in this area....

Group members would like to thank the hotel manager and staff for granting us permission to visit their lovely hotel....

School Investigation.

On Friday the 12th of June, group members conducted a follow-up investigation of a secondary school site - situated in the heart of the Midlands - which was first visited in March 2008. The event was organised by Steve 'Cuddly-Boy' Chew.

The site concerned is said to have a long-standing ghostly history, with such reported incidents as windows seemingly 'opening by themselves' at night; staff members being physically 'touched' by unseen forces and a pair of double doors on the buildings main corridor recorded on security footage as opening of their own volition, with - some have said - a 'female-shaped shadow' appearing on the corridor floor in the same sequence..... More recent events include footsteps being heard in unoccupied rooms above the school Library and a shadowy figure seen crossing a corridor near a stock cupboard.

Staff at the school have mounted an investigation of the premises themselves, but only report having heard 'noises' throughout the vigil.

During our recent visit, group members witnessed, at first hand, instances of the corridor, 'double-doors' opening slightly and audibly... seemingly of their own volition. However, on the instances concerned, all movement seemed quite naturally occurring, being a combination of drafts inside the building and the way in which the doors themselves are hung / balanced. Having said this - in comparison to the past, staff experiences - the movement of the doors on the night of the investigation was naturally occurring a maximum of 5 to 6 inches..... As a result, we cannot objectively draw accurate comparisons with the 'complete' opening of the doors, as reported at other times....

Towards the end of the visit, 4 group members experienced 'peculiar noises' simultaneously, in the same corridor. Two members were collecting trigger objects when they heard a muffled, high-pitched 'Woooo' type sound. At the same time, two other members were some 20 yards away, when they heard 'shush-type' noises. One heard the noise twice, while the other reports having caught the tail-end of a solitary sound...

As always, W.M.G.C. thanks go out to the school authorities for allowing us access to their property and to caretaker Brian for looking after us so well!!

Brief Note - Assurance.....

2011-08-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick notice for anyone who has recently visited this blog and, noting the ongoing re-posts from our website, now believes that this is all the blog will be amounting to from now on. On the contrary, this current movement of data is down to a forthcoming website re-think and will - from this point onward - be a miniscule and sporadic concern re. the continuation of this blog. Instead of hosting a couple of years worth of website updates on the main page itself, there will only be a single 'current events / latest news' page and the preceding post will be moved to this blog (on average, only three or perhaps four times a year).

As before, the blog will continue to be a back-up / complimentary concern to our main website, bringing you all the guff, bluff and bluster of a W.M. ghostie fashion that it used to carry previously........

Edited Version of Main Website Update for Feb. 2009

2011-08-01T08:06:00.000-07:00

Midlands Investigation:

On the 15th of November 2008 and February the 20th 2009, W.M.G.C. members paid overnight visits to a magnificent Hall / Hotel in the Midlands area. The visit was organised by John 'golden-touch' Conway.

The 'ghostly history' associated with this grade II listed property is a substantial one, with reported activity including poltergeist-like effects and the sighting of a number of apparitions. Some of the different ghosts allegedly witnessed over recent decades include those of a little girl; a woman in white; an indistinct figure, seemingly swathed in light and a 'shadowy form' which has been seen in the hall grounds.

By far the most frequently reported activity at the site involves the sound of children laughing and playing in and around the property. On our recent visit, the present security guard / concierge informed us that - only the night before - he had heard a noise akin to the sound of 'children trying to whistle' in the empty building....

At other times, visitors to the hotel have reported the sound of a female voice, during the early hours of the morning, which appears to be singing a lullaby.

The current owner of the hotel has heard many first-hand stories from staff members and customers alike. On one occasion he had been dealing with a problem in the dining area of the property and, upon walking into the reception corridor of the building, the glass top of a nearby table exploded into tiny pieces with no one standing near it.....

A big W. M. Ghost Club 'Thank You' to hotel management - and staff - for kindly allowing our visit and for accommodating us so wonderfully and warmly!! Also, 'welcome' to our new friends Debbie and Marianne who accompanied the usual gaggle of group members on our second investigation to the Hall.

Warwickshire Repeat Investigation:

December the 12th, 2008, saw group members pay a much-overdue, return visit to Alcester Town Hall. The investigation was arranged by group member, John Conway.

The W.M.G.C. first visited Alcester in early 2008 to look into reports of alleged paranormal happenings at this early 17th Century property. The apparition of a 'grey lady' has reputedly been seen at the site and the sound of a young girl heard crying in an upstairs room. Akin to Warwick Castle and the nearby St Nicholas church (Alcester), the shade of Sir Fulke Greville has also been associated with the Town Hall!

While only a comparatively small party from the group attended this particular investigation, our numbers were bolstered by the charming Kim Ross. The W.M.G.C. would like to thank Town Hall management / authorities - in particular, Vernon Munton and John Ross - for allowing us to re-visit this superb site.

Midlands Investigation #2:

On the 20th December 2008, group members braved freezing temperatures and icy winds to investigate the site of one of the bloodiest battles to have ever been fought on English soil.....!!! Our visit to the area was organised by John Conway.

Over the years, a number of peculiar incidents and experiences have been reported from this area, particularly so around a local Church and graveyard.... which served as one of the key points of interest for group members during our visit.

Shropshire Investigation #2

January 9th, 2009, saw group members paying a visit to the magnificent, 3 star Prince Rupert Hotel in Shrewsbury. Once again, our investigation was organised by John Conway. Situated in the very heart of Shrewsbury town, the Prince Rupert is widely regarded as the most haunted hotel in the county.

The property has been privately owned by the Matthews family since the mid-90's and, structurally, boasts a framework that spans almost a thousand years of history. With regards to the ghostlore of this building, a variety of ghosts and peculiar happenings have allegedly been witnessed and experienced over the years.

The shades of two suicide victims - a man and a woman who are believed to have both hung themselves at the property in unrelated incidents - have been seen by customers and staff. (The room haunted by the female victim - formerly a bedroom - is currently utilised as a conference suite). In the hotel cellar, the ghosts of a young boy, a serving woman and an angry individual called Henry have reputedly been experienced. The latter mentioned has, on occasion, allegedly made his presence known to people visiting the site as part of the popular Shrewsbury Ghost Walk!

While only constituting a 'one off' sighting, the ghost of an old gentleman who apparently resembled 'wee-willy-winky' was seen in the hotel during the 1980's!!! The sighting was made during the filming of the movie 'A Christmas Carol' in Shrewsbury, when cast and crew members stayed at the Prince Rupert. Director of photography for the film, Tony Imi, was said to have been making his way back to his bedroom one evening when he spotted an old gentleman - dressed in a long nightshirt and carrying a candle - walking along a corridor. Mr Imi politely bade the peculiar figure 'goodnight', but received no reply..... Having made a point of watching the man continue obliviously along the passage, he was allegedly last seen vanishing through a nearby wall!!!

For the duration of our visit to the Prince Rupert, we were accompanied by our good friend Kim Ross and Shrewsbury Ghost Walk staff member, Chris Kennedy. Prior to the start of our investigation, group members were treated to a tour of the historic hotel which was led by both Chris and Shrewsbury Town Crier, author and Ghost Walk organiser, Martin Wood.

Hearty Ghost Club thanks go out to Prince Rupert proprietor, Michael Matthews, for allowing us to visit his fabulous hotel and to Martin and Chris for kindly sharing their time and encyclopaedic knowledge of Shrewsbury with us during the visit!

Staffordshire Re-visit Investigation:

On January the 16th, 2009, group members made a welcome return to the Assembly Rooms in Tamworth. The investigation was organised by John Conway.

Since our previous visit to the site last Halloween, staff member Jock Ross has amassed a wealth of information concerning the ghosts and hauntings allegedly associated with this popular, entertainment venue. Spurred on by recent press coverage, a number of people both previously and currently involved with the building have now come forward with their stories and encounters. While much of the information proffered would seem to tie in with information previously related to group members, a wealth of 'extra' detail has now been made available to researchers.

It appears that some of the first 'recorded' activity at the Assembly Rooms occurred during the 1950's and involved members of the local amateur dramatics group, the Tamworth Arts Club. After setting up for events, group members would regularly congregate in the auditorium for a well earned drink. It was during these periods that the sound of footsteps would frequently be heard crossing the stage, moving onto the auditorium floor and off into the distance.... On occasion, it was said that some of those present had briefly seen the figure of an old man appear, just before the footsteps faded. The figure of the old man had also been seen a number of times over the years, in different parts of the building. A former caretaker had seen him passing down the main corridor to the hall and entering the toilets.

As previously mentioned, it is thought that the figure of the old man, seen wearing a brown warehouse-style jacket, ties in with a former caretaker of the property. The man concerned has now been identified, but for the sake of these notes shall remain nameless. While sightings of the female ghost associated with the Assembly Rooms are something of a rarity these days, the smell of her perfume - lavender - is still occasionally noticed to this day. At the height of her presence, she was only ever reported as appearing in the back-stage area, wearing a flower patterned dress and having a 'happy' look about her.......

As previously, the group would like to say a big thank you Assembly Rooms management and to our excellent host for the night, Jock Ross.

Black Country Investigation Follow-Up:

February the 6th saw group members paying an overdue re-visit to the Sandwell Council Training and Development Centre in Oldbury. Investigation arranged by John Conway. This site was first visited by the West Mids Ghost Club in mid-January 2008, so a repeat investigation of the property was somewhat overdue. AS mentioned on this page previously, the building concerned - a former school - has a reputation for ghostly activity and the figures of a young girl and two men in brown, cow-gown style clothing have been seen. Cleaners at the site have reported uneasy feelings in certain parts of the property, while canteen staff have allegedly seen the figure of a woman in grey in the cafe section. Previously, a piano has allegedly been heard - seemingly playing by itself - in an empty lecture hall.....

Our thanks go out to Training Centre management for allowing us to visit the site again, with a special 'nod of gratitude' to Centre security officer, Mr. Singh. Also - again - to Debbie and Marianne who accompanied us for the duration of our stay......

Media Watch:

On November the 6th and 14th 2008, the Tamworth Herald ran articles concerning our (then) recent investigation at the Assembly Rooms. The Tamworth Times also ran a similar article on November the 6th.

In late December 2008, the Shropshire Star newspaper ran a brief article concerning the W.M.G.C.'s forthcoming investigation at the Prince Rupert Hotel in Shrewsbury. A further mention of the group appeared in a second article about the Hotel in mid-January 2009.

News of the W.M.G.C.'s 20th birthday (this year) attracted a considerable amount of media interest, resulting in articles appearing in the Coventry Telegraph, the Birmingham Mail, the Express and Star and the Shropshire Star in early January. January the 8th saw articles appearing in the Sutton Coldfield Observer, the Tamworth Herald, the Walsall Advertiser, Lichfield Post, Rugeley Post and a mention on Telford F.M. Radio!! A further article concerning the group appeared in the Staffordshire Newsletter, as well as a second appearance on Telford F.M. on Sunday the 18th of Jan.

In Mid-February, an article appeared in the Express and Star concerning the clubs (then) forthcoming visit to Sandwell Council Training Centre in Oldbury.

Edited Version of Main Website Update for November 2008.

2011-07-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

Return Visit:

On July the 18th, club members paid a long overdue, re-visit to one of their favourite sites: ‘Richards Mansion House’.

As frequently occurs with W.M.G.C. investigations, the night passed quietly enough, with regards to potential, paranormal happenings, though – in other quarters – proved, shall we say, highly interesting…!

Early on in the visit, 3 group members (who shall remain nameless) came close to losing ‘life and limb’ in a ‘mad charge’ involving a heard of menacing cattle! After the initial ‘engagement’, our bovine aggressors clearly made a determined effort to ‘maintain a somewhat threatening presence’ – eyeing us cagily over a flimsy wire fence - giving rise to speculation concerning malign, supernatural forces possibly being at work…..!?!?

On an even less savoury note, the group later found themselves exposed to an outdated and most macabre aspect of country-lore: the act of ‘mole hanging’.

Far from being an obscure Monty Python sketch, this horrible practice entails displaying the corpses of deceased moles – usually suspended from barbed wire by their noses – as a means to display the prowess of the mole catcher involved. While the W.M.G.C. is all for embracing tradition, this is certainly an activity that desperately needs resigning to the deepest ‘past practices’ vault!!!!

North Staffs. Visit:

August the 24th saw group members attend a ‘charity ghost hunt’ – in aid of the Laura Crane Trust – at Alton Towers in Staffordshire. Also in attendance was our ‘old mate’ Wayne from the Black Country Paranormal Society.

While no obvious paranormal activity was experienced during the stay – apart from information proffered by the organisers psychic and investigative team – a thoroughly enjoyable night was evidently had by all who attended.

The highlight of the night for W.M.G.C. members was a considerable ‘free-roam’ period, in which the opportunity was given to attendees for exploration of the substantial and impressive ruins unaccompanied. ‘Staged’ events during the visit were also immensely diverting, with entertaining input from two psychics, as well as the presence of a former ‘Most Haunted’ film crew.

W.M.G.C. members would like to extend our most sincere thanks to Pam Thornes and Sarah Jane for so kindly inviting us to attend this superb event.

Details of the Laura Crane Trust can be found at www.lauracranetrust.org and we beg visitors to this site to please take their time to check out this most worthy concern…..

Messin’ About On The Water:

On Friday the 5th of September, group members conducted an investigation of the famous Dudley Canal / Cavern system. Also in attendance were our mates Wayne and Heidi from the Black Country Paranormal Society. The event was organised by John Conway.

For decades now, stories of ghostly happenings have circulated in connection with this canal system. In more recent years, the site has featured on a number of television programmes, with one of the more famous features as a result of interest from the popular, ‘Most Haunted’ show.

On Oct. 31st, 2001, W.M. Ghost Club members attended one of the first ‘ghost related’ boat excursions into the historic system. Of late, such supernatural themed events have become highly popular and are now held quite regularly by the Dudley Canal Trust.

As with all recent excursions, the event was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. As well as our friends from the B.C.P.S., the visit was also graced by the presence of Tim and John, actors and organisers of the Halloween related boat tours.

The W.M.G.C. would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to Dudley Canal Trust for so kindly allowing us access to the tunnels. Special thanks go to our Skipper for the night, Bob, and his second-in-command ‘Spider’!!

Because The Lady Loves…:

On September the 13th, three club members paid an overdue visit to a picturesque Shropshire village in search of a legendary ‘grey lady’ ghost who allegedly haunts the locality.

The aforementioned apparition has been associated with this particular area for well over a century. Certain sources maintain that her presence is still felt in the region, despite the demolition of her usual ‘stomping ground’ – the local manor house – just prior to the middle of the last century. As well as being witnessed inside the Hall itself, her ghost has allegedly been seen walking the village, much of which was formerly incorporated into the grounds of this long vanished structure…..

Convivial company in a lovely setting has always been one of the key bonuses in this field!!

Ridin', Ridin', Ridin'....:

September the 26th saw group members investigating an allegedly haunted stables complex in Warwickshire.

Over the past two decades, numerous ghostly happenings have been witnessed in most sections of the site concerned. Poltergeist-like activity has allegedly been experienced by managers and staff at the centre, along with reports of numerous apparitions and shadowy figures reported by people visiting the site.

Of the latter, one particular figure – described as resembling ‘Zack Dingle’ from the T.V. show ‘Emmerdale’ – stands out as the most startling….

He has supposedly been seen on numerous occasions – frequently by groups of people at the same time – seemingly ‘loitering’ around one specific corner of the stable yard. When challenged by witnesses, this figure has been seen to vanish over a nearby ‘muck heap’ or or making off along one edge of a paddock before disappearing…..

During our initial recce. of the site, Steve Chew reported seeing ‘something move’ in the general area indicated in the above experiences. At a later point in the night, Steve took a photograph of the area concerned. Of passing interest was the fact that the resulting image was rather blurred; the first (and so far only) blurred picture ever taken with this particular camera. The second, more intriguing, feature of the image is the ‘figure’ to be seen standing in the right-hand corner of the shot obtained….?

Only 4 people were present in the area at this point in time, 2 inside a distant building and – as well as Steve – one other standing (out of shot), in the process of setting up in a video recording session….

W.M.G.C. thanks go out Debbie and her staff for kindly inviting us to investigate their most intriguing site…..

‘Rambling’ On!!:

On October the 11th, intrepid group members conducted a night-time visit / investigation of certain – allegedly haunted - sections of Sutton Park.

Of particular interest to group members was an area of the park surrounding the site of Rowtons Well, where numerous witnesses claim to have seen a phantom horseman in period costume. The well itself is allegedly an ancient site, the waters of which are invested with healing properties.

In another section of the park the club checked out a spot where – during the 1950’s – a lone cyclist saw a white, robed figure float across a road in front of him and vanish into thin air.

Also visited was Blackroot Pool, where certain ‘sensitive’ types have allegedly detected a distraught man in Victorian or Edwardian costume who exudes a negative and disturbing feeling….!!!

Halloween Investigation:

On Halloween night 2008, members of the W.M.G.C. carried out an investigation into alleged ghostly happenings at the Tamworth Assembly Rooms. The investigation was arranged by John Conway.

Serving as the key entertainment venue for the area, the grade II listed Assembly Rooms have served as the premier, live music venue for the South Staffordshire area for a number of decades. Having played host to such bands as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones over the years, the history of this impressive building is littered with a plethora of intriguing and potentially spooky happenings……

A truly superb – and fascinating - night was had by all who attended. W.M.G.C. thanks go to the Assembly Rooms management for kindly granting us the opportunity to visit them. Also, an especially big ‘Cheers’ to Jock – our host for the night – for all of his unerring help and hospitality throughout the visit.

Media Watch:

*August 14th – ‘Sunday Mercury’ newspaper carries an article concerning W.M.G.C. interest in peculiar happenings on Cannock Chase.

*September edition of the newly re-launched ‘Paranormal Magazine’ carries a brief mention of the W.M.G.C. in their group listings.

*September the 1st – ‘Black Country Evening Mail’ carries an article on W.M.G.C. interest in the Dudley Canal system.

*September the 3rd – ‘Dudley News’ carries an article on W.M.G.C. interest in the Dudley Canal system.

*September 4th – John Conway appears on the Ed Doolan Show on BBC Radio W.M. talking about the W.M.G.C. and related interest.

*October 21st – The Sandwell and Walsall editions of the Express and Star published articles on the W.M.G.C.’s interest in a notorious (Victorian) murder and related haunting in the Coombeswood area of Blackheath.

*October 23rd and November 6th – The Tamworth Times runs two articles concerning the W.M.G.C. investigation of Tamworth Assembly Rooms on Halloween night. The Tamworth Herald also ran a similar article on November the 6th.

*November the 5th – The Shropshire Star newspaper ran an article on the groups interest in reported hauntings in that county.

Edited Version of Main Website Update for July 2008.

2011-07-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

Midlands Investigation:

On Friday the 28th of March, group members investigated an allegedly haunted school in the Midlands region. The visit was organised by Steve Chew.

Staff members at this fairly modern, secondary school have reported a number of ‘peculiar’ - potentially paranormal - incidents over recent years.

The site caretaker has, on a number of occasions, discovered windows which appear to have ‘opened by themselves’ during the night. In one such instance, he made to admonish a colleague for not having carried out their duties properly and closed the window in question the previous night. However, upon first checking security footage of the area concerned, he was stunned to see the window seemingly ‘open of it’s own accord’ during the early hours of the morning.

A number of windows around the site were pointed out to group members as having been discovered as open at times.A pair of double doors on the buildings main corridor have also been recorded on security footage as opening of their own volition. Some witnesses to the footage have mentioned a female-shaped shadow appearing on the corridor floor in the same sequence.One member of the teaching staff – closely related to a W.M.G.C. associate – reports having been touched on the shoulder in an otherwise empty classroom.

A number of staff previously mounted their own vigil at the school, but only report having heard ‘noises’ during their stay.

The W.M.G.C. investigation of the site revealed nothing of potential, paranormal interest. It was noted however that the bulk of the building was, all too evidently, filled with reasonably strong air currents. During the entire visit, we were aware of noises throughout the building – doors banging / bumping, etc – which were almost certainly down to such conditions.

The group would like to thank Brian – site caretaker – for showing us around the school and sharing his experiences with us.

Coventry Investigation:

Friday, April the 12thsaw group members paying a night-time visit to the medieval Swanswell Gate in Coventry City centre. This visit was organised by Steve Chew.

Built in 1461, Swanswell Gate is one only two remaining gateways - from the original 12 - which were situated along the city wall. Also known as Priory Gate, this site has allegedly been the focus of poltergeist-like activity over the years. In 2003, a charity ‘ghost hunt’ was held in the building by staff at CV One, after a dustpan was witnessed un-clipping itself from a wall and seemingly flying across the room……

Subsequent to our investigation a former resident of Swanswell Gate - who claims to have lived in the building for many years - contacted the group to tell us about his myriad experiences at the property.

While the building itself could not be construed as conducive to investigation ‘proper’ – merely consisting of two small rooms – it was still a great privilege for group members to be allowed to spend a few hours soaking in the atmosphere of such a historic site.

Our thanks go to Coventry City Council – a remarkable, ever obliging host – for granting us permission to stay the night in Swanswell Gate.

Wolverhampton Investigation:

On April the 19th, two members of the West Mids Ghost Club conducted an investigation of ‘Rowfers’ shop in King Street, Wolverhampton. The visit was organised by John Conway.

Current shop manager Deb tells us that – some years ago – during her first week at the shop, she found herself being ‘pushed backwards into a chair’, whilst serving a customer. She described the sensation as if someone had invisible walked through her and knocked her backwards. Seeking the (then) manager of the premises, she had said: ‘This place is haunted, isn’t it?’

‘Well…… we didn’t want to tell you….!’ Came the sheepish reply!

Since this point, Deb has experienced a number of other peculiar happenings at the shop, including the sighting of a man in a black suit and white shirt in the kitchen area.

Staff members have reported movement of stock, display stands rotating on their own – stopping and starting – and a clock falling from a wall with it’s moorings still intact. A smell of cinnamon has been detected at times and a girls voice heard; possibly relating to the figure of a young woman seen standing near the changing rooms one Saturday morning.

One recurring incident at the shop is the top floor light being found ‘on’ when they lock the shop up for the night. Prior to leaving the building, staff instinctively check that all lighting has been turned ‘off’ – but still, often, the top floor lights are found ‘on’……?

Group members would like to express their gratitude to ‘Rowfers’ management for allowing our visit. Special thanks go to Deb, Nicola and Stephanie for their charming company during the stay.

Brum. Investigation:

On May the 2nd, club members conducted an investigation at the Great Hall of Birmingham University in Edgbaston. The visit was organised by Julia Whiston.

At the outbreak of the WWI, a considerable portion of Birmingham University was given over to serving as a hospital for treating the wounded. The palatial Great Hall - situated within the Aston Webb Building - was used for ward space, by the end of the conflict some 125,000 casualties having being treated on campus.

Any ghosts that this magnificent edifice might house would appear to hail from this period in time, as reports of two, stretcher bearing men have allegedly been seen within the building. Staff have also reported ‘eerie feelings’ in the property to group members…..

During our visit, group members reported seeing fluctuations / disturbances in light levels in certain parts of the Hall while vigil sessions were taking place. At one point, just prior to leaving the building, Steve Chew mentions having seen a huge, oval / arched shadow effect on the curtains hanging over the main entrance doors….

W.M.G.C. members would like to express their gratitude to Geoff Pringle - Director of Hospitality & Accommodation Services - for allowing us to investigate this magnificent building.

Wolverhampton Investigation#2:

On Friday the 16th of May, group members conducted an investigation at the Georgian property, ‘Kings House’ in St. Johns Square, Wolverhampton. This event was organised by John Conway.

While currently consisting of a number of office suites, the property itself was originally part of the former convent, which included Calvary Chapel, Regent's Court, St. John's Cloisters and Hanover House. A former School section – Our Lady of Mercy - had a number of ghostly stories attached to it, including a ‘group’ sighting of ‘a very small nun, carrying a lamp’, during the 1950’s.

The area immediately surrounding Kings House has also allegedly played host to a number of potential hauntings for many years. The former, St Johns Vaults public house - which once stood across the square from Kings House prior to it's demolition - allegedly housed the ghost of a woman in a green, crinoline dress. She was believed to be the apparition of a suicide who threw herself from a top floor window of the property concerned. A nearby office complex is believed to be haunted by the ghost of a young boy, though his identity - and the reason for his haunting the site - has never been discovered........

Group members would like to thank Mr. Reginald King for kindly granting us permission to ‘invade his offices’ for the night of the 16th

Wolverhampton Investigation#3:

Friday the 13th of June saw W.M.G.C. members ‘thrilled’ at the prospects of, once again, being allowed to investigate Northycote Farm in Bushbury, after a considerable break of some 11 years! The investigation was organised by John ‘Chosen One’ Conway.

Initially investigated on 4 occasions during 1997 - by the W.M.G.C. - this 400+ year old property boasts a plethora of alleged, ‘ghostly’ activity.

During our recent stay at the site, further accounts of potential ghostly activity were related to the group by the site Fire Marshall - Ian Nicholls - and his partner, Penny.

In the Tea Rooms section of the farm, staff have apparently reported the feeling of something – akin to a passing animal - brushing against their legs. Upstairs, in the same block, a visiting psychic claimed to have picked up the presence of children The cellar area of the Wash-House is believed to have caused the same psychic some alarm – the woman concerned apparently professing to being ‘too scared’ to venture down there!?

Penny herself has experienced a feeling of cobwebs brushing against her face in the Blue Room, a sensation which has been experienced by many people in the past, over a number of years.

While our recent visit passed without event, it was an immense pleasure for the group to have been given the opportunity to visit this lovely, historic site once again. Immense gratitude goes out to Wolverhampton Council for allowing the visit and – in particular – to Ian and Penny for kindly donating their time and company to this venture.

Media Watch:

Over recent months, the W.M.G.C. has, once again, featured in a number of local periodicals around the Midlands area.

*On April the 3rd, the Black Country Bugle published an article written by the W.M.G.C. concerning a ghostly experience at a Darlaston Chapel in the late 1960’s.

*Group interest in an allegedly haunted site in the Cheswick Green area was featured in the Solihull Times on June the 4th.

*News of our recent investigation at the historic Swanswell Gate was mentioned in the Coventry Observer on June the 5th.

*The June edition of the ‘Buzz’ magazine – the Birmingham University Staff periodical – ran an article featuring group member Julia Whiston and our recent ‘Great Hall’ investigation.

Edited Version of Main Website Update for Mar. 17th 2008.

