Monday 23 December 2013

December 23rd 2013
Just a very brief blog entry to wish all of our friends and visitors a VERY Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...!!!
The very last few weeks of 2013 have passed rather quietly - when it comes to W.M.G.C. matters, at least - but we're currently awaiting word on two separate cases that have recently been reported to us, with a few, other, odds-and-sods rattling around in the pipeline too!!    
Our very best wishes go out to everyone over the Festive Season..... and we hope that 2014 proves to be a prosperous and enjoyable year for all!!!

Monday 25 November 2013


November 25th 2013

This afternoon, a member of the West Midlands Ghost Club was asked to speak on the 'Danny Kelly Show' (on BBC Radio WM) concerning an alleged 'paranormal photograph' that has been featured in a number of media sources today......

It appears that the family of an American boy - who was killed in a tornado in May - believe that he has 'returned' to appear in a family photograph taken in July.....  

Sadly, young Nicholas McCabe died when his school - Plaza Towers Elementary School, in Oklahoma - was hit by the terrible storm.  However, some two months later, his likeness is believe to have 'manifested' in a photograph of his young cousin.... taken at a 4th of July celebration!

Nicholas' father revealed that the boy had been buried in his red, school tee-shirt and claims that the 'ghostly extra' in the image appears to be wearing the same type of top?!  Mr McCabe states that he is convinced that the anomaly shown in the image is the spirit of his son and believes that Nicholas is somehow 'watching over the family' now....

Friday 22 November 2013

November 22nd 2013

A big thank you to our good friend, Su Lamb, for allowing us to reproduce the notes that she recently shared with us about her recent (Tues. Nov. 19th) visit to Bosworth Battlefield in Leicestershire.  The event attended was one of the organised 'Haunted Heritage' visits to the region, a venture which - supposedly, according to their website blurb - has "...exclusive rights to conduct paranormal walks using ghost detection equipment at Bosworth and are able to get closer to the actual battle field than most of the general public are allowed".......... (The 'Haunted Heritage' site can be visited via this LINK).

"Myself my brother and my friend, Sue, decided to go on the Bosworth Ghost walk, which started at around 8.30pm.  We were extremely lucky with the weather because, although it was cold, it was a clear, moonlight night. There was a Medium there, and a Battlefield Expert too. (Who was the more interesting of the two to listen to to be honest!)

Before we set out, the Medium invited people in the group to hold an EMF or K2 meter.... but us three were more intent on looking where we were going and not slipping!  Anyway, up on Ambion Hill, we were given a brief outline of what happened at Bosworth (Aug 22nd, 1485, King Richard III was killed here and so began the reign of the Tudors) then we began our tour of the battlefield.

Almost immediately, some of the people in the group who were holding K2 and EMF meters, noticed that they were going off - making crackling noises and the lights going on and off.  This continued to happen all night, which, according to the Medium was a sure sign of paranormal activity!?  She then kept stopping at various points and telling us what she was "picking up".  Now, to be quite honest, I felt that she was "leading".... in that she seemed to be planting thoughts and pictures into our minds.  She then reported being able to see a very tall figure (which couldn't have been Richard III then, because he was only slightly built).

Now my brother has a night vision lens, and, every now and then, we'd be looking through it.  Suddenly, he drew my attention to something he had spotted, which seemed to be like a ball of light going in a straight line.... clearing a hedge and vanishing!!  Now, I'm one of those people who, when they see "Mediums" on Ghost adventures or some such programmes start talking about 'orbs', I start to yawn!!  But this 'orb', or whatever it was, seemed to have a purpose to where it was going because of the way it moved along!!  I kept this sighting to myself, however, because the whole group would have 'been on' my brother for his night vision lens, like a zombie invasion! lol!

So, we continued to walk around and, actually, it was quite pleasant listening to the owls and foxes there.  However, my friend Sue swore she heard a drum beating; I thought I did too at one point, but then, on reflection, maybe that was a subconscious reaction to what the Medium had previously been saying?  I had also been wondering whether there were any horses or stables in that general area, because the Medium was, at one point, speaking of people hearing horses around the battlefield area, which is quite large?  I was thinking that, when horses start galloping, you can hear them from quite a distance can't you?  Under the circumstances, the sounds reported might not be anything paranormal anyway!?  Not trying to deliberately be sceptical, but this type of thing is a distinct possibility isn't it?

We then walked to the famous Well at Bosworth, which, allegedly, was the place where King Richard III took his last drink before going into battle.  To be honest, I wasn't listening to the medium - in fact I wasn't paying any attention at all, as I was intently watching the frost forming on the wooden fence around the well - when I distinctly felt someone, or something, touch the back of my neck!!!  I turned around and told my brother to stop it and asked Sue if she was playing me up... but both swore to me that they really hadn't touched me!  I looked around and there was actually no one within reaching distance either..... That was rather odd!  The medium later did say that one or two ladies, when in that area, had also reported being touched.... but I guess that's neither here nor there really!?  However, I do 'know' that somebody definitely touched me!!

After the walk, we went back into the building and people had taken photos of "orbs" and 'mist'..... but nothing really significant.  However, I really enjoyed it; it was quite fun and I'd do it again!!"

Needless to mention, with the verified discovery of the remains of Richard III quite recently, the Battle of Bosworth and it's related history has become extremely popular over the past year or so.  The W.M.G.C. first visited the region close to Halloween 2007, after hearing rumours of potential spooky happenings there...... 

Once again - thank you very much to Su for sharing her experience and views with us.....!!

Friday 15 November 2013

November 15th 2013
West Midlands Ghost Club members would just like to say a very big THANK YOU to our good friend, Roger 'Cyberepair' Simpson, for kindly donating scanners and a printer for the administration purposes of the 'West Midlands Ghost Club'.....!!! 
Very much appreciated indeed!!!

Roger (pictured above in an enigmatic pose!) runs a top quality - local (Bilston, West Midlands) based - computer repair / technical service, of many years standing. Needless to say, any of our visitors in the West Mids region who are encountering problems with their home, computer system - maybe looking for an upgrade or completely new machine - please don't hesitate to give Roger a call, or drop him a line!!!
The official, 'Cyberepair' website can be accessed HERE.

Sunday 10 November 2013

Sunday 10th November 2013
It's amazing how these things work out sometimes, but you can come across 'ghost stories' and snippets of folklore in some of the weirdest places and situations at times.  We frequently have to wait weeks for a decent reference to come in to us..... and then you can simply seem to 'fall on' prime stories without even trying!?
Most weekends, myself and the W.M.G.C.'s John Conway go out into the countryside to indulge in one of our favourite pursuits..... 'metal detecting'.  We have visited one particular, South Staffordshire village many times in the past year or so and were having a rather rare, but nice chat with a farmer this past weekend.  During the course of our conversation, John happened to enquire about the age of the beautiful, nearby farmhouse.  On being told that parts of it were constructed around the end of the 16th Century, John instantly asked if it might be 'haunted' at all, adding that we 'also' ran a ghost related group.  Of course, it's always something of a 'risky business' to impart such information, but the farmer took the news without the slightest hint of sarcasm and said that, while there were no