2011-07-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

Sandwell Investigation:

On January the 18th, the W.M.G.C. conducted and investigation at the Sandwell Council Training Centre - the first paranormal research organisation to have ever visited this property - in Oldbury. The event was organised by group member John Conway.

Over the years this former school has allegedly been the site of a number of ghostly encounters. A piano has been heard playing in one particular room, but, upon investigation, it was discovered that the room was empty and the piano covered with a dust-sheet.

The figure of a little girl has been seen traversing a corridor outside the canteen area and - within the canteen itself - staff have seen the figure of a woman dressed in grey.

Elsewhere in the property, the feeling of being followed has spooked cleaning staff and the figures of two 'caretaker-style' men - dressed in brown cowgowns - have been reported....

W.M.G.C. interest in the Training Centre generated a degree of media interest and articles concerning our visit appeared in a number of local newspapers. Our investigation of the site was conducted (in part) in the presence of an Express and Star reporter.

Group members would like to extend a massive 'THANK YOU' to Lorraine Binsley for allowing us to visit the Centre. Also, to the ever patient Mr Singh for looking after us on the night in question.

Warwickshire Investigation:

On February the 16th, W.M. Ghost Club members paid an overnight visit to the historic Town Hall in Alcester, Warwks. The investigation was arranged by John Conway.

The lower storey of the Town Hall was built in 1618 for the then Lord of the Manor, Lord Brooke-Fulke Greville. The site was originally used as an open market place for traders, replacing the original market cross. A basement prison known as 'The Hole' - used for jailing local offenders - is still extant in the building, it's original door hanging on the wall of the Town Hall entrance area.

In 1641, the timbered, upper room - with impressive hammer-beam roof - was added to the property. The ground floor was enclosed during the Victorian period and rented out, being used as a fire station and local court........

With regards to resident 'ghosts', local legend has it that Sir Fulke Greville himself allegedly haunts the site. (Seemingly sharing his time between a handful of properties, including Warwick Castle). Less auspicious ghosts associated with the building are those of a small girl - heard crying in an empty, upstairs room - and that of an unidentified 'grey lady'.

One witness to peculiar activity at the Town Hall was working in the upstairs kitchen whilst expecting the arrival of a friend. Having heard footsteps in the main hall, he opened the door and was surprised to find no one in the room. Despite this, the footsteps appeared to continue across the floor, while the witness reported that it was noticeably cold and a sort of mist or fog hovered near the roof......

Despite being regarded as a no-nonsense, sensible man, the witness was sufficiently scared as to never go in the hall again on his own!

While having remained an - until now - 'undiscovered' haunted site, the Town Hall shares the same section of the village with some more, reasonably well known, sites. Directly across the road stands the former 'Angel Inn' - a building of considerable 'haunted' repute. Nearby St Nicholas' Church has also been the site of ghostly activity in the past, with - again - the apparition of the ubiquitous Sir Fulke Greville having put in an appearance during the early 20th Century!!

The W.M.G.C. would very much like to thank the people of Alcester - and in particular Vernon Munton and John Ross - for allowing us to visit their magnificent Town Hall.

Repeat Investigation:

February the 22nd saw group members paying a re-visit to one of the regions most famous haunted hostelries: the 3 Tuns in Sutton Coldfield. The visit was arranged by Stevie Chew.

The W.M.G.C. first visited this site on Halloween night, 2000, with members of the 'Black Country Paranormal Society'.

The site is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of a Civil War period drummer boy, who is said to have been murdered in the cellar by Parliamentarian troops.... The current landlord has only been in the property for a matter of a few months, though he is already aware of his staffs dislike for for the cellar area. His partner has also reported a feeling of being followed in an upstairs bedroom...

Steve Chew has recently been told by an ex-staff member that no one wanted to venture into the cellar because of a feeling of being followed or watched. Other employees had reported the sensation of being touched on odd occasions and Steve's confidante had personally seen a pint glass slide along the bar of it's own accord. Strangely, upon hitting the floor, the glass shattered about 4 seconds after impact....

Our visit of the 22nd was made with the help of Sutton Coldfield media students - Craig, Megan and Emily.

W.M.G.C. thanks go out to Rick and Rich of the 3 Tuns for allowing us to visit their historic hostelry.

Unnamed Investigation:

On Friday the 7th March, group members conducted an overnight investigation at a magnificent Midlands house - the name and location of which will remain undisclosed. The visit was organised by John Conway.

People involved with the historic property concerned have frequently reported numerous, potential ghostly happenings - mainly comprising of poltergeist-like activity.

A number of years ago, a gentleman and his wife were locking the house up for the night when they heard two women 'whispering' in an empty room. Around the same time, footsteps were heard traversing a corridor one morning when the building was completely empty save for the witness.

More recently, a plaque has been seen moving across a desk by two people before falling to the floor. Other people have also reported seeing objects seemingly moving of their own volition and falling off shelves.

A monk-like figure has been seen on the main staircase - the general area around the stairs having been reported as having an adverse effect on security guard dogs at times. Strange noises have been heard in the property, along with eerie feelings in certain parts of the building and a smell like rotting cabbage. Quite recently, one person has reported being touched on the shoulder in an empty toilet......

Immeasurable W.M.G.C. thanks goes out to the management of the site concerned for allowing us to visit the property. Also, a massive 'Thanks' to Barry and Gavin for being so accommodating during our visit.

Shropshire Encounter - Can You Help?

In late February, the Shropshire Star informed the W.M.G.C. of a recent, peculiar encounter just outside Telford. Subsequently, the group was contacted by Tina Smart - wife of witness to the aforementioned incident, Garry Smart - who supplied us with a copy of their original e-mail to to the press. The details are repeated below, in full:

"My name is Garry Smart I live in Trench and have done so for the past 37 years, which also gives away my age. I have been married now nearly 18 years and have three children. I work as a lorry driver.

I have been on walks by the sugarbeet factory for around 30 plus years now, starting as young as I can remember with an uncle of mine and progressing into me rabbiting there when I was about 15 years old, then walks with my wife and children and dogs and continue to walk with my dogs to this present day, there has never been a set day or time that I walk there so was amazed to what I believe I saw on Sunday 24th February at 17.30pm.

I was walking by the sugarbeet factory, taking my two dogs for a walk, the pup who is aged 9 months began barking, the other dog didn't and I looked to see what he was barking at, therefore looking into the direction the pup was looking, which was towards my vehicle parked at approximately 20 feet from me. I saw an elderly man that was wearing what looked to be a long gown used by farmers for milking the cows which was a sandy brown colour and a flat cap. He appeared old but the face wasn't clear. I said "alright" to him he looked towards me and continued to walk without acknowledging me, I thought how ignorant he had been.

I picked the pup up as he was still barking but couldn't see this man, I walked about 10 paces and looked in the direction the man had walked but he was nowhere to be seen. The man had been walking on a pathway used by farmers to get onto fields, there was a 6ft chain linked fence on one side and a small brook / stream on the other with a scattering of trees either side of the brook / stream. I believe if the man had gone in the direction of the trees you would have heard twigs break underneath his feet or the sound of the trees being moved whilst walking through them, there was no leaves on the trees. The path was straight - so to me it was a mystery as to where he may have gone without being seen.

Me and my wife are intrigued to know if anyone else has had this experience by the sugar beet factory? Does anyone know who this man maybe? Are there any photographs out there that we could see of this man, Is it an anniversary, i.e. birth, death or a place that this man loved or lived, any information would be greatly received. There were people ploughing in a nearby field over the other side of the railway would this have any bearings on this possible sighting".

Both Garry and Tina - and, indeed, the W.M.G.C. - are desperate to know whether anyone else is aware of such happenings within the region concerned? Alternatively, do any of our visitors possibly have an idea of whether there is 'any' history of hauntings surrounding this general region?

Needless to say, any pertinent information on this matter can be sent in to the group via the contact details given on our index page.

Media Watch:

Once again, over the past few months, W.M.G.C. affairs and activities have featured in the local media a number of times.

*On December the 14th, group member Steve Chew appeared on the Danny Kelly Show (Radio W.M.) speaking on the subject of (so called) E.V.P. recordings. Further Club appearances on the same show took place on January the 22nd and 23rd.

*On November the 29th, the Black Country Bugle printed an article (written by the W.M.G.C.) concerning the (now demolished) Blue Ball public house in Oldbury.

*News of our investigation at the Sandwell Council Training Centre appeared in the Express and Star, the Walsall Advertiser, the Halesowen News and on the Sandwell Council web site.

*Details surrounding the group investigation of Alcester Town Hall appeared in the Alcester Chronicle and Redditch Advertiser in Mid-February.

*Our 3 Tuns investigation was featured in the Sutton Observer on February the 29th.

*And - finally - the Telford 'Spooky Farmer' incident resulted in a W.M.G.C. mention in the Shropshire Star in early March.

Edited Version of Main Website Update for Dec. 15th 2007.

2011-07-28T12:39:00.000-07:00

Staffordshire Investigation:

On October the 12th, W.M.G.C. members conducted an investigation at the Royal Air Force Association Flarepath Club in Tamworth. The event was organised by Steve Chew.

Reported activity at this three storey, Georgian property include sightings of a woman in a long white night dress and experiences with the figure of a former employee. While there is a strict ‘no smoking’ policy in the club, tobacco smoke has been frequently detected, along with the smell of perfume and – most strangely – ‘custard’!

Bottles have seemingly smashed of their own accord and firmly closed doors opened by themselves, setting off burglar alarms. The sound of change being mixed around in a till has been heard coming from an empty room, along with the noise of a man ‘coughing’ in the downstairs toilet.

A big W.M.G.C. thank you goes out to Roy and Kath Clay and also Emma Fletcher for allowing us to investigate their club.

Warwickshire Investigation:

October the 19th saw lucky W.M.G.C. members carrying out an overnight investigation at Warwick Castle. The event was organised by Steve Chew, with the kind help of B.B.C. Radio W.M. D.J., Danny Kelly.

Over recent years, the impressive fortress of Warwick Castle has become the focus of numerous investigations organised by commercial ‘ghost hunting’ businesses. However, as far as the W.M.G.C. have recently been informed, we are the only ‘independent’ research society to have been granted free access to this site.

On our investigation, we were accompanied by D.J. Danny Kelly - and the resulting sound / interview footage was aired on Radio W.M. on October the 28th.

Needless to say, the group is indebted to Warwick Castle for allowing us this unique opportunity and extend a considerable nod of gratitude to our guide for the night, Paul!! Also, a big ‘CHEERS MATE’ goes to Danny Kelly for his invaluable input on this venture!

Leicestershire Investigation:

On October the 26th, group members paid a night-time visit to the site of ‘Bosworth Battle Field’ in Sutton Cheney. The visit was organised by John Conway.

Despite being a most attractive and serene spot, a great many believe that the affairs conducted at this site in 1485 have left more than a few ‘echoes’ in their wake….. According to author John Brookes, the battlefield is haunted by a phantom horseman and the figure of a headless foot soldier. The area concerned has played host to a number of paranormal investigations.

Walsall Investigation:

On Halloween, group members paid a long overdue visit to Rushall - on the outskirts of Walsall - in search of the (somewhat elusive) ghost of the ‘Grey Lady’……

As regulars to this site may know, the group took considerable interest in this particular area in May of this year, after being introduced to the subject by local historian, Diane Wilkes. A subsequent press appeal resulted in an impressive response from the general public and a considerable amount of information was duly reported to the Club.

During our Halloween visit, we were gratified to find that recent press coverage of this event had stirred the interest of other, (Willenhall based) ‘Ghost Hunters’, who had also visited the area for the evening……!!!

Wolverhampton Investigation:

November the 3rd found W.M. Ghost Club members carrying out an investigation of Madam Clarke’s Coffee House in King Street, Wolverhampton. The investigation was organised by John Conway.

Reported activity at this most charming building includes the movement of objects – tins falling off shelves, etc – and an impressive amount of inexplicable noises. The sound of children ‘giggling’ has been heard, along with the sound of objects seemingly smashing, loud bangs, muffled speech and names of staff members being called out.

A ‘Grey Lady’ – as well as other shadowy figures – have been seen on the stairs of the property and footsteps frequently heard. Along with regular feelings of being watched, one staff member also reports having had her ‘bottom pinched’ – leaving a noticeable bruise!

The W.M.G.C. would like to extend their gratitude to Michael and Alexandra Perkins for allowing us to investigate their lovely Coffee House. Thanks also to Alex again, along with Tracey, Anne-Marie, Charlotte, Kelly and Sarah, for their warm company during our investigation.

'Unnamed' Investigation:

On November the 8th, W.M.G.C. members paid a return visit to an unnamed site which has previously played host to three group visits. (22nd of December (2006), January the 19th and February the 2nd 2007).

The site concerned has a fascinating (potential) ghostly history, spanning back at least four decades. Reported incidents include sightings of figures in 'ancient' period costume; physical assaults by invisible assailants and a wide range of poltergeist-like activity. During our previous visit to the site, W.M.G.C. members experienced some peculiar 'noise' related activity in one of the buildings attached to the property.......

While the bulk of our recent visit passed without event, investigators Simon and Claire were sitting in the site car park when the reversing sensor of their vehicle suddenly indicated that there was 'something' behind the car..... Only moments later, a definite, solitary 'tap' noise was heard on the rear window of the vehicle........?

Staffordshire Investigation #2

On November the 16th, W.M.G.C. members visited an ecclesiastical site in Staffordshire - and it's immediate, surrounding environs - which will remain unnamed for the present. Group members first learned of alleged happenings at the site concerned via our friend, the Rugeley based author, Carol Arnall.

Sightings of a monk-like figure have been associated with the area outside the property concerned, having been (most recently) seen by a passing motorist. The gentleman described the figure he saw as being bare headed and decidedly 'miserable looking'...... Certainly not the stereotypical image that people tend to associate with such characters. Group members were also recently contacted by a witness who saw a similar figure - though this one was wearing a hood over his head - standing in a patch of marshy ground near to the site concerned.....

As a footnote to this story, copies of Carol Arnalls books 'Eerie Happenings' and 'Mystical Happenings' can be obtained via the www.lulu.com online publishing site. Just visit the site and type the names of the books into the search engine........

News Watch:

West Midlands Ghost Club activities have recently featured in a number of media related sources, including:

*Walsall Advertiser – Oct. 4th and Oct. 25th.

*Chase Post – Oct. 11th and Oct. 18th (x2).

*Solihull Times – Oct. 31st.

*Solihull News – Nov. 1st.

*Staffordshire County Magazine – October Edtn.

*Birmingham Post (Weekend Suppl. Magazine) – Oct. 20th

*A two page article concerning W.M.G.C. members Steve and Claire Chew appeared in the Sunday Mirror Magazine on Oct. 28th.

*Over recent weeks, the Club has received considerable air-time on local B.B.C. W.M. Radio, including: the Danny Kelly Show on Oct. 17th, 21st and 28th and the Phil Upton Show on Oct. 10th. A feature involving our recent investigation of Warwick Castle was also broadcast on Oct. 28th.

*The W.M.G.C. also featured in an interview on (National) B.B.C. 'Radio 5 Live' on Oct. 29th.

Edited Version of Main Website Update from Sept. 7th 2007

2011-07-28T12:31:00.000-07:00

South Staffordshire Investigation:

On Saturday the 14th of July, W.M.G.C. members conducted an investigation at the Glynne Arms public house in Himley. The visit was organised by Dean Steadman.

While the general Himley area would seem to play host to a considerable amount of ghostly activity - phantom cavaliers, grey ladies and so on - the famous 'Crooked House' hostelry has, until quite recently, never been widely 'known' as a site of paranormal interest.... However, current staff members tell us that the property would actually seem to be the home of a number of ghosts - including those of a soldier, a mysterious male figure accompanied by a dog, a murdered servant and a young orphan girl.....

On the night in question, 2 WMGC members experienced an inexplicable 'bang' on a nearby door, while video recordings made in the Ladies Toilet area appeared to contain the voice of a young girl saying: "Mommy"......

Repeat Investigation:

Saturday the 30th of June saw group members pay a return visit to one of our favourite investigation sites - the Manor House in Stone Cross, West Bromwich. The visit was arranged by Frazer Smith.

As regulars to this web site will know, this property has become something of a 'pet project' to WMGC members. Over the past 2 - 3 years, the club has conducted in excess of 15 overnight investigations here.....

During this recent visit, researchers witnessed a peculiar change in light levels in the Function Room area of the building, as well as one group member seemingly 'feeling someone brush past him' as he climbed the solar staircase. Video recordings made in the kitchen area of the property contained some inexplicable sounds of 'movement' seemingly coming from a nearby corridor.......

South Staffordshire Investigation #2:

On September the 1st, members from the 'West Midlands Ghost Club' and Forum, the 'Black Country Paranormal Society' and the 'South Staffordshire Ghost Club' converged on Cannock Chase for an informal 'ramble' into the unknown......

Over the years, this area has allegedly played host to a plethora of peculiar happenings, ranging from UFO activity, sightings of Alien Big Cats, various 'Hairy Hominid' type creatures - as well as a considerable amount of more standard, 'ghost-like' encounters.

During our recent 'invasion' of the Chase, attendee's visited two particular sites which have been associated with potentially paranormal activity. The area around the German Cemetery has recently featured in the local press a number of times, having been linked to both 'werewolf-type' sightings, as well as alleged encounters with a floating, female apparition.... Similarly, a section of road - situated a short distance away at Spring Slade Lodge - has also supposedly been the site of an experience with a 'female ghost'.

To round off our visit to the Chase, attendees later took a walk around the nearby ancient monument of Castle Ring. This area has previously been linked to occult activity, UFO sightings and numerous experiences with a monk-like ghost.
With regards to future research events on the Chase, the W.M.G.C. have recently received a phone call from a representative of the cryptozoological society Beastwatch UK, who are apparently planning investigations for the near future. Interested parties should watch their site www.beastwatch.co.uk for further news.

Finally - a big 'Thank You' to all who chose to 'throw caution to the wind' and attend our get-together. 'Adventurers all......', as Dr. Richard Markway would have said......

South Staffordshire Investigation #3:

On September the 14th, W.M.G.C. members conducted a brief investigation of the Garrick Theatre in Lichfield. The visit was organised by Steve Chew.

While the current building is of comparatively recent construction, it stands on the site of a previous theatre. Staff reported a number of inexplicable happenings to W.M.G.C. members, including the inexplicable movement of objects in certain parts of the property, sightings of shadowy figures, the sound of womens footsteps in the stage area and feelings of being physically pushed and touched. Radio WM D.J. Malcolm Boyden was sitting alone, inside the theatre mixing room one night when the door to the booth flew open and a pile of papers on his desk were thrown into the air.......

W.M.G.C. thanks goes out to the Garrick staff members who kindly gave their time and accompanied us on our visit.

Mini Investigations / Visits:

On August the 31st, group member - the intrepid Steve Chew - paid a night-time visit to the beautiful Pentre Ifan dolmen in Dyfed. Regarded as the most popular megalithic site in Wales, the 3,500 yr old site was once known as 'Arthurs Quoit' and, most unusually, is oriented North / South. While no ghosts have actually been reported at Pentre Ifan, it is a notorious place for fairy sightings. According to local legend, they are described as looking like 'little children with red caps, dressed in soldiers clothes.....'

As always, our roving investigator Len Jackson has been travelling the length and breadth of the country in his spare time over the past few months. Recent ports of call for this much travelled investigator include York (said to be the most haunted City in England?), Matlock and Hartington.

August the 26th saw Club members Frazer Smith and Dean Steadman spending a few hours patrolling the grounds of Rufford Abbey in Nottinghamshire. Rufford has developed a considerable ghostlore over recent decades, with - unsurprisingly - reports of phantom monks being seen in the area. During the early 20th Century, one witness is said to have supposedly died of fright after such an encounter.......

Our continuing research into the 'Grey Lady of Rushall' in Walsall has inspired many visits to the region throughout the late Spring and Summer months, with an investigation of the area planned for mid-Autumn. After our (May) press appeals for information on this subject, an excellent response was received by the group - including a number of eye-witness accounts. Our appeal also drew the attention of BBC Radio WM, resulting in an outside broadcast interview with group member Nick Duffy, which was subsequently aired throughout May 30th.

In The Media:

W.M. Ghost Club activities have featured in a number of media related sources.

The group has recently been mentioned in:

*The Walsall Advertiser (May)

*The Fortean Times Magazine (July)

*The Tamworth Herald (August)

*The Dudley News (July)

*The Stafford Post (August)

May 30th saw Radio W.M. conduct an interview with one of our group members, concerning our research into a particular apparition known as 'The Grey Lady Of Rushall' in Walsall. (*Mentioned above).

On July the 24th, Steve Chew appeared on the Danny Kelly Show (also Radio W.M.) during a 'live ghost hunt' at Dudley Castle. Steve also appeared on the Danny Kelly show again on September the 13th. (Busy beggar!!)

The WMGC has also recently supplied information for inclusion in a forthcoming book on UFO activity in the Midlands area.

BACK ON THE BLOG!!!!!!

2011-07-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay - so we said we were going to knock this blogging-lark on the head a while ago and..... now........ here we are again, after all!!! Laugh!!! Well, we can all make mistakes and jump to rash decisions at times, can't we? Laugh!!!

Seriously though, we've decided to now continue with this blog again for a number of different reasons - but, not least, because it serves as an admirable platform on which to store information that previously made up some of our website updates at the groups official page. A recent decision to change the layout of the club website (albeit slightly) has given us the perfect opportunity to basically transfer some information 'from there to here'.........

It should go without saying that the blog will now, once again, be a back-up and more fluid medium (no pun intended!!) - a support measure for the aforementioned site - by which to convey group activities, interest and other snippets of related data.

So - please do continue to visit us and we promise that the blog will continue to grow again!!!

All the best to everyone - and do read on!!!

O

More Plate Related Press!!!!

2011-01-23T03:16:00.000-08:00

It's all we seem to hear about of late!! (Or, should that read... 'of plate'?) Laugh, laugh!!

More coverage on weird happenings in the Hopwas Wood region, courtesy of the 'Tamworth Herald' appeared this week:

"Naked dancing, candles and tale of 'eerie' night in the woods"

IF YOU go down to the woods today.... you're sure to find history, intrigue and tales of witchcraft and occult activity.

Hopwas Woods has been the centre of tales of naked witches, occult artefact discoveries and spooky goings-on for decades.

The ancient woods have revealed some of their secrets – more recently after a copper plate with magical symbols and an Egyptian statuette were discovered.

And in 1984, in the pages of the Tamworth Herald an occult group spoke out – following a police raid in which 16 men and women were arrested during a naked ritual in the woods. They revealed they had been practising magical rituals among the trees for years, and said the land was "sacred ground".

Now more than 25 years later a retired policeman, who wishes only to be known as Oscar One Three, has revealed his memories – and spending one "eerie" night in the woods as part of police investigations.

Oscar One Three said he was on night duty with the force in the weeks before the arrests and was responding to a call from a local resident about late-night activities in Hopwas Woods.

"As I recall, a member of the public, whom I believe lived in Hopwas, reported some kind of party going on in the woods," he said.

"The area was pointed out to the police, and I visited the area. I did find an area of ground which could be described as a clearing.

"At that time there were no persons present. It was well trodden down and appeared to have been well used."

It was then when the presence of occult activity became apparent.

Oscar One Three continued: "In the centre of the area was a fairly large tree, on the branches of which were a number of red wax candles, which had obviously been placed there by human hand. They had mostly burnt down, none were burning, but trails of wax had dripped over the lower branches of the tree."

He continued: "I remained in the wood until early light when the area was further examined.

"It was quite an eerie experience, believe me!

"There were signs of a burnt out fire, and a number of small bones, which, at the time, were thought to have possibly been sacrificial and later identified as bird bones, possibly chicken bones.

"There were also signs of a roughly drawn out pentagram scratched on the ground nearby. A number of items were taken for later forensic examination if required."

He said the area was visited regularly by police for several weeks before arrests were made – and the group admitted possessing cannabis.

"Eventually it transpired on one such visit that a number of people, both male and female, were discovered in a naked state dancing around a fire in a clearing.

"A small chalice and sword were recovered. The people present were detained and later interviewed at Tamworth police station."

Oscar One Three added: "I cannot go into any detail regarding the people detained as I recall some of them lived locally, and some were visitors from as far afield as Devon.

"I recall they were quite open with the police in that they said they were there to celebrate the Summer Solstice and some were members of a group known as the Order of the Silver Star.

"They claimed to have been visiting the woods for a number of years and were not practising witchcraft, but were 'connecting with the stars and planets'."

He said several addresses were visited in connection with the enquiries and some substances were seized on suspicion of them containing cannabis.

News of the police arrests was revealed in an exclusive front page report in the Tamworth Herald on Friday, June 22, 1984.

Headlined "Police swoop on naked 'witches' in the woods' the story revealed that naked men and women, aged between their early 20s to late 40s, had to abruptly end their secret midnight ritual.

They had been dancing and chanting around a fire but spent the rest of the night in police cells. Police reinforcements were sent to guard the site through the night.

The police had commenced proceedings under the Drugs Act.

But the following week four of the people arrested spoke to the Herald and said that they were not "witches" but in fact "occultists" who had been carrying out a ritual to avert a major disaster, believed to be happening in October or November that year.

They confirmed they were members of the Order of the Silver Star, international occultists and astronomers, with their own philosophy on the meaning of life.

The 16 men and women were, later that year, fined £2,000 after admitting using drugs. Seven of them lived in Tamworth and admitted possessing cannabis.

Even in court they said they were involved in the study of astrology linked with ancient magical rites and that they had come to Hopwas Woods for a specific purpose.

But they said the area had been desecrated and that they would not be using the land again.

But over the years the rumours of witchcraft in the woods have continued.

Oscar One Three said: "Since retiring from the police I have, from time to time, heard rumours of similar activity taking place in the woods, but I have not been inclined to go and investigate myself.

"I am getting too old for all the excitement."

Regards,

The West Mids Ghost Club

Further Hopwas Weirdness!!!!

2011-01-15T14:42:00.000-08:00

Unrelated to recent W.M.G.C. dealings with the area - but strange all the same - is an article which recently appeared in the Tamworth Herald newspaper, concerning a sighting of an Alien big Cat in the area of Hopwas Wood.

The region concerned has already been getting something of a name for itself (in the 'bizarre' department) over recent weeks - a reputation that the following piece will do little to dispel!! Laugh!!!

September 18th 2010:

"Driver shocked by the size of cat that crosses his path

Another sighting of a big cat has been reported in Tamworth – but this time not fitting the description of the black leopard seen most frequently.

A Whittington man has reported a golden-coloured cat running across the road from Hopwas Wood.

David Cooke (27) said he was approaching Hopwas at around 6.30am on Monday, September 6 when the animal ran across the road in front of his car.

He told the Herald: "Just as I was entering Hopwas about halfway down the slope, I saw a big cat run out in front of my car from the wood on the left and into to less dense woodland on the right.

"It was only in sight for about two or three seconds but I got a really good look at it. It was quite clear in my headlights.

"I was around 15 metres away and I'm convinced it was a big cat. It ran like a cat, not like a dog or a fox."

He added: "It was like a cougar. I'm 6ft 2in and I think it would have been around knee-height on me, but powerfully built. It had a long tail, about three feet in length.

"It was an orangey-golden colour, similar colouring to an American mountain lion.

"There was one car behind me and one coming in the opposite direction – I'm sure the car coming in the opposite direction must have seen it too."

All the best,

The West Mids Ghost Club

In Memory....

2011-01-11T00:18:00.000-08:00

It is with great sadness that the W.M.G.C. report the premature death of one of our greatest friends, Pete Davis, who passed away on the morning of January the 5th 2011 after a long illness.

A most talented artist, Peter had remained a close friend of one of the group founders since their first meeting during the early 1980's and always took great interest in our activities and dealings. Over the years, his artwork frequently reflected supernatural, religious and New Age themes - as shown in the sketch above which appeared in the book 'Spooky Tales From Smethwick' by Marilyn Cliff some years ago.

A genuine, humanitarian-thinker and all round 'thoroughly nice bloke' - he will be missed by so many......

May God bless you and keep you safe old mate.

"Let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star, and they will learn that death is stingless indeed, and as beautiful as life".

Down In The Woods Again......

2011-01-08T08:31:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, the W.M.G.C. were contacted by Tamworth Herald reporter, Paul Kemp, and told that a further article on the Hopwas Wood Copper Plate was (then currently) being written.....

The article - published January the 7th - appears below:

Another Mysterious Artefact Is Dug Up In 'Witches' Woods'

By Paul Kemp, news reporter.

FURTHER evidence of occult activity in Hopwas has emerged following the discovery of another buried artefact in the village's woodland.

An Egyptian-style clay statuette has been uncovered by Tamworth man Andrew Lee – who contacted the Herald after reading about the discovery of an engraved copper tablet with magical writing which was found in Hopwas Woods last month.

And mystery continues to surround the copper plate after a language enthusiast produced a transliteration of the symbols, which surrounded an image of a star.

Mr Lee said: "I found [the small clay statue] last year while walking my dad's dogs around Hopwas Woods.

"I found it when one of the dogs started sniffing around a dead bird at the bottom of a tree.

"While I was shooing away the dog I saw the thing buried face down in the ground."

He added: "At first I thought it was a piece of pottery, but when I dug it out I got quite excited that it was a whole figure."

The statue, which shows signs of weathering, is thought to be of the Egyptian jackal-headed god Anubis. He is said to be a protector of the deceased and their tombs, and is associated with mummification and the afterlife.

Mr Lee said: "I thought it might be good to show it as it's been sitting in the cupboard wrapped in newspaper for months. Perhaps there might be others who have things lying around they've found there in the past."

The copper plate was discovered by investigators from the West Midlands Ghost Club after researching old stories of witchcraft and hauntings in the area.

John Conway, who discovered the tablet with his metal detector, revealed the translation to the Herald this week.

He said the language and runes, some difficult to decipher, were Enochian, used in the 16th Century by noted occultist John Dee.

It reads: "BAGLE (for) PAPNOOR (to this remembrance); I (is) DOVIOM (probably a name); LONSHI (the) power); OL (I, the maker) UMPLIF (our strength) OGG BIGLIAD (in our comforter)"

It is from an ancient tract called the 7th Enochian key, which reads: "For to his remembrance, is given power, and our strength."

Mr Conway said: "We have had lot of interest, and even from American occultists who were interested in obtaining photographs of the item.

"It is a just matter of interest for us, but we can do very little with it.

"We could take it back to where we found it, or we could return it to the proper owners."

With regards to details mentioned in the piece, we would very much like to thank researcher David Taylor (and unnamed associates) for the translation of the script on the plate which they kindly sent to us, following the release of the first article.....

All the best,

West Midlands Ghost Club

Oh Go Whistle........!!!!!!

2010-12-28T00:23:00.000-08:00

It was with some interest - and more than a degree of worry - that we took notice of the 'new' version of the classic ghost story 'Oh Whistle And I'll Come To You My Lad' which was being advertised by the BBC for airing on Christmas Eve. It was a little puzzling, to say the least, that the programme was yet another remake of a tale already used in the 'Ghost Story For Christmas' series, previously being televised in 1968, with Sir Michael Hordern in the title role. With so many excellent M. R. James stories to choose from, pretty much all of them never being previously attempted by television, it seemed something of a potential waste to go for a story that had already been used previously.....

Yet, we the viewers were assured that it would be a 're-working' of the original story, set with a 'modern slant' and starring the classic British actor John Hurt..... At least the latter did appear to give the project some 'Umph!!', while the previous two considerations only served to set the creeping feeling of concern for James' story to a much higher level that before........ Call us old fashioned, but the notion of dealing with a 'classic' ghost story should be approached with a great amount of respect and care for the original subject matter involved(?)

Come the broadcast and all of our previously 'creeping' fears were let loose with an unbridled sensation of barrelling horror that washed away any degree of optimism that could have been held for the project...... In short, a 're-working of the original' obviously meant to mean a complete and rather ludicrous 're-write', with only small aspects of James' story kept in place to assure us that this was indeed 'Oh Whistle...' that we were watching.......

But - rather than waffle on here re. our crushing disappointment - we urge visitors to take and hour or so and view the broadcast for itself, which (at the time of writing) is still accessible via BBC IPlayer at this PAGE

Please do write in and let us know what you think?

All the best for 2011!!

Regards,

The W.M.G.C.

Merry Christmas!!!!

2010-12-23T03:58:00.000-08:00

Just a brief note to wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2011 !!!!

While 2010 has, on the whole, been a rather quiet year for the W.M.G.C. - for a variety of different reasons - its end, in fact, marks our 21st full year in operation.......

We aim to make the next 12 months our most productive period so far...... and have already started lining up some investigations already. So, please do watch this space and, of course, our official website (which has just been recently updated for the Yuletide Season, as it happens). The update can be found at this 'LINK'

So - once again - the Seasons Greetings to all of our friends and........ here's to the next 21 years of investigations!!! Laugh!!!!

All the best,

The West Midlands Ghost Club

Down In The Woods......

2010-12-19T10:08:00.000-08:00

On December the 4th, two W.M.G.C. members paid a visit to a site that had initially become a matter of some, passing interest to us last year…. namely, a tract of woodland - Hopwas Wood - situated just outside Tamworth in South Staffordshire. Our attention had first become drawn to the area concerned when sightings of an overly tall, ghostly figure were reported to the group some short while earlier……

As a result of the above, a visit was made at the time of the report and research carried out into the history of the general area. During the course of this research, stories of 'Occult' or 'Witchcraft-like' activities, being performed in Hopwas Woods, were discovered. Such activity - when it first came to light during the early 1980's - merited a considerable amount of both media and public interest and speculation.

Purely as a matter of ongoing interest, our early December visit was subsequently planned….. the trip to the area being carried out with a metal detector. The latter mentioned item was included in the visit because, according to some reports, 'metallic' items of 'ceremonial' significance had allegedly been discovered in the region in the past…..

As it transpired, the presence of this piece of equipment proved of intrinsic value to our visit, as - during a sweep of a particular area of woodland - a copper plate adorned with (presumably 'Occult-related') script and designs was unearthed….. As the photographs show, there was a considerable blanket of snow on the ground at the time of the find and the plate was discovered some inches underneath the earth below.

Because of such an intriguing find, the W.M.G.C. contacted the Tamworth Herald with a view to potentially appealing for information on the object. The ensuing article appeared on Dec. 9th - resulting in the group being inundated with general enquiries and suggestions…. some even originating as far away as the U.S.! The story itself has now, subsequently, been picked up by a number of different blogs - frequently Pagan orientated - and other websites. The original T.H. article ran as below:

"Mysterious artefact baffles ghost hunters exploring ancient woods"

By Paul Kemp news reporter

"EVIDENCE has emerged of occult activity in Hopwas after a "copper plate" featuring engraved magical symbols was dug up in the village's ancient woodland.

The rectangular tablet, which features an illustration of a star alongside mystical writing, was found buried about four inches below the ground in Hopwas Woods last Saturday.

It was dug up by investigators from the West Midlands Ghost Club, who had been researching old stories of witchcraft and hauntings in the area.

Intrigued members of the club are now appealing for more information about the artefact and an explanation of what the symbols might mean.

John Conway said he discovered the tablet while using a metal detector at the site as part of his research into the area's mystical past.

He described the find as "totally unexpected" and "intriguing".

He told the Mercury: "Our interest in Hopwas came about two years back, because we had heard a couple of ghost stories from the area. On checking up on the history, we heard about things going on in Hopwas Woods."

He said: "We visited the wood with a metal detector – the purpose of the visit being to get an overview of the area concerned and, potentially, find evidence of some form of magical practices."

John said he was inspecting an area situated on former Ministry of Defence land when he picked up a "buried" signal with the metal detector, and started digging.

"We did not notice at first, but we were in the centre of a natural circle of quite old trees.

"We initially thought what we'd found was simply a thick piece of copper sheet, but, upon further scrutiny, we found it was deeply etched with peculiar symbols and writing, quite evidently of an occult-related nature."

After cleaning up and polishing the item, the magical symbols could be seen.

But he said he realised the "ethical" implications of digging up a potentially sacred item.

"We realise someone has put something there purposefully. If they want to contact us privately we would be quite happy to hand it back."

In 1984, reports of naked "witches" in the woods emerged after a raid by police in which several people were detained.

At the time, the leader of the group, part of The Order of the Silver Star, spoke out and defended the group's actions.

Members denied being witches and described themselves as "serious occultists" who had been using the woods since the early 1970s.

During rituals they claimed they "connected with the stars and planets".

Photographs of the plate itself can be viewed on the following 'LINK', which, of course, is part of the West Mids. Ghost Club Photo Album.

Interestingly - though probably unrelated - is an account also run by the Tamworth Herald concerning the sighting of a presumed Alien Big Cat (ABC) in the region of Hopwas Wood:

"Driver shocked by the size of cat that crosses his path"

Big-cat sighting... The animal was seen crossing from Hopwas Woods.

By Helen Machin news reporter

ANOTHER sighting of a big cat has been reported in Tamworth – but this time not fitting the description of the black leopard seen most frequently.

A Whittington man has reported a golden-coloured cat running across the road from Hopwas Wood.

David Cooke (27) said he was approaching Hopwas at around 6.30am on Monday, September 6 when the animal ran across the road in front of his car.

He told the Herald: "Just as I was entering Hopwas about halfway down the slope, I saw a big cat run out in front of my car from the wood on the left and into to less dense woodland on the right.
"It was only in sight for about two or three seconds but I got a really good look at it. It was quite clear in my headlights.

"I was around 15 metres away and I'm convinced it was a big cat. It ran like a cat, not like a dog or a fox."

He added: "It was like a cougar. I'm 6ft 2in and I think it would have been around knee-height on me, but powerfully built. It had a long tail, about three feet in length.

"It was an orangey-golden colour, similar colouring to an American mountain lion.

"There was one car behind me and one coming in the opposite direction – I'm sure the car coming in the opposite direction must have seen it too."

Were you the other car driver and did you see the big cat? Contact helen.machin@cintamworth.co.uk with your big-cat news.

All the best,

West Midlands Ghost Club

Charity Event For Feb. 2011 - Coventry City

2010-10-19T07:17:00.000-07:00

On February the 18th, 2011, members of the 'W.M.G.C.' will be hosting a 'sponsored investigation' at the notoriously haunted St. Mary's Medieval Guildhall in Coventry. All proceeds from the event are being raised on behalf of MacMillan Cancer Support. A previous charity event held at the site by the Club in November 2005 raised £500 for Birmingham Childrens Hospital.

The Guildhall itself is some 650 years old and has a long-standing history of 'ghostly goings-on'…. securing it's reputation as possibly the most haunted property in the City Centre. During our 2005 investigation of the site, a number of potentially 'paranormal' incidents were recorded by attendees - making for both a very interesting night, from a research point of view, and a most fulfilling exercise with regards to monies raised for the charity concerned…..

For Details of how you can contribute to the event - either by sponsoring or by straight donation - please contact the W.M.G.C. via our email address, or by telephone on: 079444 78708.

As places on the investigation have been going fast, can we urge anyone wishing to attend the event to contact us ASAP. While we are working on a 'first-come, first-served' basis currently, some limited places may become available over the coming months, etc. All that is required from attendees is a guarantee that a minimum of £35 in sponsorship will be raised.

As a matter of interest - an endeavour to 'whet your appetite' - an overview report of our interesting 2005 investigation is included below:

INVESTIGATION REPORT: St. Mary's Guildhall - Coventry.

On the 25th of November 2005, a group of 21 people conducted an overnight investigation of St. Mary's Guildhall in Coventry city centre. The event - a fund raising 'ghost hunt' held on behalf of Birmingham Children's Hospital - was organised and co-ordinated by members of the West Midlands Ghost Club.

As the visit was primarily intended as a 'Charity Event' - incorporating a number of people who had never experienced a potentially 'haunted' situation previously - investigation protocol for the duration of the night was purposefully kept at a reasonably 'casual' level. However, thanks to the excellent co-ordination skills of W.M.G.C. member Kevin Wallace, who was mainly responsible for this visit, investigation process and protocol was still maintained at a high level throughout our stay.

Overall, a general investigation was made of the property incorporating four groups of 5 / 6 people. (Each team headed by members of the W.M.G.C.) Our investigation mainly focussed on sections of building noted as being of particular relevance or importance regarding the alleged paranormal history of the site. During the night, investigation procedure incorporated periods of first person audio / visual observation, with vigils being conducted for approx. 40 minutes each. (A 20 minute break was held between every session).

As well as manned observation periods, static (area based) audio / visual recording sessions, incorporating both standard and night shot camera's, were also carried out. General temperature recording throughout the building were also monitored for the duration of the stay and a number of 'trigger objects' placed in particular sections of the building.

With regards to the investigation itself, a number of potentially interesting events were noted during the night.

While nothing of interest was detected by any of the groups concerned during the first vigil of the stay, group member Steve Chew appears to have caught - what sounds like - a section of rather rough, 'choral singing' on a video recording made in the Great Hall of the Guildhall. While there was a considerable amount of external noise coming from the streets circling the building for most of our stay, this 'singing' strikes the listener as rather 'alien' to such surroundings. While the voices are seemingly rough and uncultured, the footage gives a definite impression of a distant choir, delivering Christmas carols or some such songs….. Mr. David McGrory - W.M.G.C. patron, who has strong connections with the Guildhall - says that he has also heard this effect when in the building during the daytime. He has always put this down to the effect that the P.A. system in the property is apparently on the same wavelength as the nearby Cathedral security….. leading to a tentative, airwaves connection. However, while this theory might cover such happenings during the daytime, surely there was no choir practising in the Cathedral at almost 11.30 at night? And from the sound of the voices concerned - such a choir would need all the practice it could get…!?

During vigil two, a group of people situated in the Drapers room report hearing a sound akin to something being rolled across the floor. Someone else in the group said they thought the noise was like 'someone sweeping a chimney'. During a 'baiting session' a little later on, the same group hear a loud knock seemingly coming from one of the walls of the building, apparently in response to one of their questions. When confirmation was requested, however, no other noises were heard.

A group situated in the Undercroft area for the duration of vigil three heard a loud noise, like the sound of movement, coming from the nearby Kitchen. They could find nothing to account for the noise upon investigation. A little later on in the sitting and W.M.G.C. member Kevin Wallace was standing near the kitchen sink, with Ellen Wallace walking towards him along a small, side corridor. At this juncture, they both describe hearing a noise originating behind Ellen, like someone moving a series of fine, hanging chains, which make up a blind across a section of the passage. No one else was present in the area at the time. Kevin says that the noise was very distinct.

During this same period, two investigators responsible for covering the first floor section of the building reported having seen a 'ball of light' moving around erratically inside (what is referred to as) the Sloping Room. At 1.20 a.m., the group gather within the Mary Queen of Scots Room for an experimental 'séance' session. Three light 'knocks' were subsequently heard in what would appear to have been response to direct questioning. However, it has to be stated that, with the amount of people in the building at the time, these sounds may well be of a perfectly natural origin.

At one point during the same session, Steve Chew heard what he took to be the sound of faint, little footsteps, seemingly coming towards the door of the Mary Queen of Scots Room. Two other members of the party thought the noise had sounded like the swishing of a long dress.

During vigil four, the group of investigators responsible for covering the Great Hall area experienced a 'fast-moving light' appear in the topmost section of the hall. The light proceeded to move over the balcony, down the hall wall, underneath the balcony…. then move over the side wall and half way up the hall in a sort of a curved motion. This effect only lasted a second and was very fast.

No one in the hall had their torches on, though - to witnesses - the light was evidently not that created by a torch. The light could not have originated with investigators inside the armoury as it travelled down the back wall, which is clearly not within their line of sight.

Witness Kevin Wallace says that the light reminded him of what he and a researcher attached to another society had previously witnessed in exactly the same location, but on the other side of the hall, during a separate investigation of the site.

of the Main Hall. They said that this had sounded like the creak of one of the wooden floor panels when someone moves across it. No one was sitting near the stage at this point.

Towards the end of vigil four, a very exciting and dramatic event occurred concerning the party of people situated on the First Floor level. Four of the girls present - non-W.M.G.C. members - had been seated at an oblong table, near the entrance to Mary Queen of Scots Room. Two members were seated one side of the table and two the other. They had been in the process of conducting a 'baiting session' (levelling questions to the room itself) when attendee Jennie Elwell had - through the open doorway - allegedly seen a tall, dark figure pass across the landing, just outside the toilet block. The figure had moved quickly from right to left, as if having come up the steps from the walkway to the main Council Building. When later questioned, she could not say whether the figure had gone into the toilets, or into a small kitchen area immediately in front of the steps. Upon seeing the figure, she instantly became hysterical and sparked off a like reaction in the other girls. (When group members Nick Duffy and Darren Simpson had entered the room - alerted by the girls screams - they had found Miss Elwell clutching the edge of a table, crying hysterically and seemingly unable to move for some time).

This event obviously attracts the attention of other teams nearby and the general proceedings were disturbed for a short time. Up until this point, investigators covering the Mercers Room during this period report having experienced a very 'uneasy feeling' in that section of the building which they simply couldn't brush off.

At 3.39 a.m. - vigil five - Kevin Wallace and his group were situated in the Council Chambers and Treasury room, when they saw a series of lights showing under the door into the great hall. This appeared as if someone had walked past the door with a bright torch. These lights lasted a few seconds at a time, until Kevin opened the door to find absolutely nothing - except a very dark and quiet hall. On the first floor level at exactly the same time, Frazer Smith reports over the radio that his group has also seen strange light anomalies apparently coming from the Great Hall area.

At roughly the same time, Steve Chew and his group were situated in the Undercroft and Kitchen area. While standing in the Kitchen, Steve reports having heard very distinct footsteps descending the stairs that lead from the Great Hall. The steps, which sounded as if they were made by someone heavy set, were heard to stop - followed by a few more tentative steps - then by a loud noise, as if someone were 'rummaging' through boxes. Strangely, two other attendees were standing in the same area with Steve and one only heard the loud footsteps descending the stairs, while the other only heard the 'rummaging' noises. Two other attendees were situated in the nearby Undercroft at this point and they heard exactly the same sequence of noises as Steve. The area concerned was immediately investigated and nothing to account for the sounds was found.

On trying to recreate the footsteps, even when stamping, Steve could not replicate the same 'hefty' sounding footfalls. It was also noticed that the steps sounded as if they were possibly on an old creaky wooden floor, not the more 'modern', supported floor that is in place today!

Towards the end of vigil six, it was noticed that 4 coins which had been used in one of our 'trigger' experiments, had been moved. The coins concerned - ringed on a sheet of white paper - had been situated on the ledge of a bureau which stands outside the toilet block on the first floor landing. Two of the coins were now on the floor immediately below the ledge and the paper on which they rested was now partially hanging off the ledge itself. Unfortunately, because of the constant human traffic moving around the building during the night, it could not clearly be ascertained whether this had accidentally been done by someone in attendance….

Following the official end of the investigation, Kevin Wallace happened to shine his torch down the stairs from the Main Hall to the Kitchen area and saw something moving at the bottom. His first impression was that it was a female figure. Having just seen three of four girls attached to one of the groups in that area, he thought that the figure he'd seen must have been the 4th girl. Going down the stairs into the kitchen, he found no one there. As he entered the Undercroft, he found that the 4th girl was already sitting at one of the tables, with a number of other people situated at the very end of the room. He asked the girl if anyone had entered just before him, or had she possibly only just come down the stairs herself? She answered no to both questions………

All in all, a considerable number of potential paranormal happenings were reported from the different teams during the night, including both audio and visual activity. The above mentioned list of occurrences only constitutes a section of incidents reported during the night in question.

The volume of possible incidents reported was quite high in comparison to other W.M.G.C. investigations, and it cannot help but be questioned whether such an increase has something to do with the sheer volume of people concerned with the event, as well as the fact that many attendee's were experiencing such conditions for the first time? Having said this, while a [wholly expected and understandable] state of trepidation was obvious in a couple of the attendee's, the bulk of the group concerned acted in an exceptionally serious and level headed manner.

Whatever the validity of our findings as potential paranormal happenings, it has to be said that all who attended the Guildhall investigation thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

The Death Of 'Most Haunted' - Hurrahhhh!!!!

2010-10-19T06:47:00.000-07:00

A friend of the W.M.G.C. called last night to tell us that Living TV have now, apparently, decided to drop the show 'Most Haunted' from their schedule.

It had already been mentioned, some weeks ago, that there wasn't a live, Halloween edition of the programme planned for this year...... an omission which had been a surprise to many, it has to be said.

The news that Yvette Fielding was planning to give up hosting the show, was announced some months ago, but it was mentioned (in the piece concerned) that some alternative host was to be found.....

Evidently, it appears that this proposal didn't happen in the end.... or else Living TV's decision to pull the plug on the show has put pay to any further plans / action in this quarter.

Unfortunately - in place of the usual M.H rubbish - an alternative 'live' show is planned..... It's is currently being billed as a show which will involve two paranormal groups - one scientifically motived, the other psychically motivated - going 'head-to-head' in some haunted location somewhere.........

The same old rubbish again it seems and, given that this form of ill-advised, reality bullsh*t has already outstayed it's welcome on British TV - especially where paranormal related programmes are concerned - well..... will anyone actually bother to watch more of the same biased drivel????

Interesting Poltergeist Case:

2010-10-19T06:37:00.000-07:00

Just a brief note to say that two members of the W.M.G.C. were recently called in to a Black Country home, where a poltergeist-type-effect has been experienced in one of the bedrooms of the property. The mother of the house gave us permission to repeat the details of their experiences here - needless to say, with certain omissions, etc.

The effect began earlier this year - some time in March - when a daughter of the family reported hearing a slight scratching noise from under her bed (on her 20th birthday, as it happens). While the family (initially) passed the matter off as nothing, the girl was sufficiently perturbed as to bother recording the noises on her mobile phone. (A recording which she still has). Strangely, these noises only happened in the one, small, front bedroom - and only when the girls boyfriend was staying overnight with her. If the girl, or anyone else stays in the room alone.... then there is no disturbance whatsoever!?

Within a short period of time, the scratching noises had escalated into two separate sounds: a rapid, short scratching and a long, drawn-out noise like something being slowly, deliberately dragged over a surface.

Members of the family - and neighbours - were asked to come and hear the noises concerned and endeavours were soon being made to 'converse' with the noises (with, by this point, a knocking sound also regularly manifesting). Interestingly, the sounds seemed quite happy to 'speak with' people - knocking out answers in reply to 'yes and no' questions and imitating sequences of knocking noises made by spectators.

A typical instance of this form of 'interaction' came where there were 7 witnesses (in the bedroom concerned and on the landing of the house) to a question and answer session with this 'whatever-it-is', with three others allegedly asleep (elsewhere). They asked how many people were in the house and it knocked back 10 times.... They asked how many people were asleep and it knocked back twice...... Knowing that there were 3 people in bed, not two, as indicated, they checked and found one of the children was out of bed and playing on his X-Box at that time!!!

The mother of the family told us that they had first assumed the intelligence behind these things to be a deceased relative - but she had then changed her mind about this, relating the effect as more like the actions of a sub-human, goblin-like intellect!! In asking questions of the thing, she observed that 'you didn't know whether to trust it' - i.e. some of it's answers had been contradictory, or blatant lies, etc.

Over the space of some six months (give or take), the nature of the activity had escalated - again, only when the boyfriend made endeavours to stay in the room with the daughter concerned. The problems had become exceptionally bad..... with loud banging sounds (loud enough to disturb the neighbours on occasion), manipulation of the mattress on the bed (mattress being 'lifted up', or seemingly 'pushed up' from underneath the bed). The couple had tried to 'sit out' the effects concerned, but they just seemed to get worse and worse over the duration that they tried to stay in the room. The end result was invariably the same; an admission of defeat in the end and a retreat to the sitting room to spend the night! (On one occasion, the effect was so bad, the banging noise appeared to follow them down to the living room). This was on a night when the bedroom concerned had just been freshly decorated..... We were told by the mother of the family that this was the worst night so far, probably.....

The mother of the family was happy to keep in touch with the group and sporadically give us updates on the affairs in her home.....

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

Haunted House Story....

2010-02-26T00:25:00.000-08:00

The following account was sent in to group members recently:

"Me and my finacee moved into our home in Shropshire in mid-06.

3 weeks after we moved in I was out and my partner was asleep. She woke and there was a figure sat next to her on the bed, wearing a navy uniform, including hat with medals all over his chest. She fell back to sleep and woke again twice seeing a dark figure bending over her.

3 weeks later during the day, I took a nap. As I was falling asleep, I was thinking I should have shut the bedroom door because the sun was shining through the landing window and bothering me. After an hour or so of being asleep, I became aware of fast whispers in my ear and, as I came round, a dark shape was leaning over me and it cut out the sun light; as I quickly sat up, it disappeared. A few weeks later, I was in the kitchen and I heard footsteps running down the stairs - and saw someone, out of the corner of my eye, run into the living room. Assuming it was my partner, I started talking to her and walked into the living room, but she wasn't there. I called out to her and she was upstairs in the bathroom...... she'd been there the whole time.

On the 1st of October, during the night, my partner saw a dark figure of a man pointing out to the window. She has also heard footsteps in the attic. When we unpacked, She had discovered one of her necklaces was missing and she knew she'd put it in one of her bags which were in the nursery room in a box. She looked everywhere for them, but.... no luck.

3 weeks ago, I was in the attic and found the necklace in some rolled up carpet which had been in the loft before we'd moved in!! My partner had never been in the loft, so it's a mystery how it got there. She has also heard bangs downstairs and heard footsteps above the kitchen (in the bathroom) and dining room (in the bedroom). We have been told there was a sanitarium behind our house sometime ago and our house was built in the 1930's......"

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

Brum. Club Investigation....

2010-02-26T00:11:00.000-08:00

From The Archives:

INVESTIGATION REPORT: Edwards No.8 Rock Club – Lower Severn Street – Birmingham City Centre.

Present:

Investigative Team - Leonard Jackson; Frazer Smith; Nick Duffy; Kerrey Cooper; Steven Cooper and Vicki Cooper. Also present on site were Club Manager, Colin Wall, Peter Wall, plus Mr. Wall (Snr.) and two members of Club staff.

This daytime group visit to the Club was made in the presence of three non-team members – Kerrey, Steve and Vicki Cooper – who are relatives of (W.M.G.C. member) Frazer Smith and have accompanied the group previously on investigations. As a matter of interest to our visit was the fact that Vicki Cooper is believed to have a heightened receptivity to potentially paranormal atmospheres.

It has to be clearly stated that the W.M.G.C. ‘strictly’ do not endorse the use of psychic / mediumistic types on investigations. However, for the sake of true objectivity, the group has on occasion incorporated potentially ‘sensitive’ people into an investigation scenario.

[I]. Aims / Inv. Process:

General investigation of property, mainly focussing on sections of building noted as being of particular relevance / importance regarding the paranormal history of the site.

Investigation procedure incorporating:

1st person audio / visual observation. (‘Casually staged’ in this instance. See ‘Summary’ section below).

Static (area based) audio / visual recording, incorporating standard video camera’s.

General temperature / humidity recording. (Incorporating ‘ambient’ devices).

Note* No ‘trigger objects’ were used during this particular visit. Also, because of the fairly open plan nature of the site, no thermometers were employed – save for a standard, ambient unit situated on a table top (under the portrait of Jack Nicholson) in the Gothic Room.

[II]. Primary (1st Hand) Notes: Investigation Procedure, plus Findings, Experiences / Poss. Significant Events:

Immediately following our arrival at the site, we were given a guided tour of the property – and the attached Gallows Bar – by Pete Wall.

At one point in the tour, we were shown a stairway which runs the full height of the building and is situated on the Lower Severn Street side of the property. Upon mounting the staircase and moving to hold onto the handrail, Vicki Cooper says that she felt a ‘pushing’ sensation. She found that she had to walk around the area concerned before continuing down the stairs.

Upon entering the Cellar, Vicki also said that she received the mental image of a young boy waving at her. He was described as being approx. 8 – 9 yrs old, with short, dark brown hair.

Following the tour, the group split into three groups of two and begin a series of (casual) ‘vigil’ sessions.

Session One – 1.20 p.m. to 1.50 p.m.

Nick Duffy / Len Jackson - General Cellar Area.
Frazer Smith / Vicki Cooper - Lwr. Severn Street Stairway.
Kerrey Cooper / Steve Cooper – Store Room. (Formerly a bar area, but now used for general storage).

During this period:

Vicki Cooper says that she heard a single ‘cough’ sound. (Not heard by Frazer Smith). She also picked up the name ‘Louise’, which she believed was associated with a separate part / level of the building.

Nothing was reported from either of the other two groups.

Session Two – 2.10 p.m. to 2.40 p.m.

Nick Duffy / Len Jackson – Store Room. (Vigil conducted in presence of Mr. Wall Snr. who told us some historical information about the property and guided us around some ante-rooms).
Frazer Smith / Vicki Cooper - General Cellar Area.
Kerrey Cooper / Steve Cooper – Lwr. Severn Street Stairway.

During this period:

Both Vicki Cooper and Frazer Smith report having heard a distinct ‘cough’, which was loud enough to have been heard over the native sounds in the Cellar. No one could be found to account for the noise.

Vicki also reports having seen a ‘light anomaly’ – around 2” wide and 5 feet in length – near the cellar door frame. This occurred at a time when Frazer Smith was conducting a ‘prompt’ session (i.e. asking questions out loud to the general room).

She also picked up the name ‘Joseph’, which she felt was being called out by someone situated behind the Cellar doors.

Session Three – 3.00 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.

Video recording session staged in Gothic Room, incorporating three separate video camera’s running at the same time. Frazer Smith asked Pete Wall if the room could be kept empty (of staff) for the sake of the recording session.

It is believed that Colin Wall was situated in the general area of his office – on the same floor - for the duration of the session.

Camera One: – situated near main entrance to room, just in front of Jack Nicholson portrait, facing towards the Stage Area.
Camera’s Two and Three: situated on the Stage itself – ‘one’ stage left / ‘two’ stage right – both facing towards bar area.

During this period:

Entire group situated downstairs in main Rock Bar area.

Session Four – 3.35 p.m. to 4.05 p.m.

Nick Duffy / Len Jackson – Lwr. Severn Street Stairway.
Frazer Smith / Vicki Cooper - Store Room.
Kerrey Cooper / Steve Cooper – General Cellar Area.

During this period:

Nothing of potential interest / relevance reported by any group members.

Approx. 4.30 p.m. – group vacates the premises.

[III]. Secondary Notes: Audio / Visual Results.

Of the video recordings made during ‘Session Three’, all cameras detected the sound of a door closing (distant, in building); a brief sequence of footsteps (distant, in building) and a sharp, loud crack / brief crash that, by it’s clarity and volume, would appear to have originated somewhere within the Gothic Room. (Or potentially outside, but close by).

[IV]. General Observations and / or Summary.

* Due to the situation under which members had decided to make this visit – during daytime hours; staff members present and operating under daily working conditions; the size of the property and it’s position within a busy city centre, etc – a number of aspects of usual W.M.G.C. investigative protocol were dispensed with. The visit was staged in a general and casual fashion and treated mainly as reasonably brief, acclimatisation exercise.

* The building itself – the former Birmingham and Midlands Skin Hospital (Ref. ‘Kelly’s Directory of Birmingham’ for 1932, 1940, etc) – is truly immense and has evidently been structurally changed, most dramatically, over the years. While potential paranormal activity has been experienced at the site, the general layout / size / appearance / former use of the building would also, on a psychological level, potentially have some influence on it’s status as an allegedly ‘haunted’ property(?)

* One particular aspect of the buildings (current) make-up which could possibly have a bearing on supposed activity at the site, is the situation of the buildings full height stairwells……… in particular, the one which leads from the Gallows Bar, up past the Rock Bar and into the Gothic Room. It was noticed that this stairwell certainly appears to channel a considerable amount of sound from (suggested by Pete Wall) the air conditioning process inside the property.

While only being a matter of conjecture, in lieu of the proper, defining experiments, the stairwell concerned could possibly be responsible for channelling / causing ‘Infra-Sound’ waves, which – as suggested by some researchers – could well have an adverse effect on certain people within the building.

Doc. Ends.

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

Carol Arnall New Book Available!!

2010-02-20T02:54:00.000-08:00

Just a brief note to our readers to say that Carol Arnalls excellent book, 'Mysterious Happenings', is now available from Amazon.com. As with all of her previous offerings, Carol presents her readers with a fascinating array of paranormal tales, mainly based around the (English) Midlands area.

For copies of her book please click on this LINK.

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

Harbourne Haunted Pub!!

2010-02-20T02:52:00.001-08:00

From The Archives

The Court Oak – Balden Road – Harborne – Birmingham

Introduction

Built in 1932, the Court Oak could hardly be classed as an 'ancient hostelry' - though, for what it lacks in years, it amply seem to make up in ghostly activity! Pub Manager, Lillian Campbell, told the W.M.G.C. that she didn't really believe in ghosts until she moved to Harborne in November 2000.

While she had apparently resided at a number of pubs that supposedly held a 'haunted' reputation, none have ever given her the slightest cause to revise her somewhat sceptical outlook on the subject of ghosts. 'But do you believe in them now?' we enquired after hearing the impressive catalogue of happenings currently occurring at the site….

'Yes!' came the most definite of answers: she either had to believe something was going on at the pub, or - quite simply - she was going mad!...... It is rumoured that the town gallows once stood in close proximity to where the Court Oak is now situated, and the pub ghost - said to be the apparition of a woman dressed in black and white - was one of the unfortunates who lost their life there. Local legend has it that the woman was tried and executed on a charge of 'infanticide' - a crime that she didn't actually commit! (Subsequent contact with an authority on the history of the Harborne area failed to turn up any leads regarding the site of the town gallows, or any reference to the aforementioned murder and /or execution?)

Much of the alleged activity is said to go on in a section of the pub which Lillian affectionately called The West Wing. (Having checked with a compass, we can now reveal that, technically, this is actually a North wing!) It has to be pointed out that – circa. 2001 - the premises had undergone a £500,000 refurbishment and alteration process; a procedure that has quite commonly been associated with possibly ‘instigating’ ghostly phenomenon in a number of situations.

A whole plethora of potentially paranormal activity has been reported at the Court Oak. Bottles of wine are found to have been smashed in the locked wine cellar overnight; objects regularly move seemingly of their own volition and entire light fittings have been pulled from their fixed positions. Contrary to the legend that the pub ghost is female, the Manager reports having possibly seen a male apparition on two occasions in the bar(?)

Both times the figure had only been seen fleetingly out of the corner of her eye leading the objective Mrs. Campbell to inevitably question what she may have seen. On both occasions, she had received the impression of a light blue (pale denim) colour associated with the form; peculiarly, the same colour as the uniforms worn by pub staff members. (Though, clearly, no members were present at the time).

Around the day that the pub first opened, one staff member, Trish, was working alone in the Store Room when she heard a knocking noise apparently coming from an external wall. Thinking it may have been a Business Rep. wishing to gain entry to the building, she went through a nearby fire exit, but found no one outside.

Re-entering the Store Room only seconds later, she was dumbfounded to find a large carton of cream, from a nearby shelf, standing upright in the centre of the floor. (* It should be explained that some of the old, external doors to the building have now been covered over internally, but still externally look like functioning doors. One such door apparently features in the wall of the Store Room and this was the reason why Trish initially believed a Rep. might have been knocking in that area). Within the 2-3 weeks immediately prior to the Ghost Club investigation of the Court Oak, potential paranormal happenings were noted.

Lillian Campbell had her second possible sighting of a male figure in the bar, and also later heard the sound of mops and buckets being moved in the empty female toilets. A member of staff was checking her hair in a mirror attached to the boiler Room door in a cellar corridor, when the door started opening of its own accord. The staff member is said to have fled in terror!

Visit One: Fri. 23rd - Sat. 24th March 2001

Investigators present : Len Jackson, Darren Simpson, Roger Simpson, Geoff Brown and Anne Brown. (The latter mentioned two investigators are members of the Black Country Paranormal Society). Also, until approx. 2.45am, Court Oak Manager Lillian Campbell was present. Two 45 minute vigils were held during the early hours of the morning. Vigil one was held with all researchers in the bar area of the pub, while vigil two saw three researchers in the bar and the other three in the cellar(s).

Nothing of significance was noted during the vigils, save for some anomalous white lines crossing a security surveillance camera being monitored by Roger Simpson. Upon checking through the video footage that had been taken throughout the night, it was found that nothing of an anomalous nature had been picked up visually. However, a number of inexplicable sounds had been caught on the audio portion of the footage which had been taken in the 'Wine Cellar'.

The sounds concerned, included: numerous footsteps; a very loud crashing sound, and a noise akin to someone blowing across the neck of an empty bottle! No anomalous sounds were detected on any of the recordings made in other parts of the building.

Visit Two: Fri. 15th June - Sat. 16th June 2001

Investigators present: Len Jackson, Darren Simpson and Roger Simpson.

Having phoned the Court Oak in order to arrange a second visit, the Ghost Club was informed of another possible sighting of an apparition at the pub. Only a matter of days prior to our calling, Lillian Campbell and her partner, Mark, had been in the bar after closing time (approx. midnight, on June 10th) when he suddenly claimed to have caught a fleeting glimpse of a masculine figure, dressed in a light blue, denim colour, passing through the room. Unfortunately, Lillian happened to be facing in a completely different direction at the time and saw nothing - though both the general description of the figure and the location in which it was seen tallies almost exactly with Lillian’s own experience at Christmas. (See 'Introduction' above). A further sighting of the 'denim clad' figure comes from one of the pub's regulars, who claims to have seen such a form in a supposedly empty section of the building at a time before the extensive refurbishment took place.

The main point of our second visit to the Court Oak was to endeavour to investigate the array of inexplicable sounds that had been recorded in the Pub's 'Wine Cellar' during our previous stay. A number of recordings - both (Digital) audio and Video - were made in this area throughout the night, and a single vigil was held by the entire team at 3.40 am. During the latter mentioned sitting, all of the group heard a loud 'crash', very much like - if not exactly the same as - one of the sounds from our recordings. Initial investigations proved fruitless - though a very similar noise was subsequently noted as coming from a piece of cellar equipment that was later identified as an ice making machine. This machine is activated by temperature fluctuations via a thermometer, rather than a timer. If the sounds had been regularly spaced, we would have no doubt soon realised that it was merely an effect of some controlled machinery. Under the circumstances, the sheer 'randomness' of the sounds gave considerable food for thought and took us a while to unearth their true origins…..!!

As yet, both the considerable amount of 'footsteps' and the 'blowing sound' that were recorded in the early hours of March 24th remain unexplained. Extensive 'stomping' in the bar area by a 16st.+ member of the Club (wearing 'Army Boots') failed to be detected at all by two colleagues in the 'Wine Cellar' directly below. From this, it was deduced that the numerous examples of - completely casual sounding - footsteps previously recorded on video couldn't possibly have been picked up under 'normal' circumstances.

Visit Three: Fri. 13th June – Sat. 14th June 2003

Investigators present: Len Jackson, Darren Simpson and Frazer Smith. Also present until approx. 1.30 am was Danish newspaper reporter, Karina Harristrup and her brother, Michael Harristrup.

The main points of this follow up investigation was to generally check out the current / continued ghost-lore of the site and also help Miss Harristrup with an article she was writing for the ‘Birmingham Post’ newspaper.

In the subsequent 2 years since our last visit to the site, the Court Oak had changed hands - the present manager having been on the premises for approximately 8 months at the time of our visit. Potential paranormal activity had allegedly continued at the site, much of which was reported from the staff ‘living quarters’. Because of such disturbances, the present Manager had developed a habit of never going to sleep without the television being switched on in the Sitting Room; an area allegedly favoured by the Victorian, female apparition. Unlike previous visits, W.M.G.C. members were kindly given access to this part of the building for the duration of the stay.

Unfortunately, our visit was completely uneventful, the only matter of any real interest being the fact that the current Manager reportedly couldn’t call to mind one single instance of bottles of wine being inexplicably broken in the cellar…!? (This, it has to be said, we personally found quite startling - as such activity was said to be fairly ‘rife’ when Lillian Campbell had looked after the property!?)

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

Naked Phantom????

2010-02-11T23:09:00.000-08:00

Just a brief note on this matter, but a vague story has reached WMGC ears concerning an allegedly 'naked ghost' being seen at the window of a house in the Walsall area. The form - supposedly that of a young male - is said to have been seen by a number of people passing through the road concerned, causing considerable consternation to many!! (Doubtlessly!!)

The figure is said to only appear when the occupants of the house are not on the premises. It is rumoured that the police and social services have been called by worried passers by and local residents, but the family who live in the house are (or, were previously) totally oblivious to the events described.......

As mentioned, this has only come to the group as a tentative note, so we are unsure as to how much more data on the matter can be gleaned. In the event that further information is forthcoming, we will doubtlessly relate as we find.....

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

Staffordshire Pub Investigation.

2010-02-11T23:04:00.000-08:00

From The Archives:

INVESTIGATION REPORT: The Star and Garter Public House – Grange Street – Burton On Trent – Staffordshire.

Date Of Visit: 11th / 12th March 2005
Duration Of Visit: Approx. 5 hours.
Time of Arrival: Approx. 11.00 p.m.

Present:

Investigative Team – 6 W.M.G.C. members and Star and Garter Barman – Steve Ousby – stayed with team for the duration of the visit.

Also Present in Building at time of visit - Landlord Alan Wood, partner (unnamed) and two dogs.

[I]. Aims / Inv. Process:

General investigation of property, mainly focussing on sections of building noted as being of particular relevance / importance regarding the paranormal history of the site. Investigation procedure incorporating:

a) 1st person audio / visual observation.

b) Static (area based) audio / visual recording, incorporating standard / night shot camera’s and digital audio recording equipment. Also wireless (radio) security camera.

c) General temperature / humidity recording. (Incorporating ‘ambient’ and ‘Gun’ devices).

d) Trigger objects – listed below:

• 12” tall mannequin figure – positioned on brick ledge in disused cellar room, opposite doorway.

• Large cross – outlined on sheet of white paper – placed on brick ledge in main cellar room. (In general area where a ceramic mug has recently been found by staff, inexplicably shattered. *See ‘Appendix: [2] – part 5’ below).

• Small bible – primed with movement sensor / alarm device – positioned on bay window seating in ground floor lounge.

[II]. Primary (1st Hand) Notes: Investigation Procedure, plus Findings, Experiences / Poss. Significant Events:

*12.37 a.m. – Video recording session utilising two video camera’s situated in disused cellar area. (Both using ‘night shot’ capacity). ‘Camera One’ placed at front wall of room facing rear of property. (Situated directly under Lounge bay window on ground floor). ‘Camera Two’ situated on tall wooden bar stool in front of cellar door, facing mannequin (trigger object), diagonally across room. Session ended: 1.37 a.m.

*12.43 a.m. – Video recording session set up in 1st floor function room. Camera situated at far rear end of room, facing entrance door. Small children’s toy – a rattling ball – placed on carpeted stage directly in front of camera. [*Note: Sound of T.V. carrying through from private quarters of building noticed during session set up]. Session ended: 1.13 a.m.

*1.15 a.m. – Video recording session set up in disused cellar area. (Night Shot capacity). Camera again situated on wooden stool in precisely the same manner as 12.37 a.m. session. Session ended: 1.45 a.m.

*1.50 a.m. – Vigils held in ‘function room’ and ‘disused cellar area’:

a) Cellar vigil – Frazer Smith, Darren Simpson, Steve Chew and (barman) Steve Ousby. Group conducted experimental question and answer session, but elicited no obvious response.

b) Function room vigil – Len Jackson and Kevin Wallace. A number of sounds were heard sporadically throughout this session, but it was evident that the bulk of these noises could be pinned down to activity within the private quarters of the building. (Dogs scratching at doors, etc).

At the same time as the above, a video recording session was made in the function room. Camera facing bay window area of room. All sessions – vid. Recording and vigils - ended: 2.20 a.m.

*2.40 a.m. – digital audio recording session set up in disused cellar area. Mini-disk recorder placed on tall wooden stool. Session ended: 3.10 a.m.

*3.15 a.m. - Vigils held in ‘function room’ and ‘disused cellar area’:

a) Cellar vigil – Len Jackson and Kevin Wallace. Video recording session ran in cellar corridor – facing bottom of cellar steps – throughout vigil session.

b) Function room vigil – Frazer Smith, Steve Chew, Darren Simpson and (barman) Steve Ousby. During the vigil, Steve Ousby reported to the group that he could feel a ‘pins and needles’ effect in one of his hands. Apparently, according to Steve, this is usually taken as a sign that there is some form of ‘ghostly activity’ afoot. (Though nothing further occurred to back up this notion).

Both sessions ended: 3.45 a.m.

*Just prior to 4.00 a.m. – Investigator Steve Chew cataloguing cellar area with a digital camera produces three images, in quick succession, containing a peculiar misty, orange effect across the photographs. The effect differs in intensity and size between the three shots. Upon scrutiny, no obvious reason could be found to account for the images, but some form of technical / camera effect cannot be completely discounted.

Group leaves building at approx. 4.00 a.m.

Brief Site / Staff Notes and Considerations: Unfortunately, a number of factors associated with the premises in question were somewhat non-conducive to an ideal investigation scenario. Firstly, the buildings clientele appeared reluctant to leave the premises – resulting in a rather late start to the night’s proceedings. While certain checks and inspections were made prior to the last customers finally leaving – around 1.30 .a.m. – there was considerable debate within the group concerning the point of carrying out any form of recording sessions, etc, due to noise contamination from the main bar area. Despite the latter mentioned, it was suggested that two of the allegedly ‘most haunted’ area’s within the pub – the cellar and the function room – were sufficiently ‘out of the way’ as to merit some attention. (Hence, 3 recording sessions – in succession – being held in these particular area’s between 12.37 a.m. and 1.50 a.m.)

Once the investigation had begun, it was also noted that certain contamination – mainly noise related – would probably be carrying into the body of the building from the private living quarters. (Television, dogs, residents movement, etc). Main recordings affected by this situation would be those made in the function room area, which is situated close to the private quarters. Also, noise from the street outside – passing cars, drunks, etc - seemed particularly loud in the function room.

Landlord and staff members appeared to be all ‘pro-paranormal’ with regards to their views on activity at the site. Both Alan Wood and Steve Ousby claimed to have experienced happenings first hand, with the latter being pointed out as someone who was a ‘conductor’ for supposed ghostly incidents. (Quote: Mr. Wood). Mr Wood told the group that he had been a sceptic (with regards to the paranormal) prior to moving into the premises, while Steve Ousby admitted having a considerable interest / belief in the subject.

It was ascertained by the group that the Star and Garter was ‘not yet’ on the Burton Ghost Walk, but was, hopefully, going to be added to the list of places visited.

[III]. Secondary Notes: Audio / Visual Results.

None of the video / audio recordings taken during the investigation contained anything which might be regarded as of obvious ‘paranormal’ significance. Most of the recordings did contain some form of sporadic noise – click’s, knocks, taps, distant movement sounds, etc – but most of these could be put down to being naturally occurring contamination within the building itself – i.e. persons / animals moving around in the private quarters; the building settling; pub related equipment / machinery, etc.

[IV]. General Findings / Conclusions.

Nothing of an obvious paranormal nature was detected during the investigation. Only one item of passing interest were noted – namely, the three ‘flawed’ photographs taken just prior to 4.00 a.m. While being of interest, some form of rational explanation – i.e. camera fault - cannot be ruled out.

Thermometer readings taken throughout the night revealed that the temperature in the disused cellar area fluctuated by only .2 of a degree during the stay. The temperature in the function room fluctuated by one whole degree.

[V]. Appendices:

Appendix: [1] – Paranormal Related History. (Source: Sent to group by Chris Campbell-Brown of The Burton Ghost Walk).

The ghost that reportedly haunted the former British Oak at the time of this particular tale was said to be a playful one. He has many tricks up his sleeve, one of his favourites is to draw off exactly half a pint of beer, and the landlord knew the exact quantity because he put a glass under the tap to catch it. This happened on several occasions over the years, although from time to time it was changed from beer to cider, until the landlord disconnected the pipes to the cellar. Although the alcohol stopped dispensing the noises from the pumps continued as the ghostly presence tried to get himself a drink, but he never managed to magic one.

The cleaner and occasional barmaid was collecting dishes in the bar, she was carrying empty plates into the kitchen when a light fitment came crashing down from the ceiling leaving torn wires dangling. The bar staff after an evening serving in the pub have found to their amazement that the taps on the pumps in the barrels have been switched off in the cellar. It is impossible to serve draught beer without these.

The doors in the upstairs living quarters have rattled ominously but nobody is there and strange things happened in the bar area. The landlord would lock up every night and switch the lights of only to find them all switched in again in the morning. Ashtrays would move from table to table or disappear all together.

This activity was not only isolated to this period previous landlord’s have spoken of bottles flying of the shelves and smashing on the floor of the bar and ashtrays flying of tables. A party who used the upstairs function room at the time heard strange noises but when they checked there was absolutely nobody there at all.

The landlords dogs were afraid to go down the cellar, they trembled and ran upstairs with fright. One dog that normally had a good appetite could not eat for a week after being in the cellar area. Rumour has it that the area in the cellar where the dogs where so scared is where an ex landlord had committed suicide, although we have been unable to find any historical records to verify this. Also located in the bar area is a dead mans chair, that to this day regulars refuse to sit in due to it’s history of users dying shortly after sitting in it.

Another former landlord striped down the wallpaper on a wall to find a picture of Ben Truman (the pub was a Truman’s house before being sold to other brewers). All attempts to cover the picture failed miserably as it showed through layer upon layer of paint, eventually they papered over it.

Is this the ghost of the former British Oak Ben Truman who doesn’t like you drinking other breweries beer or is it the alleged hanged man we will leave that for you decide.

Appendix: [2] – Paranormal Related History. (Source: Information related to group by residents of Star and Garter on night of investigation).

1. Current occupants moved in to premises on Aug. 19th 2004 and alleged paranormal activity began within days of them taking over the property. Landlord – Alan Wood – claims to have been a sceptic before moving into the Star and Garter, but, through exposure to alleged activity within the property, he now admits that he has to revise his beliefs on such matters.

2. W.M.G.C. members informed that a number of past owners / staff had reported supposed paranormal activity.

3. People living near to the premises have allegedly spoken of hearing barrels moving both in the cellars of the building – late at night – and in the yard situated at the rear of the pub. The sound of horses have also been heard from the yard area – though only by people living in close proximity to the property and not by residents of the pub itself. Apparently, the landlord’s dogs will not go into the arched area, attached to stable block, in the pub yard. Steve Ousby also admits to having had ‘strange feelings’ about this particular area on at least one occasion.

4. Landlords dogs refuse to go into pub cellar.

5. General Cellar: Staff apparently believe that both an adult, male presence and that of a child exist in this area. Mr Wood reported that he sometimes feels his ‘hand being held’ in the cellar – something which he ascribes to the child-like presence. / A plastic jug – usually left in the cellar sink – has been known to move, supposedly of it’s own accord. / Buckets move of own accord. / A ceramic mug, accidentally left in the cellar by Mr. Wood, was later found smashed to pieces in the main beer cellar area. (Mug fragments still in situ at time of visit and photographed by group member). / Numerous cold spots and feelings have allegedly been detected in this area. / Damp marks visible on the wall of the disused cellar area were pointed out to W.M.G.C. members as being potentially ‘sinister’. / Gas taps sometimes turned off in cellar, apparently of own volition.

6. Gypsy-like woman, allegedly seen by Steve Ousby, in the process of descending the main staircase to the function room / private quarters. Vanished after a couple of seconds.

7. Following a ‘Karaoke’ session in function room one night, Steve Ousby and another (unnamed) witness apparently saw dark figure standing near to window overlooking pub yard. No real description could be given for the figure concerned. Vague and indistinct form.

8. Vague figure sometimes seen in short corridor leading from lounge room to main bar area. Steve Ousby suggests that this may be the same form witnessed in the function room area.

9. Odd noises – laughter, etc – sometimes heard from private quarters of building.

10. Staff report having seen the figure of an old man seated in the lounge, to the left hand side of the bay window seat. Present for a matter of seconds, then vanishes. Remarked that he is seen when bright sunlight is streaming in through the bay window(?)

All the best,

West Midlands Ghost Club

Fast Food Ghosts????

2010-02-04T23:07:00.000-08:00

From The Archives:

Mini / Preliminary Investigation Report: Fast Food Restaurant (?) – The West Midlands Region.

Note* The W.M.G.C. were specifically asked not to divulge the precise name and location of the site concerned. Suffice to say, the business involved is part of an international franchise. It should also be pointed out that there are a number of other, allegedly haunted sites within a very short distance of the property concerned.

This visit to the site was purposefully kept brief and served as a preliminary investigation, primarily aimed at a general assessment of the premises.

Date: Sunday 27th to Monday 28th August 2006

Duration Of Visit: Approx. 3.5 hrs

Investigators Present: Steve Chew, Frazer Smith and Len Jackson. Also – Restaurant Manager and three guests.

Site / Haunting History

While the building concerned was only constructed in recent years, there have been numerous reports of poltergeist-like effects at the site. Such happenings include: stall doors banging of their own accord in the toilets and glasses and other objects falling or flying from shelves seemingly of their own volition. ‘Scuffling’ noises have been heard from various parts of the building, including the Kitchen Area, Office Corridor and the walk in Freezers. The sound of something apparently ‘banging on the inside of the door’ of the latter mentioned has also been reported. Taps have switched themselves off while staff have been using them and noises – including footsteps – heard from portions of the building known to be empty. There has only been one, potential reported ‘sighting’ of anything on the premises and this was a fleeting glimpse of something which resembled a woman with blonde hair.

Locally / historically speaking: The area now occupied by the restaurant was formerly an industrial area, lying on the periphery of an immense factory site. It is known that a woman was found dead – under somewhat dubious circumstances – not too far distant, only a few years ago.

Investigation:

12.45 am – While group is still acquainting themselves with the premises, Steve hears a noise in the Kitchen area, seemingly originating from the Freezer end of the room. The noise was described as the sort of sound made by a cardboard box full of cutlery being moved.

Around the same time, Len gets an impression of someone walking past the window of the building, but, upon investigating, can see nothing. He moves away from the window and experiences the same effect a second time. Still there is no one there. It was noticed throughout the night that a number of vehicles passed within close proximity to the building, though no one on foot was ever seen.

Session One: 12.51 am to 1.21 am

*Camera 1 was set up in Kitchen area – directly opposite / facing the Office Corridor. On the work surface, directly in front of the camera, was placed two crucifixes (utilised as trigger objects) with an audio alarm attached to both.

*Camera 2 was set up in the Ladies Toilet area, facing the end two stalls – furthest from the door – in the row.

1.07 am – the restaurant telephone rings and the manager answers it, but reports that there is no one on the other end. A couple of minutes later, it rings again and it is, apparently, an acquaintance calling.

1.15 am – Steve, Frazer and one of the guests hear what they describe as a loud, female whisper. (All seated in Middle / Right of Main Dining Area). Frazer and Steve seem to think that the noise originated in the Kitchen area, while the guest assumed that it had possibly been Len – at the other end of the room - making notes with a hand held cassette machine. Len had previously been taking notes in this manner during the session, but had ceased to do so some 10 minutes earlier.

Other click / knock noises heard during the vigil, but these were deemed to be structural / native in origin (i.e. the wood of an empty chair creaking next to an investigator, etc).

1.46 am – Steve, Frazer and Len talking in Kitchen area. Former mentioned standing near Freezer end of room, with latter two in centre section of room. All hear loud, rippling ‘farting’-type noise, seemingly coming from work / ice machine area. Noise heard twice in reasonably quick succession – a minute or so apart – with the second sound being slightly different to the first. Steve likened the noise to someone getting up from a creaky leather seat – which was an accurate comparison.

Around the same time, Steve also heard a ‘clump’ noise from the Freezer area of the Kitchen.

Session Two: 1.52 am to 2.22 am

2.00 am – Steve and Frazer react to a very loud noise in the Kitchen, seemingly originating from the region of the work / ice machine area. Noise described as very loud and sounding like a ‘stack of objects’ being moved or shaken. Steve tries to replicate the sound with items / equipment around the area, but cannot. It is noted that many of these sounds seem to originate in the region of the ice machine – such equipment being notoriously noisy at the best of times and frequently turning out sounds identical to those heard by group members. The sound was heard twice in fairly quick succession, the first time being much quieter than the second.

2.33 am – entire group seated, talking casually in the Main Dining Area. A ‘hissing’ noise from the Kitchen attracts everyone’s attention and the Manager investigates to find that the sliding lid of the ice machine is open. (He has closed this by the time anyone else gets into the area, unfortunately). W.M.G.C. members were last out of this room – having been examining the machine – and it is known for certain that the lid was closed when they vacated the area.

Other sounds were noted during this period, but the bulk of these were assessed as, most likely, noises native to the building.

Session Three: 2.43 am to 3.13 am

2.47 am – A ‘scuffling’ sound is heard in the Kitchen area by Len. Noise appeared to originate in the room, off to the right of where Len was sitting. (Beyond the region occupied by the ice machine).

2.58 am – Loud noise from same area as previously. Tom hears a ‘crack-like’ sound, but Len says it was more like a ‘sneeze’ (?)

3.30 am – Visit finishes and we vacate the premises.

Temperatures:

The temperature inside the building dropped by one degree during the visit.

Recordings:

Camera One: Session One:

There are a lot of sounds that could be regarded as ‘native to the building’ - knocks, bangs and switching sounds…..most of which probably originate with the freezers, machines cooling down etc. During the recording there were, at three different points, the sound of something or someone messing around very close to the camera. Two of the instances are very striking; seemingly not the ice machine, nor anything automated.

Camera Two: Session One:

1.03 am - a loud ‘crack’ sound was picked up – seemingly close to the camera. This could have been a sound which was noted by an investigator seated in the Main Dining Area around the same time(?)

1.20 am – Camera picks up four fairly loud ‘knocks’. The sounds are quite clear, but not necessarily inside the toilet area itself.

General Notes:

It couldn’t help but be noticed that an the equipment within the building – freezers, air conditioning, etc – caused a substantial amount of noise under normal / daily working conditions. From this, it is assumed that any noises noticed by staff members as potentially paranormal in nature – i.e. scuffling sounds, footsteps and such – would have to be of a reasonable magnitude to be noticed. (This, of course, taking into consideration the fact that the staff members are probably well accustomed to such sounds and would possibly be able to differentiate between these and other, ‘unnaturally occurring’ noises?).

Regards,

The W.M.G.C.

The Kings Arms Public House - Harborne

2010-01-29T11:10:00.000-08:00

From The Archives:

Investigation Report:‭ ‬The Kings Arms Public House‭ – ‬Harborne‭ – ‬Birmingham‭

‬Date of Investigation:‭ ‬October‭ ‬15th to‭ ‬16th‭ ‬2004.‭

‬Notes On Alleged Haunted History:‭

*‬1st night on premises,‭ ‬landlady saw‭ ‘‬someone‭’ ‬looking around pillars in bar area of pub when building was otherwise empty.‭

*‬Movement of objects‭ – ‬glasses smashed‭ ‬/‭ ‬thrown from shelves.‭ ‬Bathroom cabinet flew across room towards person in shower.‭ ‬Heavy vase flew across kitchen and smashed.‭ ‬Magazines from rack scattered in three different directions,‭ ‬etc.‭

*‬Cellar lights switched off and on of own accord.‭ ‬Feeling of being watched in general cellar area.‭

*‬Sound of movement heard in private apartment corridor at‭ ‬2‭ ‬a.m.‭ ‬Upon investigation,‭ ‬drawers of sideboard in corridor found open,‭ ‬with everything thrown out.‭ ‬As ghost is allegedly called‭ ‘‬Harry‭’‬,‭ ‬landlady shouted:‭ “‬F‭*** ‬Off Harry‭!!”‬,‭ ‬and heard someone laughing and running away down corridor.‭

*‬Landlady situated in kitchen and saw someone run into her daughters room.‭ ‬Music came on in room.‭ ‬She went in to turn music off and saw‭ ‘‬someone‭’ ‬darting into her own bedroom.‭

*‬Footsteps and banging noises often heard.‭

*‬Staff member tapped on shoulder and had her hair pulled.‭

*‬Feeling of someone getting into bed with you.‭

‬Investigation:‭

‬Present:‭ ‬Steve Chew and Frazer Smith.‭ ‬Also‭ ‬5‭ ‬people associated with pub itself‭ – ‬Z,‭ ‬L,‭ ‬A,‭ ‬C and O.‭

‬Vigil One‭ – ‬Cellar Area:‭

‬Steve Chew hears‭ ‘‬clang‭’ ‬sound from outside cellar door.‭ (‬Like noise made by a metal pipe‭)‬.‭ ‬Boiler room situated nearby.‭ ‬O possibly hears same noise‭(?) ‬Traffic sounds detected from outside property.‭

‬During vigil,‭ ‬O and Z allegedly saw‭ ‬/‭ ‬sensed‭ ‘‬flames‭’ ‬in the cellar area‭(?)

‬Later,‭ ‬O and Steve hear a‭ ‘‬shuffling‭’ ‬sound.‭ ‬Z becomes‭ ‘‬spooked‭’ ‬and believes that someone has touched her.‭ ‬Z visibly shaken by this experience.‭

‬Post vigil‭ – ‬Steve Z and L walking back into bar.‭ ‬All hear‭ ‘‬bang‭’ ‬come from the stairs area of function room above.‭

‬Vigil Two‭ – ‬Function Room:‭

‬Group conducting‭ (‬experimental‭) ‬recording‭ ‬/‭ ‬ghost baiting session and O asks if the ghosts are happy with the way that the premises are being currently run‭? ‬If so‭ – ‬then could they let someone know‭?

‬At this point,‭ ‬Steve is setting his camera up on the function room stairs and feels himself being physically‭ ‘‬pushed‭’ ‬into a nearby door frame‭! (‬Action possibly in response to the question being asked‭?)

‬Vigil Three‭ – ‬Function Room Stairs:‭

‬Ghost baiting session conducted in endeavour to replicate‭ ‘‬pushing‭’ ‬scenario.‭

‬A and C leave premises at‭ ‬3.02‭ ‬a.m.‭

‬Z believes that she hears footsteps in function room.‭ ‬Other noises also heard from‭ (‬poss.‭) ‬function room and corridor.‭

‬Vigil‭ ‬4‭ – ‬Cellar Middle Room:‭

‬Squeaking noise heard.‭ (‬Poss.‭ ‬from cellar pipes‭)‬.‭ ‬Other unidentifiable sounds heard.‭ ‬Couple of people present claim to hear sounds of muffled voices.‭

‬Vigil Five‭ – ‬Function Room:‭

‬4‭ ‘‬tap‭’ ‬noises repeated twice,‭ ‬seemingly from glass lamp shade.‭

‬Floorboards heard creaking,‭ ‬as if someone‭ ‘‬rocking to and fro‭’ ‬on them.‭

‬Researchers leave pub around‭ ‬5.30‭ ‬a.m.‭

‬Brief Summary:‭

‬Researchers observe that visit‭ ‬/‭ ‬investigation conducted in already paranormally charged atmosphere.‭ ‬Previous visit by‭ (‬dramatic‭ ‬/‭ ‬psychic motivated‭) ‬group added to ghost-lore‭ ‬/‭ ‬paranormal expectations of site.‭ ‬Clearly general sense of heightened expectation‭ (‬re.‭ ‬potential paranormal happenings‭) ‬from site based personnel.‭

‬Degree of‭ (‬site based‭) ‬prompting‭ ‬/‭ ‬feeding occurring throughout visit.‭

‬Landlady spoke of being forewarned about ghostly reputation of site prior to moving into premises.

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

Haunted Homes #1

2010-01-29T10:37:00.000-08:00

Recent events mentioned in a post below have brought the subject of ‘Haunted Homes’ (not the rubbish TV series, we hasten to add!! Laugh!!) to the fore.

Below are details of an allegedly haunted house, situated in the Black Country area, which were sent in to the group recently….

According to the former occupants of the property in question, the site was the focus of many inexplicable happenings. Strangely, activity only seemed to really occur in any great volume if the family living at the site carried out some form of renovation-style activity at the house, i.e. painting and decorating, or anything to do with their garden. Needless to say this is a detail frequently mentioned in conjunction with hauntings at times. The mother of the family discovered that a very house-proud, elderly gentleman used to live at the property and had actually passed away there. He is said to have loved both his home and garden very much.

During their time in the house, the family concerned report having experienced many peculiar happenings, including glass bowls flying of the table and smashing against walls, the sound of heavy footsteps traversing the bedroom floor at night, disembodied voices... and a variety of different objects going missing and then mysteriously re-appearing again, many months later.

One day, when the son and daughter of the family were very young, they ran in to their mother, shouting that they could see a ‘ball of fire’ floating in the bathroom! When she rushed to the bathroom there was nothing to be seen. She asked them where they had seen the ball and they both pointed to the same spot in the air; both said it was round in shape and had looked just like fire….

At the time, the family had a dog which would sit by the living room door, growling into the empty hall. Certain family members - and visitors to the house - had spoken, at times, of seeing an indistinct shape walking along the hallway towards the front door of the property. This shape was only ever seen through the glass of the closed, living room door and resembled someone short of stature dressed in dark clothing.

The family concerned eventually moved away from the house, though not because of the peculiar activity they had experienced while living there. They tell the WMGC that they have never experienced any further happenings at their new address…..

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

Appeal.....

2010-01-21T01:23:00.000-08:00

The West Midlands Ghost Club is always on the lookout for potentially paranormal related stories and data from around the Mercia region, as part of our day-to-day running of the group itself. However, as we have maintained this blog for almost a year now, gaining reasonably good visitors figures in the process, we were hoping that 'you' the visitors to this site might be willing to share some of your experiences, anecdotes and comments with us?

If you do have anything you would like to see up on this blog - personal ghostly encounters, rants and moans, or perhaps word of your own research group or pursuits, etc - then please do contact us!! We are always on the look-out for contact and feed-back from our visitors and, from the figures we've seen over the last year (give or take), people are still clearly finding this page to be of some interest..... Needless to say, we should like to build on this interest and, as a result, both bring our readers more, fresh data to mull over and generally get people more involved in what is seen here. 'You' are obviously using this blog, so why not have a part in what is said here?

We have 20+ years of stories and personal anecdotes to draw on for our posts, but we would like to see the blog become something more than just WMGC reminiscences and related waffle, if possible? Who are you? Where do you come from? What is your interest in this field? Tell us...... we're sure others would like to know too!!!

All the best to everyone - and we do hope to hear from you soon!!

Regards,

The W.M.G.C.

Ghost Of The Living.....

2010-01-21T01:12:00.000-08:00

Just one solitary ghost story to be posted this week folks, but we're sure it will make an interesting read and hopefully inspire readers to contact us with their thoughts or any similar instances(?)

The following matter has recently come to the attention of the WMGC and the author - who wishes to remain nameless - has asked us to appeal for any similar data or references from the blog readers and visitors:

"I should begin by stressing that I loved my previous house – my home from early childhood and then onward for many years – with a passion. It was where I spent the best years of my life and I would not have left it for the world if I’d have had any say in the matter. While skimming for the sake of brevity, it should be stressed that, at the time of leaving the property, a lot of anger and frustration went into thoughts of the place. Just prior to this and during the period of leaving, a considerable degree of abnormal psychology was played out there.

As some of my friends still live in the area concerned – certainly not a million miles from my current home – I still occasionally walk past the house. I’m sure a lot of people would know what I mean in saying that it ‘physically’ hurts me to see the place at these times, knowing that someone else now lives in ‘my home’. Despite the fact that I’ve been in my current address for some years now, started a family and so on, the old house is still regarded as ‘home’ – the image that immediately pops into the minds eye - when anyone mentions the word.

Since leaving the property, I have, on a regular basis, re-visited the house in my mind; walking through every inch of the place, trying to refresh and re-refresh my memory of every nook and cranny, stair and floorboard creak.

I don't mind admitting that, for some years now I had half joked about ‘myself’ possibly ‘haunting’ my old home in some way(?) In thinking about the house, I had got into the way of seldom missing out a ponderance over whether, at some points in time, my ‘apparition’ isn’t witnessed by the current occupants, shambling across the living room carpet or perhaps bounding up the stairs of the property!

On this subject, I must admit that I have taken the notion further in actually ‘wishing’ myself on the property at times. I’m embarrassed to admit that this had been done in mixture of frustration and misguided anger at thoughts of my unwanted ejection from the place and the current residents…. “Look at me!” my ghost rages, “This is ‘My’ home that you’re living in!”. While moderately cliché, the subject of a thousand and one haunted house stories, this is a scenario that – embarrassment again – I have envisioned, in one form or another, oh-so-many times…..

Come forward to the time of writing this piece – January 2010 – and, only a few days ago, I receive a phone call on my mobile. There is person on the other end of the line who seems rather hesitant to speak with me to begin with; but they eventually ask me if I can possibly help them with some details on the history of a particular house? When I reply ‘if I possibly can….’ I'm thrown with the information that it is a place which they believe is known to me…. being my previous home! I initially thought that someone was possibly having me on, but – perversely and instantly intrigued - I still ask what sort of things have supposedly been going on there. I'm told of some fairly standard happenings – including footsteps heard coming from upstairs and voices – and I instantly jump on the latter, asking what the voices sounded like and if anything could be heard clearly? It's bizarre to relate, but I’m instantly looking for a connection with either myself or others I had lived with, and find myself crestfallen when I'm told the voices heard are those of their own family members who allegedly did not make the noises heard at the times they have been reported. On the same tracks, I then ask if anything has been ‘seen’ in the house….. but, again, I’m told that only fleeting ‘shapes’ have been witnessed, and, on one occasion, a small child seemingly saw the figure of 'a man', but was far too young to describe anything about him in detail.

The emphasis on the phonecall is clearly a query over whether I or my family had ever experienced anything of a paranormal nature in all of the time that we lived there. My simple answer is - if that house was haunted back 'then' - well, I am a Dutchman!!

Regarding the details of the happenings, suffice it to say, I could make no blatant or direct connections with myself or any of my family members and the activity concerned. What is mentioned appears to be a standard, poltergeist-like effect, quite typical of pretty much any other alleged haunting currently being reported in the early 21st Century.

I was told that another family had briefly lived in the house immediately after my departure and in the mere 12 or so months that they were there, they had experienced some rather worrying happenings. The current family had taken over the property at the end of one month and, by the middle of the next, things apparently began happening.

A quick digression should be inserted here on the subject of, so-called, ‘Apparitions Of The Living’. Such things are supposedly a recognised phenomenon in ghost-related circles and, according to statistics, 'more apparitions of living people are seen than apparitions of the dead'. Personally speaking, I think such a quote is utter hog-wash, but where 'mechanics' are concerned, the common notion about such things is that someone might think about a building so much, through a passionate love of the place, for example, that they somehow, by some para-physical means, actually ‘project’ an image of themselves onto the site concerned.

Could this be the reason for the 'haunting' in my old home, do you think?"

Another Hotel Affair....

2010-01-15T12:28:00.000-08:00

From the Archives....

On December the‭ ‬11th,‭ ‬2005,‭ ‬W.M.G.C.‭ ‬members conducted an overnight investigation of the Tudor House Inn,‭ ‬Warwick,‭ ‬in the presence of an I.T.V.‭ ‬film crew.‭

An initial‭ – ‬exploratory‭ ‬-‭ ‬visit was paid to the Tudor House last Summer by‭ (‬then‭)‬ group member Frazer Smith and Dean Steadman.‭ ‬While searching for a suitable venue for a proposed Central T.V.‭ ‬documentary in late‭ ‬2004,‭ ‬Steve Chew re-approached the site’s owners who kindly agreed to allow an investigation.

The building itself has a considerable supernatural reputation.‭ ‬Built in the early‭ ‬17th Century,‭ ‬the site is said to be haunted by a ghost known as‭ ‘‬Jennifer‭’‬,‭ ‬who announces her presence by switching lights on and off,‭ ‬rattling iron gates and creating eerie feelings in a number of rooms.‭ ‬Footsteps and the sound of singing have been heard in the main bar and a visiting psychic allegedly detected the spirits of two children on the premises.

One burly‭ ‬6‭ ‬ft builder who rented a room one night was apparently found outside,‭ ‬crying on the bonnet of his car‭ – ‬having fled the building in terror‭!! ‬He wouldn’t say what he had experienced,‭ ‬but allegedly had to spend the rest of the night sleeping in the same room as the‭ (‬male‭) ‬owner of the inn‭!!

Despite the buildings ghostly heritage,‭ ‬our visit appeared to pass very quietly indeed.‭ ‬Only one potential happening occurred during the stay,‭ ‬when researcher Len Jackson reported hearing a sound‭ – ‬akin to a‭ ‘‬hiccup‭’ – ‬in a corridor near the hotel reception area‭…

Our investigation notes for the event concerned ran as below:

Date Of Visit:‭ ‬11th‭ ‬/‭ ‬12th December‭ ‬2005.‭
Duration Of Visit:‭ ‬Approx.‭ ‬7.5‭ ‬hours.
Time of Arrival:‭ ‬Approx.‭ ‬9.00‭ ‬p.m.‭

Present:‭

Investigative Team‭ ‬-‭ ‬Leonard Jackson,‭ ‬Steve Chew and Nick Duffy.‭ ‬Also,‭ ‬for part of the investigation‭ ‬-‭ ‬Tudor House Manager‭ ‘‬Sweetie‭’ ‬and I.T.V.‭ ‬Film Crew x‭ ‬3‭ ‬persons.

For the duration of the night,‭ ‬three paying guests are housed in rooms situated on the‭ ‬2nd Floor landing.

Aims‭ ‬/‭ ‬Inv.‭ ‬Process:‭

General investigation of property,‭ ‬mainly focussing on sections of building noted as being of particular relevance‭ ‬/‭ ‬importance regarding the alleged paranormal history of the site.‭ ‬Investigation procedure incorporating:
‭
1st person audio‭ ‬/‭ ‬visual observation.‭

(b‭) ‬Static‭ (‬area based‭) ‬audio‭ ‬/‭ ‬visual recording,‭ ‬incorporating standard‭ ‬/‭ ‬night shot camera’s.‭

(c‭) ‬General temperature recording.‭ (‬Incorporating‭ ‘‬ambient‭’ ‬devices‭)‬.

‭(‬d‭) ‬Trigger objects‭ – ‬listed below:

‭*‬12‭” ‬tall mannequin figure‭ – ‬positioned on table in Restaurant area of building.‭
*Cross‭ – ‬outlined on white paper‭ – ‬on small,‭ ‬corner window ledge of Mary Tudor Bedroom.
‭*‬Childrens chiming ball‭ – ‬situated on dresser in Mary Tudor Bedroom.
‭*‬Bible‭ – ‬placed on chair at top of Bar Room Stairs.

Brief Investigation Notes:
‭
*9.00‭ ‬p.m.‭ – ‬W.M.G.C.‭ ‬members arrive at site.‭ ‬Speak with Tudor House staff and gather general data concerning alleged haunting of site.

‭*‬10.00‭ ‬p.m.‭ – ‬I.T.V.‭ ‬Crew arrive.‭ ‬Begin with filming external views of building,‭ ‬followed by‭ ‘‬interview‭’ ‬sessions‭ – ‬in Main Bar Area‭ ‬-‭ ‬with group members.‭

*11.30‭ ‬a.m.‭ – ‬I.T.V.‭ ‬crew film group members setting up investigative equipment in Mary Tudor Bedroom.

Camera‭ (‬utilising night shot capacity‭) ‬positioned in‭ (‬door‭ ‬/‭ ‬main window‭) ‬corner of bedroom,‭ ‬facing‭ – ‬diagonally‭ – ‬towards small,‭ ‬corner window‭ (‬on the ledge of which the‭ ‘‬cross‭’ ‬trigger object is positioned‭)‬.

Thermometer and childrens ball situated on small dresser against corridor wall of room.

Door to M.‭ ‬T.‭ ‬Room locked at‭ ‬12.15‭ ‬a.m.

‭*‬Approx.‭ ‬12.30‭ ‬a.m.‭ – ‬I.T.V.‭ ‬Crew leave building.

‭*‬1.00‭ ‬a.m.‭ – ‬video recording session in Mary Tudor Bedroom finishes.‭ (‬At this point in the morning,‭ ‘‬Sweetie‭’ ‬retires for the night to Room‭ ‬5‭ ‬on the First Floor landing‭)‬.

‭*‬1.15‭ ‬a.m.‭ ‬to‭ ‬2.00‭ ‬a.m.‭ – ‬Group members conduct vigil on staircase between Restaurant area and‭ ‬1st Floor Landing.

During this period:‭

Video recording session running in Main Bar Area.‭ ‬Camera facing up Bar stairs to‭ ‬1st Floor area.

‭*‬2.10‭ ‬to‭ ‬3.00‭ ‬a.m.‭ – ‬Group members conduct vigil in Bar Area.

During this period:

Camera‭ ‬1:‭ ‬positioned on‭ ‬2nd Floor Landing,‭ ‬looking towards Room‭ ‬10‭ ‬area.

Camera‭ ‬2:‭ ‬positioned on‭ ‬1st Floor Landing,‭ ‬facing upstairs towards‭ ‬2nd Floor Area.

Camera‭ ‬3:‭ ‬positioned in Restaurant Area,‭ ‬facing rear of property.

At approx.‭ ‬2.49‭ ‬a.m.‭ ‬Len Jackson walking along Reception Area corridor‭ (‬going to retrieve camera‭ ‬3‭ ‬from Restaurant Area‭) ‬when he hears loud‭ ‘‬hiccup‭’ ‬type noise.‭ ‬Cannot find source of sound and admits that the experience causes him to be momentarily reticent to enter Restaurant Area.‭

*3.00‭ ‬a.m.‭ ‬to‭ ‬4.00‭ ‬a.m.‭ – ‬Group conduct vigil in Mary Tudor Bedroom.

During this period:

Video recording sessions in Main Bar Area.‭ ‬Camera‭ ‬1‭ ‬situated on Bar Balcony‭ – ‬1st Floor level‭ – ‬filming down towards great fireplace end of room.

Camera‭ ‬2‭ ‬positioned facing Bar Stairs.

‭*‬4.30‭ ‬a.m.‭ – ‬Group leave site.

Conclusions‭ ‬/‭ ‬Summary:

Nothing of an obvious‭ ‘‬paranormal‭’ ‬nature was detected during our visit.‭ ‬The only event of any potential significance was Len Jacksons experience at‭ ‬2.49‭ ‬a.m.‭ ‬in the Reception Area Corridor.

Temperatures within the building dropped steadily by‭ ‬1.5‭ ‬degrees during the course of the stay.

Doc Ends.

The resulting I.T.V.‭ ‬documentary‭ – ‬produced as‭ ‬an episode of‭ ‬ the popular‭ ‬‘Central Extra‭’‬ series‭ – ‬aired on Tuesday,‭ ‬January‭ ‬10th‭ (‬06‭)‬.

Best wishes to all,

The W.M.G.C.

‭

The Moat House - Tamworth

2010-01-15T00:18:00.000-08:00

‭From the W.M.G.C. archives.....

C‬onstructed around‭ ‬1575,‭ ‬the impressive Moat House Restaurant in Tamworth,‭ ‬South Staffordshire,‭ ‬has been utilised for a variety of purposes during it’s lifetime,‭ ‬including periods as a private residence,‭ ‬a gentlemen’s club,‭ ‬a hospital,‭ ‬an asylum and,‭ ‬more recently,‭ ‬a public house and restaurant.

Reports of ghostly activity at the site stretch back at least three decades and include a vast array of diverse happenings.‭ ‬Apparitions,‭ ‬poltergeist effects and mediumistic‭ ‬/‭ ‬psychic episodes have all been regularly experienced.‭

Just some of the apparitions allegedly witnessed on the premises include an old woman in a rocking chair and a lady in Victorian costume both seen in the library.‭ ‬A gentleman wearing a smoking jacket‭ ‬-‭ ‬carrying a brandy glass and smoking a cigar‭ ‬-‭ ‬has been seen in the main entrance hall to the building.‭ ‬An‭ ‘‬ugly‭’ ‬little girl apparently resides in the Restaurant‭ ‘‬Tower‭’ ‬and a‭ ‘‬grey lady‭’ ‬has been witnessed in the kitchen and living room of the resident staff accommodation.‭ ‬A terrifying face‭ – ‬so horrible that one of the witnesses concerned had to leave the premises upon seeing it‭ – ‬has also been spotted peering through the kitchen window‭…‬.

Some of the more startling poltergeist-like effects reported include:‭ ‬A kitchen knife allegedly sailing past the face of one staff member,‭ ‬in an otherwise empty room,‭ ‬before embedding itself in a nearby notice board.‭ ‬On another occasion,‭ ‬two members of staff were alone in the building when a heavy metal rack,‭ ‬loaded with literally hundreds of plates,‭ ‬toppled over of it’s own accord in the kitchen.‭ ‬Bottles have been witnessed flying across a bar and smashing onto the floor‭… ‬again,‭ ‬seemingly of their own volition.‭ ‬One staff member has heard her name being called out by a disembodied voice‭ – ‬while the sound of a woman singing a lullaby and the noise of a baby gurgling have been reported from the Function Room‭……‬.

West Midlands Ghost club members carried out an investigation of the property on‭ ‬the‭ ‬9th of July‭ ‬2004.‭ ‬The duration of the investigation lasted approx.‭ ‬6‭ ‬hours.

As with most of our investigations,‭ ‬the event was‭ ‬based around particular areas of the property which had been specifically pointed out to the group as sites of‭ (‬alleged‭) ‬paranormal activity,‭ ‬with a‭ ‬number of‭ (‬manned‭) ‘‬vigils‭’ ‬and audio‭ ‬/‭ ‬visual recording sessions‭ ‬being‭ ‬staged in various parts of the premises throughout the night.

As with a great many investigations,‭ ‬the evening passed mainly without event,‭ ‬save for a trigger object‭ ‬-‭ ‬based in‭ ‬a‭ ‬2nd floor Children’s Room‭ ‬-‭ ‬being found to have moved twice during the night.‭ ‬Following it’s initial movement‭ (‬of approx.‭ ‬1‭ ‬cm‭)‬,‭ ‬the object was re-positioned and,‭ ‬some‭ ‬50‭ ‬minutes later,‭ ‬was found to have moved again‭ (‬by‭ ‬0.5‭ ‬cm‭)‬.‭ ‬On both occasions,‭ ‬the object had moved in the same direction.‭

This particular site was purposefully chosen for this experiment as,‭ ‬during a recent visit by another local research group,‭ ‬a trigger object had allegedly moved of it’s own accord in the same position.‭ ‬Having mentioned the above,‭ ‬basic experiments with group members moving in close proximity to the object concerned did cause vibrations and led to the movement of the object concerned.‭

With regards to‭ ‘‬recorded‭’ ‬data,‭ ‬the only matter of mild interest were some peculiar‭ ‘‬knocking sounds‭’ ‬which turned up on video recordings made in the Library area of the property.‭

An article,‭ ‬briefly mentioning‭ ‬the groups visit to the Moat House,‭ ‬was subsequently released in the‭ ‘‬Tamworth Herald‭’ ‬newspaper on July‭ ‬15th‭ ‬2004.

Regards to all,

The W.M.G.C.

‭

Hotel Experience......

2010-01-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

The following account, from 20 years ago, concerns a picturesque, country hotel in the heart of the Midlands.

“My partner and I were working on the re-construction of new bedrooms in the old annexe of the hotel, which had previously been an old stable block. We were erecting partitions to form the rooms and there were 2 labourers also working with us who were clearing away rubbish and rubble. At the end of the annexe, there was a bathroom and stairway to an upstairs area in which we were working.

I was working about halfway down the room and my partner near the entrance at the top of the stairs. The labourers had just taken out some rubbish and, as I was sawing some timber, I was suddenly very aware of someone walking past me. I saw a shadow, but carried on working. Half lifting my head, I thought I saw the figure of someone walk into the nearby bathroom. I called out to whoever it was, but there was no answer. I then called out to my partner, Rob, and asked if he’d seen one of the labourers come in and walk past me. He said he hadn’t.

I went to the bathroom and called out, but no one answered. I slowly opened the bathroom door – there was no one in there – but I had the strangest sensation down the back of my neck. On going to leave, we had to turn the lights off and the switch was near the bathroom concerned. We ran like hell out of there when we’d finished!!

Looking back on the experience, my mate and myself have a good laugh over it now and again!!

At the time we received this note, the group contacted the hotel concerned on a number of occasions for some form of comment, but never received an answer to our appeals…..

Regards,

The W. M. Ghost Club

A Ghostly Nurse?

2010-01-07T10:38:00.000-08:00

As frequently occurs, a lot of presumed ghostly experiences fall into that ‘did they, or didn’t they happen?’ bracket….. Under the current climate, most people certainly do not ‘err on the side of caution’, but tend to immediately swing in a pro-paranormal direction!!

The following, brief account was sent into the group during the late 1990’s…

Susan had to go into a Midlands hospital for a two day stay, involving a minor operation.

She had been put into a small side-room for her stay, which had a draw curtain across the entrance, that was ‘pulled’ at night. On the night following her operation, Susan had a feeling that someone was in her room and turned her head to see a nurse, standing at her side, with a beautiful, smiling face. She thought it strange that the nurse didn’t speak to her during the short time she was there, but took in her frilly cap and armbands, white apron and fob-watch. “You don’t see nurses dressed like that these days!?” she thought to herself….

After only a brief time, she saw that the nurse had now apparently gone. She did not notice her leave the room and didn’t see the drawn door curtains move at all?

Susan informed us that she has never told anyone about her peculiar, little experience; apart from her husband, who puts the encounter down to the after effects of her surgery. She is wholly sceptical about such a theory, however, as, after the operation, she had eaten a meal and had been up and about in the afternoon walking around….

Susan later discovered that the hospital concerned had been built on the site of an older medical building – so the figure of the ‘older style’ nurses would be a regular feature around the place at one time(?)

Tales of ghostly nurses are a regular feature in hospital folk-lore the world over and it seems that literally every medical establishment will have at least one ‘spook’ on the staff!! Even the grandmother of one W.M.G.C. member spoke of seeing such a silent vision in Walsall during the 1980’s - and our files are fairly ‘littered’ with similar anecdotes related to literally ‘every’ hospital in the Midlands region, bar none!

But what of ‘phantom patients’, we wonder? Where are they?

Regards to all,

The W.M.G.C.

Another Phantom-Jaywalker!?

2009-12-30T23:48:00.000-08:00

This story – yet another ‘road ghost’ - involves two workmates making their way back home from ‘an honest days toil’ in late 1991:

“My friend and I were driving along the A5 at around 6pm. It was dark and raining and we were around 100 yards or so from a pub, just outside Cannock.

I was the passenger in the van. All of a sudden, the figure of a man appeared about 12” from the vehicle, on the drivers side! It happened so quickly, my friend (who was driving) flinched as he thought that he was going to walk into the side of the van. Neither of us said anything at that moment – but I looked back, through the large window at the rear of the van, to find that there was no sign of anyone there. We had felt no bump, nor heard any sound of impact. The figure had just vanished!

I said to my friend “Did you see what I just saw?” and he replied that there had been a bloke in the road who had nearly walked into the van. I asked him what the figure had looked like and he said it had been someone dressed in white or grey and this was the same as I had seen. We couldn’t see his head or arms, but just the form of a figure in some light colour. It had disappeared as fast as it came and we had both seen it at the same time”.

A bona-fide’ road ghost, optical illusion or perhaps something more? There have been other reports of peculiar sightings along this particular stretch of road, so the jury will ‘have to be out’ for the time being on this one???

Regards,

The W.M.G.C.

Ghost In A Head Scarf!

2009-12-30T23:46:00.000-08:00

The following story was sent into the W. M. Ghost Club in 1991:

“In the 1950’s, we lived in XXX Street in Birmingham – a place long gone to development. It was our habit to have one of my girl friends visit us for an evening, then my husband and I would walk her to the bus, taking our dog for a run at the same time. This evening was no exception. We duly took Margaret to the No.8 bus stop and, off the bus she was getting on, hopped my husbands brother…… so all three of us, plus dog, walked back the way we had just come.

We had turned off the main road into AAA Street and my husband slipped the lead off the dog, as there was very little traffic in the back streets; in fact, to see anyone around at that time of night was most unusual.

As we walked up the street, it was very dark – the light of the main road behind us and the only street lamp way ahead to our left. From under this street lamp, the figure of a woman – dressed in a head scarf, coat and boots – came towards us, crossing the street, out of the lamp light and into the dark.

“Hold the dog!” said my brother-in-law.
“Why?” said hubby…
“Someone’s coming!” said I.
“Where?” said hubby, grabbing the dog.

We glanced down at the dog, whose hair was now standing up in a ruff around it’s neck, for some reason – and when we glanced back up, there was no woman there!?

Where had she gone? There was nothing but factory walls and railings in the street, not even a doorway to hide in. The layout of the street is exactly the same to this very day, although some railings to a nearby childrens area are now gone.

We stood at the top of the street and looked back into the emptiness…..my husband still maintaining that there had been no one there in the street! But my brother and I compared notes as to the appearance of the disappearing woman, which tallied precisely.

Some while later, I was telling my aunt about our experience and she had said: “Oh – that’s where a bomb fell during the war. It just missed the shelter in the kiddies playground….. although I believe there was one woman killed in the blast!”

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

Merry Christmas!!!

2009-12-23T00:38:00.001-08:00

Here’s wishing all of our visitors a very‭ ‘‬Merry Christmas‭’ ‬and a prosperous‭ ‬2010‭!!

Thank you so much for your patronage throughout‭ ‬2009‭!! ‬Our fond wishes to everyone over the Festive Season and beyond‭……

Regards,

The West Midlands Ghost Club

The Burned Man!

2009-12-23T00:36:00.000-08:00

As with our last blog post,‭ ‬this is another tale concerning a‭ ‘‬Road Ghost‭’; ‬it was also sent in to the group following a press appeal,‭ ‬and‭ – ‬coincidentally‭ ‬-‭ ‬also has‭ ‬a‭ ‬Christmas-time association‭……!

This particular experience occurred on Boxing Day‭ ‬1992‭ ‬and involved a young woman driving past an old,‭ ‬Midlands airfield on her way to work one morning at‭ ‬7.30‭ ‬am.‭

As it was a cold morning,‭ ‬the woman concerned had switched her heater on in the car as soon as she had entered the vehicle some‭ ‬10‭ ‬minutes earlier.‭ ‬However,‭ ‬as she made a turning off a major,‭ ‬A road near to the airfield in question,‭ ‬she reports that the vehicle suddenly went icy-cold.‭ ‬Inexplicably,‭ ‬condensation immediately formed on the inside of the windows and she instantly became aware that there was now someone sitting,‭ ‬directly behind her,‭ ‬in the back seat of the car.

Too afraid to actually turn around,‭ ‬she looked in the rear view mirror and was horrified to see what she took to be the face of a man‭ ‬-‭ ‬who had evidently been badly burned‭ ‬-‭ ‬seated behind her‭! ‬For whatever reason,‭ ‬a sense of evil seemed to assail the witness‭ – ‬a feeling that stayed for a few seconds,‭ ‬before evaporating‭…‬.‭ ‬along with the condensation and accompanying,‭ ‬icy chill.‭ ‬Within a brief time,‭ ‬the experience had passed and the man had vanished.‭

Due to this experience,‭ ‬the woman refused to use this particular road for a long time afterwards and sought an alternative,‭ ‬albeit longer route to work.‭ ‬Some two years later,‭ ‬however,‭ ‬she happened to find herself on the same stretch of road again,‭ ‬and‭ – ‬at the exact spot where the figure had previously appeared‭ – ‬she clearly smelled something akin to the rank,‭ ‬stench of‭ ‘‬burning flesh‭’……

This smell later occurred on a further visit to the site,‭ ‬but there were no further experiences at the spot‭ – ‬despite many visits through the area‭ ‬-‭ ‬after the second of her olfactory encounter.‭

After the W.M.G.C.‭ ‬corresponded with the woman concerned‭ – ‬seeking further information on her encounter‭ – ‬she wrote back to tell us that the man had appeared to be around‭ ‬40‭ ‬years of age and had seemingly been staring out of the car window towards a nearby farm.‭ ‬She had seriously thought about contacting the occupants of the site in question,‭ ‬but had hesitated for the simple reason that she had no idea of how to broach such as subject,‭ ‬as she had wanted to enquire about,‭ ‬with complete strangers‭!!

Queries aimed at a local policeman‭ – ‬a friend of the witness‭ – ‬regarding accidents in the area,‭ ‬came to naught.‭ ‬It was noted however that a public house,‭ ‬situated some‭ ‬2‭ ‬miles distant,‭ ‬had burned to the ground many years earlier.‭

Another friend,‭ ‬who was in the RAF,‭ ‬had suggested that the womans‭ ‘‬visitor‭’ ‬may well have been connected to the nearby WWII airbase‭ – ‬the land now utilised for housing and commercial concerns‭ – ‬but a subsequent check of the death records associated with the site revealed no significant accidents for the time-frame in question.‭ ‬Despite this,‭ ‬our witness feels that this latter mentioned avenue is the most likely cause for her unnerving experience‭…‬.

All the best,

The West Mids Ghost Club‭

The Boy In The Lane.....

2009-12-23T00:35:00.000-08:00

The following account was sent in to the group in December 1997, following a newspaper appeal for local ghost stories. Our contact asked for strict anonymity at the time of writing to us, so names and precise locations have been omitted from the story for that purpose.

The experience in question is said to have occurred in a lane, in a rural area, situated just outside Wolverhampton near the Staffordshire / Shropshire border.

Our correspondent was returning home (to Shropshire) following a visit to her parents house on Christmas Eve, 1992. At the time of the experience, she was driving along a quiet country road at around 9 p.m., travelling directly behind a Volvo estate car.

As they passed a section of woodland on their right hand side and a high wall on their left, our witness saw a young boy suddenly dash out of nowhere into the path of the car in front of her… which clearly didn’t have time to avoid him! She describes the lad as wearing clothing that was reminiscent of the Victorian period; dull or dark trousers and jacket, which looked like something you might see at the Black Country Museum. Despite such detail, she assures us that she was convinced that she had just witnessed a real road accident, with a real, flesh-and-blood boy…..

After both vehicles had screeched to a halt, she got out of her car and ran to the Volvo, the occupants of which – a Scottish couple – had also exited their vehicle. We are told that the female passenger was crying and hysterical, while the man was staring incredulously at the front of the car. A search of the immediate area was conducted, but – you’ve guessed it – there was no sign of the young boy anywhere…..

The Volvo driver readily admitted that he had certainly struck the lad – he had appeared so suddenly, there was no chance of avoiding him - but there was no resulting bump, or sound of impact and, when the vehicle was checked over, no physical signs to indicate a collision of any sort. A search of the vicinity was conducted for some further 30 minutes, but nothing to account for the experience could be discovered.

Puzzled, the drivers got back into their respective cars and our witness went back to her parents house, while the Scottish couple swore that they would visit the nearest police station and report the incident. The man had said that he would be in touch if anything came of the matter, but nothing was ever heard from either him, or the police……

A passing comment made in a local pub some while later resulted in the news that this certainly wasn’t the first time that such an experience had occurred on that particular stretch of road…….

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

Ian Bott - Local History with a frequent 'Ghostly' and 'Ghastly' twist!!!

2009-12-18T01:31:00.000-08:00

Ian M. Bott is a well known Wednesbury antiquarian with, it can certainly be said, more than a slight interest in the 'macabre' side of history. Within the last couple of decades, Ian has conducted a series of walks around his home town, many with either a ‘ghostly’ or ‘ghastly’ theme to them, and his repertoire of popular, local talks and lectures include one on ‘Black Country Spooks’ and ‘Black Country Graveyards’.....

An accomplished author, he has previously produced a number of ‘In Old Photographs…’ volumes, though a more recent work – some 12 months in the making – is dedicated to the grisly subject of Black Country Murders…..

In April of this year, Ian spoke to the ‘Express and Star’ newspaper about this impressive volume of original, gruesome tales:

‘Dark Secrets From Murder Casebook’

“From bustling high streets to quiet, leafy parks – it is never easy to know where some of the Black Country’s most gruesome murders have taken place.

“We are often blissfully unaware of the darker secrets that are hidden in the past of housing estates, town centres and parks,” says historian Ian Bott.

“For 12 months I have been digging into the Black Country’s history and have uncovered some murders that will surprise a lot of people.”

Ian Bott’s new book ‘Black Country Murders’ focuses on 10 horrific murder cases – two of them were triple murders and six of the victims were children.

All 10 took place between 1900 and 1958 in spots such as a house in Brockmoor High Street, a stable yard in Lye, a steelworks in Tipton, a barber’s in Walsall and a secluded spot in Warley Woods.

“The first chapter is about a nine-year-old girl called Matilda Coleyshaw who was sent out at 11pm to look for her sister who hadn’t returned home from work at the local pub, which is now The Junction,” says Ian, aged 46, who works as a nightclub bouncer in Walsall and at the town’s Leather Museum.

“She lived in the slums at Rydding Square and was found dead on Ball’s Hill Field, known locally as the Hilly Piece.”

Ian says Matilda was abused and killed by a local widower Joseph Lowe.

“It was difficult to find out Matilda’s age. I went around a lot of cemeteries in the hope of finding graves with dates on them,” he says.

“But sadly a lot of the victims are in pauper graves.”

All of Ian’s stories have come from old newspapers and the first thing he did was eliminate all the well-known murder cases.

“I wanted unknown murders that haven’t been publicised since they happened,” he says.

“I’ve spent a year going through Sandwell and Dudley’s archives where the staff were very helpful and helped me scan through newspapers from 1850 to 1950. In the end I wrote about murders from 1900 to 1958, and all of them are gruesome.”

Ian, who lives in Wednesbury, says there are places that he has been to all his life and he was shocked when he discovered what had happened there.

“One of the most moving stories is the murder of three children in 1903 in a little cottage near where Morrisons in Bilston is now,” he says.

“They were brutally murdered by their father with the butt of a shotgun – it is a very sad tale.

“I have been to the sites of all the murders and some of them are quite spooky, especially at night.

“I went to the site of the Bilston murder and I was so on edge that whenever a twig snapped it made me jump.”

Ian says he enjoys investigating each murder and following it in the old newspapers from the start through to the final day in court.

“The newspapers really sensationalised the murders with words like “outrage” and “horror”,” he says.

“Our ancestors would have been shocked at the murders as today we have become a bit more de-sensitised to it.

“People often give me tips about murders they have heard of as they hope I will do the research for them.

“It was often the case that when they were younger Mum and Dad would be talking about things that were not meant for their ears.”

Ian says it is difficult to find photos of the murderers or the victims as the people who had their photos printed in the paper were usually the judges and coroners.

“In eight out of the 10 cases, the murderer and the victim knew each other and they are all male murderers – I struggled to find a female killer,” says Ian.

“While out visiting the murder sites people have asked me about the killings that have taken place there.

“They often tell me that there was a rumour about a murder but over time, the story had changed and people had got confused about the location of the crime.

“If the house still stands where a murder has taken place I haven’t revealed the number in my book, as the present owner might not want to know about its dark past.”

A brief video of Ian speaking about the volume was included with the above article and can be viewed on the Express and Star web site, via this LINK.

A selection of Ians books - including his latest volume 'Wednesbury Through Time' - can be obtained via any of your popular high street outlets, as well as via the usual net based sources, such as Amazon, E-Bay and so forth. Word of his forthcoming – and ever popular - talks and lectures, on a variety of topics, can usually be gleaned via a web search on the subject.

Regards,

The W.M.G.C.

A 'Ghostly' Precursor?

2009-12-18T01:21:00.000-08:00

The following story was sent in to the W.M. Ghost Club in the late 1990’s…..

Our witness – or perhaps ‘victim’ might be a more appropriate title under the circumstances – was riding her moped to her boyfriends house at the time of her experience, in a village on the periphery of the West Midlands region.

A she turned the corner into the lane where her beau lived, she briefly happened to notice something emitting a ‘strange glow’ in a bush directly opposite. While mildly perplexed by this sighting, she paid it little heed and just carried on regardless……

A couple of days later, however, she was leaving her boyfriends house and, once again, noticed the glow in the bushes. As she approached the bottom of the lane on her moped - specifically 'keeping an eye on' this ‘glowing thing’, this time - she was amazed to see that it was, in fact, the figure of a man!! She says that he was obviously ‘a ghost’ as far as she was concerned, as he evidently had no visible legs!! Perhaps the worst aspect of this uncanny vision was the fact that the man appeared to be beckoning to her, but - by now scared out of her wits and wanting nothing to do with this 'glowing spectres in the bushes' – she sped off homeward at full speed, as fast as her 50cc engine would carry her!!

In the days that followed, she told her boyfriend about her experience and they made enquires around the local area to see if any ‘light’ could be shone on her already ‘radiant’ ghost!?

While it appeared to be only a matter of here-say, one villager informed them that a man called ‘Harry’ had apparently been knocked off his motorcycle near to the spot in question and killed a few years earlier……

Whether this information was accurate in any way, shape or for, but it is a big coincidence to note that – only two weeks later – our witness was knocked off her moped and quite severely injured as a result. Her leg was broken quite badly in two places and, as a result, she was still having to walk with the use of sticks at the time of writing to the group, some 21 months after the event.

Needless to say, the why’s and wherefores of such a story is completely open to conjecture…. though, our witness is convinced that the ghost of 'Harry' might well have been somehow - for some reason - trying to attract her attention and warn her of her own, impending accident…?? One thing is certain, however, since her brush with disaster, she has not had any further experiences with her glowing ghost…..

Regards,

The W.M.G.C.

The Ghost With Sparkling Eyes!

2009-12-18T01:14:00.000-08:00

Contrary to a lot of popular culture, presumed ‘ghostly encounters’ can occur in the most pleasant, everyday surroundings and in very peaceful circumstances…… Quite the opposite of what most 'modern ghost enthusiasts' would like to infer, true 'ghostly experience' is almost invariably a peaceful, non-dramatic affair.....

"Janet was sitting watching her TV one day, when she suddenly saw an old gentleman with white hair seated in a chair in front of her. He had the most sparking blue eyes and was wearing a sports coat, shirt and trousers. He was evidently taking no notice of Janet at all, but was looking straight ahead – seemingly, at the lounge door. The experience lasted a matter of second and then he simply vanished.

Janet had not long moved into the ground floor flat in a suburb of Walsall. She had no idea who the old man could have been, but reports that he looked - ‘every inch of him’ - to be a living person!

The flat concerned had previously been owned by an elderly couple who had a daughter living a few doors away. Janet had never met the daughter (to her knowledge) and the Father was deceased, while the Mother was in care, suffering from dementia. The flat had eventually been put up for sale by the daughter and Janet had purchased the property through the intervention of estate agent and solicitors and had never met any of the family concerned. She had no idea what the previous occupants had looked like…..

Janet says that she had alterations carried out to the flat after she had moved in, and the figure of the old man had appeared just after the work was finished. Following this initial appearance, a number of peculiar things occurred in the property which – while not at all frightening – eventually caused Janet to put the flat up for sale and she subsequently moved out…

An intriguing footnote to this tale is the fact that Janet had a dog while she lived at the flat and used to walk it in the neighbourhood. One day, while out, she spotted another neighbour – a woman - out walking their dog…… and this womans facial features were the spitting image of the old man that Janet had previously seen!

Yes – you’ve guessed it – she later discovered that the woman concerned was the old mans daughter!!"

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

In The Avenues And Alleyways.....

2009-12-10T10:05:00.000-08:00

The following experience occurred in 1977 and concerns a nondescript alleyway in a housing estate in Bilston, West Midlands.

Joe Parks was taking his dog for it’s nightly walk along the narrow passageway that ran the length of the rear of the properties in his street. On the night in question, his dog was off it’s lead and had been running free, the length of the alley. Suddenly, reaching the back gate of No. 14 in the street, she stopped dead and wouldn’t budge an inch. This was unusual, as the animal was generally a most boisterous creature which relished the chance to race around free of it’s leash. Joe put the lead back on and tried to pull her along with him – but she wouldn’t budge an inch. Exasperated, he dropped the lead and carried on without her… thinking that, if he walked without her, she would take a hint and catch up…… She didn’t!

Wondering what might be wrong with the dog, he looked in the direction of the gate to No. 14 and suddenly saw a pale man in a long coat and stove-pipe hat appear through a neighbouring gate and begin walking towards him. Joe says it wasn’t anyone he recognised – especially in such strange attire – so he grabbed up the dog lead and, turning to walk quickly away, pulled the animal along with him.

Within a second or two, he cast a glance back over his shoulder to see what the peculiar figure was now doing…. and there was no one there! He looked along the alleyway, but could neither see nor hear anyone in the area…..

While an innocent enough encounter, Joe found that he couldn’t bring himself to use the alleyway again at night.

On checking into the history of the area, Joe discovered that – roughly where the alleyway lay – there used to be a public right of way across farmers fields. He believes that, when the estate was later built during the 1930’s, the alley way was placed over this path and his ghostly acquaintance was somehow related to a previous date prior to the erection of the housing…..

The alley itself later gained something of a negative reputation in the region, being used for fly-tipping, as a public toilet...... and for variety of other nefarious activities. Ahem!!

At the time of writing up this account, the alleyway is still extant, though it was blocked a both ends around 20 years ago.....

Regards,

The W.M.G.C.

Phantom Jay-Walker?

2009-12-10T09:58:00.000-08:00

Being big fans of the old BBC tradition of a 'Ghost Story For Christmas', we will - in the run-up to Yuletide and the New Year - be posting up a brief selection of ghost stories for the festive season. All, apart from the following tale, come directly from our files and, in some instances, span in excess of 20 years!

The following account was recently posted in a Shrewsbury related thread on the cracking ‘Black Country Gob’ Forum. The poster, Matty, kindly gave us permission to repeat the matter here……

“We had a 'strange' experience recently in Shrewsbury. We'd taken the caravan to Oxon Hall for a week in October and, on one of the days, we'd decided to have a ride up the A5 to Betws-Y-Coed.

We'd just set off from Oxon and turned right onto the A5. Anyone who knows this stretch road will appreciate how wide it is and how fast the vehicles travel on it.

In the far distance, I saw the figure of a hunched old man, accompanied by a dog (not on a lead), set out to cross the road from my right… starting from the side of the carriage way, coming in the other direction to the way I was travelling.

There was no hurry about the old fella - nor the dog - as they dawdled across the busy road. I'd purposefully kept an eye on the old man, because I thought that - if I continued at the speed I was going - I could well be on course to 'meet' him…. so I slowed down a bit.

As we got closer, the pair had reached safety on our side of the road and, as we passed where they should've been, my wife glanced over to see where they were…. She had evidenly seen them crossing too, but hadn't said anything to me.

I joked: “Did they make it?”

She said, 'They're not there' – telling me that she'd watched them cross the road, but they weren't where they should have been…. in fact, as we passed, all that could be seen was a narrow grass verge and then fence with thick bushes; so there wasn't really anything for them to cross the road for!

It was then that we both realised that we hadn't noticed any change to the way the couple were moving as they crossed the barrier in the middle of the road…. I mean, they didn't seem to have to have climbed over it? Neither of us can explain what we both saw...”

A big ‘thank you’ to Matty for allowing us to re-tell his story!!

As a matter of interest, the Black Country Gob Forum can be found at the following link: 'The Gob'

All the best,

The West Midlands Ghost Club

Carols Book Signing!!! Reminder.....

2009-12-10T05:01:00.000-08:00

For anyone interested in local ghosts with a little spare time on their hands on Saturday morning (Dec. 12th), here is a quick reminder that Rugeley based Author, Carol Arnall, will be carrying out a book signing session in Cannock Library at 10.30 a.m.

Copies of some of Carols books - 'Mysterious Happenings', 'Birmingham Girls', etc - will be avaliable for purchase during the event.

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

A Brief Group History‭ ‬-‭ ‬Part Three.

2009-12-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

As intimated in our last post regarding the group make-up and history,‭ ‬the membership of an active,‭ ‬research association is a frequently‭ ‘‬fluid‭’ ‬affair.‭ ‬Even with a comparatively small concern,‭ ‬membership will fluctuate with time;‭ ‘‬movement‭’, ‬which can be affected by a myriad different concerns and considerations.‭ ‬A small number of people have,‭ ‬albeit briefly,‭ ‬graced the W.M.G.C.‭ ‬with their presence before moving on for a variety of differing reasons.‭ ‬At the time of writing,‭ ‬such a list includes Claire Stevens,‭ ‬the long suffering partner of Steve Chew‭ ‬-‭ ‬Laugh‭!!!‬ – Julia Whiston of Birmingham University,‭ ‬Sir Simon and Robert Ellett, as well as others‭……

2007‭ ‬once again saw the W.M.G.C.‭ '‬expanding our ranks‭' ‬somewhat and adding‭ ‬2‭ ‬new,‭ ‬permanent associates to the mix.‭ ‬This fresh blood came in the form of John Conway and Julie Badger.‭

John‭ ‘‬the Golden Touch‭’ ‬Conway has,‭ ‬by far,‭ ‬proven to‭ ‬ our most‭ '‬active‭' ‬group member to date and‭ ‬admits to having had an interest in the paranormal for as long as he can remember.....‭ ‬ From a young age his fascination was invariably‭ ‘‬looking into the night sky‭’ ‬and, primarily, having an interest in the UFO phenomenon.‭ (‬A keen passion for the cosmos and all its mysteries is still‭ ‘‬strong in this one‭’ - said in a Yoda-esque voice, of course - ‬to this day‭!! ‬Laugh‭!!)

From a relatively early age,‭ ‬John says he can remember‭ ‘‬peculiar happenings‭’ ‬going on around him,‭ ‬due to the fact that his family home appeared to have a resident ghost‭! ‬He says of the experiences:‭ “‬At the time,‭ ‬I guess I was too young to link it to anything psychic or paranormal‭…… ‬so I grew up with‭ ‘‬weird stuff‭’ ‬happening and,‭ ‬as a result,‭ ‬just got used to it.‭ ‬As I grew older I realised that this weird stuff doesn't seem to happen to most people.‭ ‬I grew up in a rather‭ ‘‬active‭’ ‬house and was always a little unnerved‭…‬.‭ ‬But still dealt with it‭”‬.‭

Then one day,‭ ‬around‭ ‬20‭ ‬years ago,‭ ‬John actually‭ ‘‬saw‭’ ‬a ghost with his girlfriend.‭ ‬The experience was so remarkably vivid‭… ‬and‭ ‬-‭ ‬a rather rare occurrence‭ – ‬both of them‭ ‬witnessed‭ ‬the presumed‭ ‘‬apparition‭’‬ at the same time‭…‬.‭ ‬The encounter came as a considerable shock and certainly left a lasting impression on his mind.‭

John is an engineer by trade but he currently works as a Costs Draftsperson for a large firm of solicitors.‭ ‬In his spare time,‭ ‬he is a keen match fisherman‭ ‬-‭ ‬competing at National levels for various teams‭ – ‬and is now a dedicated metal-detectorist‭!!!

Our most recent additions to the W.M.G.C.‭ ‬were added in early‭ ‬2009‭ ‬and came in the form of Deborah Green and Marianne Barker‭…‬..‭ ‬certainly something of a‭ ‘‬double-act‭’!! ‬laugh‭!!

Deborah tells us that she has always been interested in‭ "‬ghosties‭" ‬from an early age and used to pester her Mother to take her to the local library so she could get books on ghouls,‭ ‬ghosts,‭ ‬vampires,‭ ‬etc......‭ ‬Laugh‭!! (‬We’ve all been there at some point Debs‭!!) ‬In slightly later years,‭ ‬she took to purposefully visiting‭ ‘‬spooky‭ ‬related‭ ‬places‭’‬ in the hopes of a sighting something preternatural‭…‬..‭ ‬Sadly,‭ ‬she never did see anything of interest‭! ‬Laugh‭!

In time‭ ‬such interests led to a desire to join an‭ ‘‬honest‭’ ‬investigation group and she says that subsequent interaction with the W.M.G.C.‭ ‬has fuelled her curious nature,‭ ‬giving rise to a need to put herself in alleged‭ ‘‬paranormal‭’ ‬situations‭…‬..

Debs is a Teaching Assistant at a primary school,‭ ‬but is also currently embarking on a new career to be a Deep Tissue and Remedial Massage Therapist,‭ ‬helping people suffering musco-skeletal pain.‭ ‬Oooooohhhh‭!!!!

Marianne has also been interested in the subject of ghosts and the unknown for as long as she can remember.‭ ‬As a child,‭ ‬her family were National Trust members,‭ ‬giving rise to a general passion for the exploration of big,‭ ‬old houses and the general‭ ‘‬history and mystery‭’ ‬attached to such sites.‭ ‬A keen reader of ghost related literature in childhood,‭ ‬she,‭ ‬during her teens,‭ ‬found herself pondering‭ ‬our‭ ‬‘spiritual‭’‬ roles in life.‭ ‬While she admits that she doesn’t have time to philosophise over such mysteries as much as she used to,‭ ‬her desire to experience something of this realm,‭ ‬or potentially have some of her questions answered,‭ ‬still remain.‭ ‬She admits that she has experienced a couple of odd incidents‭ ‬-‭ ‬dreams and coincidences‭ ‬-‭ ‬over the years‭…‬.‭;‬ events that have served to fuel her interests all the more.

Marianne has been teaching for ten years‭ ‬-‭ ‬mainly in the early years sector‭ ‬-‭ ‬and she is Year Group Leader for ninety,‭ ‬4‭ ‬to‭ ‬5‭ ‬year olds.‭

Of her brief time serve with the group so far,‭ ‬she says:‭ “‬Being in the W.M.G.C.‭ ‬is great for me as I get a chance to spend time in the company of open minded,‭ ‬level headed people exploring interesting places.‭ ‬I can also be me again‭ (‬not just a mother,‭ ‬wife or teacher‭) ‬and reignite the same excitement and thirst for knowledge I had as a little girl‭”‬.

So‭ – ‬that pretty much brings us up to the time of writing as far as details concerning group membership goes.‭ ‬It has,‭ ‬so far,‭ ‬been a most rewarding and fascinating‭ ‬20‭ ‬years of activity for the Club‭……‬..‭

Here’s looking towards to next two decades‭!!!

All the best,

Nick
The W.M.G.C.

New Website Details…. Check It Out!!

2009-12-02T04:51:00.000-08:00

The W.M.G.C. have recently received contact from a relatively new website – created in late October of this year – which we’d strongly advise you to keep an eye on. The page concerned is called ‘Ghost Investigators’ - sub-titled: 'The Haunt Of All Things Paranormal' - and can be found via this LINK

Most refreshingly, we are not presented with the biased waffling of yet another (so called) research association here - who have become experts in the paranormal field after watching two episodes of 'TAPS' - but a clear endeavour to be of potential help to the paranormal community by an interested and refreshingly ‘open minded’ chap! Dave, the editor of the site explains that the site exists…..:

“……Merely because I have an interest in the subject. As they say on all the TV programmes "This website is for entertainment purposes only" - I am not here to prove or disprove anything, but merely to put a few pages together for your perusal.

My interest in ghost investigations and ghost hunts started a few years ago, but my interest in the paranormal started in my childhood after a few weird happenings. So it could be said I am a "sort of" believer in the unexplained (but that doesn't mean I believe in it all - I am also a very healthy sceptic)

If you find anything on here that offends your particular religion or belief system then this was never my intention - vive la difference. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I am assembling these pages for my own relaxation and enjoyment and I hope you enjoy them too…..”.

Attached to the site is a nice blog – listed in the menu at the top of the web page - containing some of Daves observations on different aspects of the paranormal. Evidently the whole concern is still very much in it’s opening stages at present….. but certainly a site / blog to keep an eye on for the future!

Regards,

The W.M.G.C.

Nottinghamshire Interest....

2009-11-24T23:49:00.000-08:00

W.M.G.C.‭ ‬members were intrigued to recently receive an enquiry associated with a wonderful site that,‭ ‬albeit situated just outside our usual,‭ ‬geographical parameters,‭ ‬seems worthy of mention.‭

The note concerned came from Sarah Ascott who is currently conducting research on the atmospheric ruin of Annesley Hall‭ (‬shown above‭) ‬in Nottinghamshire.‭

Sarahs interest in the building stems from the fact that her Grandmother was‭ ‘‬Head Cook‭’ ‬at the hall during‭ ‬the‭ ‬1920‭'‬s.‭ ‬Needless to say the site has always had something of a ghostly reputation and we are told that her relative reports having frequently seen the‭ ‬ghost of a woman pass her on the main stairs of the hall,‭ ‬on many occasions,‭ ‬whilst in service there‭…‬...‭ ‬Such accounts were well know in Sarahs family,‭ ‬her Grandmother having often related her encounters to different relatives over the years.

Apparently,‭ ‬sightings of this mysterious,‭ ‬female figure were not only confined to her Grandmother,‭ ‬as other members of the staff‭ – ‬serving at the hall,‭ ‬at the same time‭ – ‬also spoke of witnessing such things‭!! ‬Historically speaking,‭ ‬some sources mention that the body of a woman was allegedly discovered near to one of the staircases at the hall,‭ ‬but it cannot currently be ascertained whether this has any connection with the staircase mentioned in the aforementioned sightings or whether‭ – ‬if it were‭ – ‬such a discovery has any direct bearing on the incidents in question‭?

While the W.M.‭ ‬Ghost Club has never had the pleasure of investigating this historic site,‭ ‬group member Steve Chew did visit the general area a number of years ago and was privy to a private tour of the hall at the time.

As with a great many such structures,‭ ‬Annesley Hall has,‭ ‬over recent years,‭ ‬now become a popular‭ ‘‬haunt‭’ ‬of numerous ghost societies and associations.‭ ‬A report by the Derbyshire Ghost Society can be viewed at this LINK

All the best,

The W.M.G.C.

Manor Arms Investigation....

2009-11-24T23:47:00.000-08:00

Recent enquires by another local, ghost research group regarding our activities in the North Walsall region have brought to the fore details of a most enjoyable investigation carried out by the group a few years ago. On Saturday, March 4th, 2006, group members conducted an overnight investigation of a superb, little Walsall pub - namely, the Manor Arms at Rushall.

Over the years, a plethora of ghostly activity has been reported at this historic site – formerly a farmhouse. While the bulk of the building is 18th Century in construction, certain sections of the site do appear to date from the 15th and 16th Centuries. Despite certain preposterous claims that the Manor Arms is one of the oldest pubs in England – it did, in fact, only become a licensed premises in 1895!!

In his book: ‘Ghosts and the Folklore Around Barr Beacon’, author Andrew Perrins mentions that the figure of a woman – dressed in white and wearing a straw hat – has allegedly been seen inside the building. She, according to local legend, is a former landlady who fell downstairs at the pub and died…..

A tall, dark, male figure has also allegedly been seen by regulars in the bar, walking along the ground floor passage which bisects the building. Certain stories also tell of the ghosts of two children being associated with the building – though details as to who they might be and why they allegedly haunt the site are somewhat vague….

Investigation Report: The Manor Arms Public House – Rushall – Walsall.

Date of Investigation: Saturday 4th to Sunday 5th of March, 2006.

Duration of Investigation: (Approx.) 6 hours.

Investigation:

Present: Steve Chew, Frazer Smith, Len Jackson and Nick Duffy. Also, Landlady of site and her partner. (Plus 1 dog).

Trigger Objects:

*Two small dolls situated on top of a box in the rear room of the Attic area.
*Small metal crucifix placed on top of stool in the unoccupied bedroom.
*Large wooden cross on ‘Micks Chair’ in main bar area. Also, a number of ashtrays were placed on ‘Harry’s Seat’, with a beer glass on the table immediately in front of it and a beer mat secured with an audio alarm on top of glass. (*Note: both ‘Micks Chair’ and ‘Harry’s Seat’ are places in the bar dedicated to two past regulars of the Manor Arms who apparently died on the premises. The designated seats were presumably their favourite spots).

Temp. Recording:

Ambient thermometers were placed:

*On table in main, ground floor passageway: probe secured on overhead beam.
*On table in Dining Area: probe fed over hook in beam above table.
*On (internal) window sill in rear room of Attic space: probe fed over nail on beam above spot.
*On table at side of bed in unoccupied bedroom.

First Hand Investigation: (incl.) Findings / Observations.

1.23 am: Just prior to setting up our equipment, researchers entered the Snug area of the property to find a two foot long, metal toasting fork gently ‘swinging’ on it’s hook / nail from the mantel of the room’s fireplace. No reason could be found to account for this. Experimentation with the fork revealed that the heat from the open coal fire had nothing to do with this effect and, once a member of the group purposefully (but gently) swung the fork, it moved for a matter of a few (3 – 5) minutes before running out of momentum.

Session One: 1.30 am – 2.20 am.

Camera set up in living quarters of building, facing unoccupied bedroom area. (Utilising night-shot capacity).

Camera placed at bar end of Main Bar area, facing towards fireplace.

Entire group situated in Dining Area of pub during whole session.

During this period, sporadic knock / tap sounds heard by group – throughout the session - seemingly originating from a point somewhere outside the Dining Area. (But definitely inside the premises). We do not investigate origin of sounds at this point. (*Note: For further data on this latter mentioned matter, see text for ‘Session Three’ below).

Session Two: 2.35 am – 3.20 am.

Camera filming in Main (ground floor) Corridor of building, facing towards front entrance of pub from position just outside door to Gents. (Night-shot capacity utilised).
Entire group situated in unoccupied bedroom.

At 2.35 am, the group hear a loud ‘crashing’ sound originating from somewhere inside the building. Initial investigation shows that someone (outside of the group) is apparently paying a visit to the toilet. Later investigation reveals that, during his visit to the toilet, the Landlady’s partner had accidentally dislodged an ornament from it’s mounting and caused the noise concerned.

During this vigil, Steve Chew reports seeing a shadowy movement, in a projected patch of light, on the surface of the bedroom door. The light spot concerned is a result of the bedroom door facing the window of the room. At the time that the movement was witnessed, no one was moving between window and door to cause such an effect.

Session Three: 3.20 am – 4.00 am.

Camera placed in Main Attic Room, facing open doorway to stairs. (Night-shot capacity utilised).
Group initially seated in Dining Room again, but, at 3.37 am, this vigil is aborted and a ‘baiting’ session begins in the Main Bar Area.

During this period, Frazer Smith sees the door to the Kitchen area move of it’s own volition by approx. three inches. Investigation revealed that the door did in fact have a tendency to swing, quite freely, on it’s own. No draft was detected to account for this movement. As the door moved, it proved to be quite noisy – sounds which the group soon realised were evidently those heard during the ‘Session One’ vigil in the Dining Room. (For the rest of ‘Session Three’, folded beer mats were lodged in the door, stopping it from swinging).

At 3.44 am, three group members see a male figure – dressed in light colours - passing the front of the pub, travelling in the direction of the entrance to nearby Park Lime Pits. (Seen through small window behind ‘Harry’s Seat’). An instant check through the window of the nearby Snug reveals that the man is now out of sight.

Session Four: 4.05 am – 4.40 am.

Camera (from previous session) left filming in Main Attic Room. (N-S Cap.)
Entire group situated in Smaller Attic Room, overlooking car park of property.

At 4.25 am, the sound of someone moving around on the floor below is detected.

Visit ends and group leave pub around 5 am.

Secondary Findings. (Recorded data, etc).

A sound which could possibly be misconstrued as ‘human / vocal’ in origin can be heard on two separate occasions of two different recordings. (Upstairs Living Quarters and Attic). However, after scrutiny, it was decided that the sounds originated with noises naturally occurring in the property.

The loud ‘crash’ sound caused by Martin at 2.35 am proved to be most interesting when re-viewed on video footage being taken in the Main Downstairs Passage at that time. All noises associated with the event would, from the noises on the footage, appear to originate on the Ground Floor and not at a First Floor level. The ‘crash’ itself was preceded by a series of what appears to be footsteps on a wooden floor which – again from the footage – sound to originate from somewhere on the lower level of the property.

This matter is of considerable interest, as it clearly illustrates the way in which sound travels / is conveyed in the property concerned. We know that the sounds originated with Martin on the first Floor at this point, but, from the recorded evidence, it would appear to have originated in a completely different spot.

Brief Summary

Nothing of an ‘obvious’ paranormal nature was detected during our stay at the Manor Arms. However, the incident involving the ‘swinging toasting fork’ at 1.23 am remains to be of considerable interest to the group.

A selection of photographs from our visit can be viewed on the WMGC Photo Album at this LINK

Best wishes,

The W.M.G.C.

“‬No‭ '‬Special Powers‭' ‬Required‭”

2009-11-19T02:07:00.000-08:00

As mentioned recently in our last website update,‭ ‬the W.M.G.C.‭ ‬have had a rather‭ ‘‬anti-psychic‭’ ‬article‭ – ‬see below‭ ‬-‭ ‬published on the BBC Black Country web site by our good friend Brett Birks:

‭“‬No‭ '‬Special Powers‭' ‬Required‭”

In‭ ‬2009,‭ ‬dozens of ghost-busting groups operate locally,‭ ‬many of whom use psychics in their investigations.‭ ‬John Conway,‭ ‬from the West Midlands Ghost Club,‭ ‬doesn't think mediums should be used as a paranormal research‭ '‬tool‭'‬.

John,‭ ‬47‭ ‬from Willenhall,‭ ‬founded the WMGC‭ ‬20‭ ‬years ago and has investigated hundreds of haunted buildings and locations.

‭"‬When we started the group in‭ ‬1989‭ ‬there were no others locally,‭" ‬he says.‭ "‬Nowadays there are loads,‭ ‬a ridiculous amount in this area.

‭"‬I stopped counting a few years ago when the number of groups hit‭ ‬60‭ ‬or‭ ‬65.‭ ‬Out of all of them,‭ ‬I'd probably recommend two or three but that would be it.‭"

John credits the popularity of television shows like‭ '‬Most Haunted‭' ‬for the rise in ghost-busting style organisations.‭ ‬However,‭ ‬he says,‭ ‬they may be doing more harm than good in the world of paranormal research:

‭"‬The problem is that all these groups are taking things like‭ '‬Most Haunted‭' ‬as a reference point and think that that is what they should be doing‭ – ‬which,‭ ‬it most certainly is not‭! ‬Unfortunately,‭ ‬a great many of these people shouldn't be allowed near a paranormal related situation. They have a tendency to turn up with an alleged‭ '‬psychic‭' ‬in tow claiming that they have got‭ '‬special powers‭' ‬and will be able to‭ '‬solve‭' ‬your problems. This is a ludicrous claim to make.‭"

Objectivity is,‭ ‬according to John,‭ ‬what makes his group stand out from the rest. ‭ ‬They will investigate ghost sightings,‭ ‬taking each case on its own merits,‭ ‬using a variety of impartial,‭ ‬research-based techniques and audio-visual equipment.

‭"‬Unlike most other groups,‭ ‬we do not make false claims in professing to be able to‭ '‬alter‭' ‬a haunted situation in any way. ‭ ‬We are not interested in attempting to falsely prove that we have any form of‭ '‬insider knowledge‭' ‬or‭ '‬special powers‭'‬.

‭"‬The bottom line is it doesn't matter what an individual personally believes. ‭ ‬It's irrelevant.‭ ‬The simple fact is that things are reported to us and we investigate accordingly.‭ ‬You should never let your belief system interfere with what you're doing.‭ ‬Nothing should be allowed to cloud your impartiality‭ – ‬you need to be totally objective in these matters.

‭"‬We always strive to act in a non-biased fashion.‭ ‬We cast off all the unnecessarily blatant chicanery,‭ ‬the‭ '‬New Age‭' ‬bunkum and pseudo-scientific trappings that appear to become the trademark of the late‭ ‬20th/early‭ ‬21st century investigator.‭"

Unlike most other paranormal groups,‭ ‬the West Midlands Ghost Club do not advocate the use of mediums or psychics.

‭"‬We do not use mediums or spiritualists,‭" ‬John says.‭ "‬There is no hard evidence that these people are actually doing what they claim and the damage that they can cause in these sort of situations can be both devastating and irreversible.

‭"‬I once was called in to visit a somewhat distressed‭ ‬70‭ ‬year old woman.‭ ‬Now she was clearly suffering from some form of dementia.‭ ‬I have had personal experience with dementia sufferers.‭ ‬Now this lady believed her house was haunted so had called in an alleged psychic‭ – ‬and paid this person to come.

‭"‬The psychic had come along and convinced this lady that the spirit of a‭ ‬20‭ ‬year old was living in her house.‭ ‬This‭ '‬psychic‭' ‬then had happily taken the‭ ‬60‭ ‬pound fee or whatever it was and left the poor woman in a terrible state. ‭ ‬This is far from an isolated case,‭ ‬sadly,‭ ‬and we have come across a number of similar situations over the years.

‭"‬This is the problem:‭ ‬most of these groups are going to come into your house,‭ ‬maybe with a‭ '‬psychic‭' ‬in tow and make it as dramatic as possible.‭ ‬At the end of the day,‭ ‬if you happen to believe that your house is haunted or that you're in contact with spirits,‭ ‬then these people will just reinforce what you believe,‭ ‬tell you what you want to hear and leave.‭"

Without going into intricate detail,‭ ‬we would just like to take a second and ponder something which is a simple enough question at the end of the day: ‭ '‬why‭' ‬do ghost related groups insist on running around allegedly haunted sites,‭ ‬claiming that they can actually rid the places in question of their‭ (‬presumed‭) ‬ghostly activity‭!? ‬Unfortunately,‭ ‬the real irony in such sterile‭ ‬-‭ '‬God,‭ ‬I'm so important and special,‭ ‬aren't I‭?' ‬-‭ ‬waffle comes when you discover that the groups concerned almost always turn out to be fledgling societies,‭ ‬whose notion of‭ '‬ghost hunting‭' ‬practice and protocol comes straight from satellite TV‭!!!

On numerous occasions over recent years‭ ‬-‭ ‬and one in particular quite recently‭ ‬-‭ ‬the group has found itself being approached by people who have,‭ ‬in all innocence,‭ ‬contacted one of these allegedly‭ ‘‬gifted‭’ ‬associations in an endeavour to get rid of the‭ ‘‬presumed‭’ ‬haunting activity that they believe themselves to be suffering.‭ ‬Needless to say,‭ ‬there is no question or query regarding the reported happenings‭ – ‬and certainly no real‭ ‘‬investigation‭’ ‬-‭ ‬from the responding group‭…‬.‭ ‬There is just a manic,‭ ‬hysteria driven flurry of‭ ‬crystals and Ouija boards and‭ ‬-‭ ‬lo and behold‭ – ‬there are inevitably spirits all over the place‭!!!

In over‭ ‬20‭ ‬years of studying such matters‭ – ‬the psychology of the paranormal field,‭ ‬not the alleged phenomenon itself,‭ ‬we hasten to add‭ – ‬we have literally‭ ‘‬never‭’ ‬seen a psychic enter a site‭ ‘‬without‭’ ‬detecting something untoward‭!! ‬Hardly an unbiased viewpoint at the end of the day,‭ ‬surely‭?

Regards,

The W.M.G.C.

Brief Group History‭ ‬-‭ ‬Part Two.

2009-11-19T02:02:00.000-08:00

Over the period‭ ‬2002‭ ‬/‭ ‬03,‭ ‬the number of people actively associated with the group more than doubled,‭ ‬with the introduction of a wholly‭ ‬speculative‭ '‬affiliates‭' ‬scheme.‭ ‬Unfortunately,‭ ‬due to unforeseen circumstances and complications,‭ ‬the expanded group figures were a relatively short lived experiment and subsequently diminished again within a reasonably short time.‭

The question of‭ '‬figures‭' ‬associated with research societies will always be a vexed one,‭ ‬it must be stressed....‭ ‬The W.M.G.C.‭ ‬have always kept membership as low as possible for practical reasons,‭ ‬despite having received‭ ‬-‭ ‬over‭ ‬a considerable number of years‭ ‬-‭ ‬many hundreds of applications for positions within the group.‭ ‬It has to be said that we have always been puzzled by‭ ‬-‭ ‬and derived considerable amusement from,‭ ‬at times‭ ‬-‭ ‬people who seem to somehow believe a‭ ‬‘large membership‭’‬ is actually something‭ '‬positive‭' ‬when it comes to research pursuits‭!! ‬Laugh‭!! ‬Having watched with interest concerns‭ – ‬mainly fledgling‭ – ‬who have boasted up to‭ ‬50‭ ‬members,‭ ‬it is an inevitability that such societies invariably fold completely,‭ ‬or happen to whittle down their numbers drastically within a very short period of time.‭ ‬It is frequently true that there is‭ ‘‬strength in numbers‭’‬,‭ ‬but such a maxim certainly doesn’t apply to the task of running a successful research group,‭ ‬as many have soon discovered‭!! ‬Laugh‭!!

Of all the associates added during this expansion period,‭ ‬only one‭ – ‬the bouncer-esque Frazer Smith‭ – ‬remained an active member of the group.‭ ‬Both his‭ '‬enthusiasm for‭' ‬and his keen ministrations‭ '‬on behalf of‭' ‬the Club made him a most welcome and appreciated addition to the company for a number of years.‭ ‬However,‭ ‬at the end of‭ ‬2007,‭ ‬Frazer‭ ‬-‭ ‬sadly‭ ‬-‭ ‬chose to resign from his position within the group.‭

‘Enthusiasm for the subject‭’ ‬was also a strong factor in our decision to add the team’s‭ ‬6th member‭ – ‬Steve Chew‭ – ‬in early‭ ‬2004.‭ ‬Interestingly,‭ ‬Steve initially contacted the group in order to show us some sequences of peculiar video footage that he had collected over the years,‭ ‬and showed no particular interest in becoming a‭ ‬Club‭ ‬member‭! ‬However,‭ ‬after only a couple of meetings with the chap,‭ ‬I was enamoured enough to ask him if he wanted to join us......‭ ‬and,‭ ‬thankfully,‭ ‬he did‭!!! ‬Laugh‭!!!

On his C.V.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Steve says of himself:‭

"Having been born into a family that had always regarded the existence of ghosts as fact,‭ ‬and along the years,‭ ‬having no option but to live‭ "‬hand in hand‭" ‬with such things that today we could well term as‭ “‬Paranormal‭” ‬episodes really formed the basis of my fascination with such things.‭ ‬As a child,‭ ‬when one of these‭ “‬Odd‭” ‬incident’s would crop up,‭ ‬I would always get the‭ “ ‬There’s nothing to worry about,‭ ‬its only the Ghost,‭ ‬it wont hurt you‭!" ‬Or‭ "‬Its just one of those things,‭ ‬ignore it and it will go away.‭” ‬kind of reassurance from my folks.

As you can imagine,‭ ‬it was to my utter dismay,‭ ‬when growing up,‭ ‬I discovered these things in fact,‭ ‬do not exist‭ (‬this is of course according to the qualified professionals and experts in this subject who know all the answers about these kind of things‭)‬.‭ ‬These differing viewpoints concerning belief is why I am,‭ ‬and always will be,‭ ‬bound to the paranormal in some way.‭ ‬It was a natural progression for me really to join a paranormal investigative group where I could start investigating potentially haunted sites,‭ ‬whilst immersing myself in the subject further.‭

It is strange,‭ ‬but I have found,‭ ‬the more I delve into this subject,‭ ‬the more confused I am with it all.‭ ‬The more people try all kinds of things to find answers,‭ ‬i.e.‭ ‬psychics,‭ ‬table tipping,‭ ‬coat hangers and other associated crap,‭ ‬the less I really feel the need to try and make sense of it all.‭ ‬In my mind Ghost’s have always been there,‭ ‬they haven’t changed or moved their ethereal goalposts,‭ ‬its just that‭ ‬-‭ ‬sadly‭ ‬-‭ ‬everything else around‭ ‘‬them‭’ ‬has‭…‬.‭ ‬much to the‭ ‬detriment of the paranormal field itself.‭

The bulk of my spare time is spent in playing the drums in bands,‭ ‬writing stories,‭ ‬composing music‭ (‬currently writing a musical version of Tolkien's‭ ‘‬Silmarillion‭’)‬,‭ ‬painting and reading.‭ ‬With regards to my chosen career,‭ ‬I am what is called a‭ ‘‬Problem Manager‭’‬,‭ ‬in which my role is to minimise any adverse effects or issues that may occur within the business involved.
‭
During‭ ‬2005,‭ ‬a further addition to the group came in the form of a solid,‭ ‬objective thinker,‭ ‬Mr.‭ ‬Kevin‭ ‘‬Casanova‭’ ‬Wallace.‭ ‬Kev‭ – ‬the Manager of an investigative team attached to a well known bank‭ – ‬was already a veteran of a great many ghost hunts prior to joining us.‭ ‬Until it’s recent demise,‭ ‬Kev served as‭ ‘‬Admin‭’ ‬for the WMGC forum,‭ ‬as well as single-handedly organising our incredibly popular,‭ ‬public events‭ – ‬the St.‭ ‬Marys Guildhall‭ (‬Coventry‭) ‬visit of‭ ‬2005‭ ‬and Galleries of Justice‭ (‬Nottingham‭) ‬investigation in‭ ‬2007.‭ (‬The former of the two events raised‭ ‬£500‭ ‬for Birm.‭ ‬Childrens Hospital‭)‬.‭

Part Three to follow shortly‭…‬..

Regards,

Nick‭
The W.M.G.C.

Book Success!!!!

2009-11-13T06:31:00.000-08:00

We are happy to anounce the resounding success of the new book 'Dancing With Spirits' - by Rugely Author Carol Arnall - which was released earlier this year. The volume concerned is Carols first foray into the field of fiction, the bulk of her previous catalogue of works dealing with stories of paranormal happenings from around the general Midlands area.

The book 'Dancing With Spirits' involves a story which begins thousands of years ago on the outskirts of Rugeley, in the heart of Cannock Chase.

It tells of the anguish of a young girl, Elvaennia whose love Deimuiss, has disappeared without trace, and of her desperation to find him. Her search leads her to the 21st century where she begins a new life.

Eventually Elvaennia will have to decide whether to return to her old life or to continue to live life in the 21st century. She discovers something that may well destroy her family back at the settlement; and realises that, yet again, tough decisions will have to be made regarding her life.

Will the challenges of her new life take over the old Elvaennia, making her disregard her promise to love Deimuiss for all time and beyond? Will she forget the old ways and values, or decide to pursue this new life.......

Needless to say.... you will only know the answers to the above questions - and read about the literary adventures of the W.M.G.C. to boot - by buying the book!!

At the time of writing, Carol currently has a book signing event planned for Cannock Library on 12th December at approx 10.30 pm. The overall event itself also involves a coffee morning and will be part of the launch of the 'Adult Winter Read Event'. Needless to say, you will not only have the opportunity of meeting Carol in the flesh, but copies of some of her previous books - such as 'Mysterious Happenings' and 'Birmingham Girls' - will also be on sale.

As mentioned previously, Carols follow up novel 'Spirits of the Lights' is planned for the end of this year, with a further, ghost related publication - 'Out Of Step' - in the planning stages.

Carols website can be found at: www.carolarnall.com

Best wishes to all,

The W.M.G.C.

Treading The Boards‭…‬.

2009-11-13T06:28:00.000-08:00

During‭ ‬2005,‭ ‬the West Midlands Ghost club began undertaking a series of investigations on behalf of our good friend,‭ ‬Chris Campbell-Brown of the popular Burton Ghost Walk.‭ ‬On July‭ ‬31st of that year,‭ ‬the group were duly asked to investigate an absolutely superb location,‭ ‬the‭ ‘‬Brew House Theatre‭’‬,‭ ‬in the heart of Burton On Trent.‭

Formerly part of a nearby brewery‭ – ‬hence the name‭ – ‬local legend has it that the site is haunted by an unfortunate workman who was accidentally boiled to death in a large vat during the‭ ‬1950‭’‬s.

While the provenance of this particular tale is somewhat questionable,‭ ‬it cannot be denied that Theatre staff‭ ‬frequently report experiencing inexplicable happenings.‭ ‬Nicknamed‭ ‘‬Fred‭’ ‬by cleaners,‭ ‬the resident ghost is constantly blamed for a variety of occurrences,‭ ‬including the sound of doors opening and closing‭; ‬the noise of furniture being dragged around empty rooms‭; ‬lifts operating by themselves and Auditorium lighting switching itself on of it’s own accord.

Theatre Technical Manager,‭ ‬Matt Bancroft,‭ ‬reports having had a number of strange experiences at the site.‭ ‬Alone in the building one night,‭ ‬Matt found himself openly telling‭ ‘‬Fred‭’ ‬off for interfering with some lighting equipment.‭ ‬As if in reply,‭ ‬he immediately heard a hefty blow hit the side of the Auditorium seating,‭ ‬the sound reverberating around the building‭! ‬On another occasion,‭ ‬he was standing in a passage that leads to the actors dressing rooms when he saw a‭ ‘‬grey figure‭’ ‬passing across an area at the rear of the stage.‭ ‬Thinking it was the Theatre Manager‭ – ‬who often wore grey‭ – ‬he went to investigate‭…‬..‭ ‬only to find the area concerned totally deserted and the Manager seated in a distant part of the building.

As usual for a W.M.G.C investigation,‭ ‬our visit to the site passed quietly,‭ ‬with only a brief sequence of‭ (‬10‭) ‘‬bumps‭’ – ‬possibly a series of footsteps‭(?) ‬-‭ ‬being reported by researchers carrying out a vigil in the Auditorium during the early hours of the morning.

For brief notes associated with our visit,‭ ‬see below:
‭
INVESTIGATION REPORT:‭ ‬The Brew House Theatre‭ – ‬Union Street‭ – ‬Burton On Trent‭ – ‬East Staffordshire.

‭*‬Please Note:‭ ‬For the sake of brevity,‭ ‘‬rough note form‭’ ‬language‭ ‬/‭ ‬grammar has been used sporadically throughout this document.

Date Of Visit:‭ ‬30th‭ ‬/‭ ‬31st July‭ ‬2005.‭
Duration Of Visit:‭ ‬Approx.‭ ‬5‭ ‬hours.
Time of Arrival:‭ ‬Approx.‭ ‬10.00‭ ‬p.m.‭

Present:‭

Investigative Team‭ ‬-‭ 5 members of the W.M.G.C. Also, ‬Brewhouse Technical Manager,‭ ‬Matt Bancroft,‭ ‬remained with team members for the duration of the visit.

‭[‬I‭]‬.‭ ‬Aims‭ ‬/‭ ‬Inv.‭ ‬Process:‭

General investigation of property,‭ ‬mainly focussing on sections of building noted as being of particular relevance‭ ‬/‭ ‬importance regarding the alleged paranormal history of the site.‭ ‬Investigation procedure incorporating:
‭
1st person audio‭ ‬/‭ ‬visual observation.‭

(b‭) ‬Static‭ (‬area based‭) ‬audio‭ ‬/‭ ‬visual recording,‭ ‬incorporating standard‭ ‬/‭ ‬night shot camera’s and digital audio recording equipment.‭ ‬Also wireless‭ (‬radio‭) ‬security camera.‭

(c‭) ‬General temperature‭ ‬/‭ ‬humidity recording.‭ (‬Incorporating‭ ‘‬ambient‭’ ‬devices‭)‬.

‭(‬d‭) ‬Trigger objects‭ – ‬listed below:

12‭” ‬tall mannequin figure‭ – ‬positioned table in‭ ‬1st floor,‭ ‬Corner Studio.‭ ‬Also,‭ ‬4‭ ‬coins‭ – ‬outlined on single sheet of white paper‭ – ‬placed on table top in same room.‭

[II‭]‬.‭ ‬Primary‭ (‬1st Hand‭) ‬Notes:‭ ‬Investigation Procedure,‭ ‬plus Findings,‭ ‬Experiences‭ ‬/‭ ‬Poss.‭ ‬Significant Events:

‭*‬11.00‭ ‬p.m.‭ – ‬Vigils held in‭ ‘‬Corner Studio‭’‬,‭ ‘‬Drama Studio‭’ ‬and‭ ‘‬Auditorium‭’‬.

Corner Studio‭ – ‬Len Jackson and Darren Simpson.‭ ‬Len reports having heard‭ ‬2‭ ‘‬clink‭’ ‬and‭ ‬2‭ ‘‬knock‭’ ‬sounds from corridor area during session.‭ ‬Sounds not heard by Darren.‭

Drama Studio‭ – ‬Nick Duffy and Kevin Wallace.‭ ‬Session was severely hampered by a faulty‭ – ‬flashing‭ ‬-‭ ‬Emergency Exit sign‭ (‬light‭) ‬situated above one of the doorways to the room.‭ ‬Exceptionally disorientating.

‭
Auditorium‭ – ‬Frazer Smith and Matt Bancroft.‭ ‬Frazer believes that he heard‭ ‘‬movement sounds‭’(?) ‬coming from upstairs corridor to right of Auditorium.‭

Vigils end:‭ ‬11.30‭ ‬p.m.‭

*12.00‭ ‬a.m.‭ – ‬3‭ ‬video recording sessions begin.‭ (‬All group members situated in Bar‭ ‬/‭ ‬Café area throughout sessions‭)‬.

Camera‭ ‬1‭ ‬situated in Corner Studio filming in darkness utilising night-shot capacity.

Camera‭ ‬2‭ ‬situated on middle landing of Auditorium raised seating,‭ ‬facing back stage area.‭ ‬Filming carried out in full light.‭

Camera‭ ‬3‭ ‬situated in Drama Studio,‭ ‬with filming carried out in full light.‭ (‬Cam.‭ ‬facing corner of room where figure allegedly seen‭)‬.‭

Sessions end:‭ ‬12.30‭ ‬a.m.

‭*‬12.50‭ ‬a.m.‭ – ‬Vigils held in‭ ‘‬Corner Studio‭’ ‬and‭ ‘‬Auditorium‭’‬.

Auditorium‭ – ‬Kevin Wallace,‭ ‬Len Jackson and Darren Simpson.‭ ‬At‭ ‬1.19‭ ‬a.m.‭ ‬approximately‭ ‬10‭ ‘‬bump‭ ‬/‭ ‬bang‭’ ‬sounds in fairly quick succession from upstairs corridor to right of Auditorium.‭ ‬All present hear noises concerned,‭ ‬but cannot agree on whether they originated at stage end of corridor or foyer end‭(?) ‬It is suggested that the sounds may have been a sequence of footsteps.‭

Corner Studio‭ – ‬Nick Duffy,‭ ‬Frazer Smith and Matt Bancroft.‭ ‬Frazer taken ill during this session necessitating a visit to the toilet for some time.

Vigils end:‭ ‬1.20‭ ‬a.m.

‭*‬1.40‭ ‬a.m.‭ – ‬3‭ ‬video recording sessions begin.‭ (‬Again,‭ ‬all group members situated in Bar‭ ‬/‭ ‬Café area throughout sessions‭)‬.

Camera‭ ‬1‭ ‬situated in Dance Studio,‭ ‬filming in darkness in night-shot capacity.

Camera‭ ‬2‭ ‬situated in upstairs corridor‭ (‬right of Auditorium‭) ‬filming in full light,‭ ‬facing foyer end of building.

Camera‭ ‬3‭ ‬situated in Corner Studio,‭ ‬filming in full light.‭

Walkie-talkie set to‭ ‘‬voice activated‭’ ‬capacity left in Auditorium.

Sessions end:‭ ‬2.10‭ ‬a.m.

‭*‬NOTE‭ – ‬During the above period,‭ ‬Frazer Smith had to leave the building and return home because of illness.

‭*‬2.30‭ ‬a.m.‭ – ‬3‭ ‬video recording sessions and a vigil begin.

Camera‭ ‬1‭ ‬situated in Corner Studio filming in full light.

Camera‭ ‬2‭ ‬recording in upstairs corridor‭ (‬right of Auditorium‭) ‬filming in full light,‭ ‬facing stage end of building.

Camera‭ ‬3‭ ‬recording in upstairs corridor‭ (‬left of Auditorium‭) ‬filming in night-shot capacity.

All investigators situated in Auditorium during the session.‭ ‬Kev Wallace and Matt Bancroft report having heard sounds of‭ ‘‬movement‭’ ‬from upstairs area at stage end of room.‭ ‬No one else heard sound.‭ ‬Fairly regular sounds detected from behind large,‭ ‬double doors in backstage area,‭ ‬some of which Matt identifies as noises made by metal roller-shutters‭ (‬probably moving in wind‭) ‬situated behind wooden doors.‭ ‬Also sound of water running or dripping emanating from same area.‭ ‬Nick Duffy checks outside‭ – ‬via main foyer‭ – ‬and finds that it is raining.

All sessions end:‭ ‬3.00‭ ‬a.m.‭ ‬At this point,‭ ‬group decides to call it a night and leave.

‭ [‬III‭]‬.‭ ‬Secondary Notes:‭ ‬Audio‭ ‬/‭ ‬Visual Results.

None of the recordings made during our stay appear to hold any material that could be regarded as‭ ‘‬paranormal‭’ ‬in origin.‭ ‬A small number of anomalous‭ (‬mainly solitary‭) ‬clicks‭ ‬/‭ ‬taps‭ ‬/‭ ‬bangs were caught on some of the recordings concerned,‭ ‬but,‭ ‬after scrutiny,‭ ‬it is assumed that these noises were native to the building‭ – ‬i.e.‭ ‬sounds naturally occurring in the environment concerned,‭ ‬such as the floor settling,‭ ‬etc.‭

[IV‭]‬.‭ ‬General Findings‭ ‬/‭ ‬Conclusions.

While the building in question would‭ (‬from anecdotal evidence‭) ‬appear to be a fairly‭ ‘‬active‭’ ‬site,‭ ‬nothing of an obvious paranormal nature was detected during our stay.‭

Of the variety of sounds sporadically heard by group members during the visit,‭ ‬none could be specifically tied down to any one area,‭ ‬nor were they directly corroborated by audio‭ ‬/‭ ‬visual recordings.‭ ‬While remaining anomalous,‭ ‬the sounds could not be accepted‭ – ‬nor for that matter discounted‭ – ‬as being of blatantly preternatural nature.‭

Temperature readings monitored throughout the night showed that the stage area fluctuated by only‭ ‬.3‭ ‬of a degree during the stay,‭ ‬while the Drama Studio‭ (‬with one fixed,‭ ‬slightly open window‭) ‬dropped by almost‭ ‬2‭ ‬degrees.

Regards to all,

The W.M. Ghost Club

UPDATED....

2009-11-05T11:21:00.001-08:00

Just a brief note to say that the West Midlands Ghost Club website has just been updated. News of some of our latest antics can, therefore, be found at:

http://www.westmidlandsghostclub.com/

Regards to all,

The W.M. Ghost Club

In The Beginning.... A Brief Group History - Part One.

2009-11-05T11:15:00.000-08:00

The following post began life as the group history section of a previous incarnation of the W.M.G.C. website, written by Nick, one of the founder members of the club. For the sake of presenting up-to-date details regarding the life of the group - it's members, past and present, and so forth - the section concerned has recently been edited and adapted for inclusion here:

And so......

“As part of my earlier research into local hauntings, I had been periodically advertising around the region for accounts of Midlands based paranormal activity and occurrences.

In February 1989, I received a reply from one such campaign, sent in by a shy, unassuming chap some 15 yrs. my senior called Leonard Jackson. Unlike most of the people who had previously written to me, Len clearly had a considerable and practical knowledge of both paranormal and occult related fields. He came to the group with a genuine, life-long interest in the weird and the supernatural, having begun to make a constructive study of the factual side of the paranormal at the end of the 60's in the days of psychedelia and various New Age movements.

Having looked into almost every aspect of the Occult over the years - including practising Ritual Magic in the 70's and a period as an Evangelical Christian - he now largely limits his active research to ghost hunting while maintaining a mostly academic interest in his personal liking for studying Folklore and Ley Lines. A true 'travelling man' and genuine 'antiquarian', Len currently spends a lot of his spare time searching the length and breadth of our fair country for it's general 'history and mystery'.

Completely unknown to Len, however, is the fact that he also serves as the unofficial W.M.G.C. 'Mascot' - laugh, laugh!!

Also in 1989, I was introduced to a person who would frequently become the absolute ‘bane of my life’ – and undoubtedly one of my greatest friends – Darren Simpson. Definitely born with a morbid fascination for the dark and mysterious, he is a former Ghost Club (Of Great Britain) and A.S.S.A.P. member - stemming back to a time when both of these associations actually commanded some respect, I hasten to add. At the time of our meeting, Darren had recently approached the Express and Star newspaper with an enquiry about a ghost related article that they had published some years earlier. Ironically, they had no recollection of the matter – but they knew of a man who might…… (And, for anyone who is wondering…. Of course I did!! Laugh!!)

Within the space of a few months of all meeting, it was suggested that efforts to launch some form of investigative group – albeit frustrated at first – should be set underway. August 1989 saw the very first article which carried a mention of our group – then called the ‘West Midlands Friends Of The Paranormal’ (well, it seemed a good idea at the time!) – which appeared in the Black Country Bugle newspaper. At the beginning of 1991, we subsequently began using our more familiar W.M.G.C. moniker, which was intended as a tribute to the spirit of the original Ghost Club (of Great Britain), which was founded in 1862. (On reflection now, at the time of writing in late 2009, it has to be mused that a different choice of monicker might have been reached with foresight!)

In the mid-90’s, group membership eventually expanded to ‘4’ with the introduction of UFO researcher, Roger Simpson. Brother of Darren, Roger is a qualified computer technician who now runs his own business. A 6 ft 5" tall audio / visual hardware buff, his ‘Tekkie’ traits proved to be an invaluable addition to the investigative portion of group activities.....

Sadly, 'times change' (as they say) and, within recent years, both Darren and Roger have backed away considerably from W.M.G.C. activities. Darren happily cites his overwhelming scepticism and general disillusionment with the field itself (as it now stands) as the key reasons for stepping down. While fully understandable, under the current climate, his loss of drive for the subject is - after a lifetime of dedication to the subject - a considerable loss to the local research field.

Still good friends with the group and in regular contact, Roger currently spends most of his time running his busy computer business, while Darren works for a local charity".

Part Two to follow soon.....

Regards,

The W.M.G.C.

New Welsh Group On The Scene!

2009-11-05T11:13:00.000-08:00

It’s a bit of a rarity these days to find a particular area decidedly lacking in numbers when it comes to paranormal related groups‭…‬.‭ ‬but Wales does certainly appear to be one such place....

With that said,‭ ‬we should like to point out the existence of a relatively new group‭ ‬/‭ ‬website on the scene called‭ ‬www.unexplainedwales.com

As with a great many such associations these days,‭ ‬the society initially began as part of another group,‭ ‬before going their own way.‭ ‬The group itself consists of some‭ ‬10‭ ‬members who,‭ ‬we are told,‭ ‬are:‭ “‬believers,‭ ‬sceptics‭…‬ and those that prefer to sit on the fence‭”‬.‭

Sounds like a good mix,‭ ‬eh‭!!

Our contact for the club,‭ ‬Archie,‭ ‬tells us that he has‭ ‬had many‭ ‬‘Psychic‭’‬ and‭ ‬‘Ghostly‭’‬ experiences over the years,‭ ‬and has a keen need to find out more on the overall subject.‭ ‬Evidently no stranger to paranormal matters,‭ ‬his personal encounters have included:‭ “‬full blown apparitions and paranormal activity,‭ ‬ranging from unexplained smells,‭ ‬noises,‭ ‬moving or missing objects,‭ ‬sensations of being touched by unseen beings,‭ ‬and very occasionally precognition‭”‬.‭

For their investigations,‭ ‬they use‭ ‬scientific methods‭ ‬-‭ ‬adopting all of the scientifically accepted equipment‭ ‬currently employed in the field‭ –‬ plus working via any researched data on the location available.‭ ‬They will also be using any‭ '‬Psychic‭' ‬means that may be available,‭ ‬to complement‭ ‬their results.

The group‭ ‬would welcome anyone who wishes to visit the site or make comments on their online forum.‭ ‬All‭ ‬that is apparently required is‭ ‬an‭ ‬‘open mind‭’……

If there are any groups outside the West Midlands area who might like to see a few words about themselves on this blog,‭ ‬please do not hesitate to send your details in to us‭!!

Regards,

The W.M.G.C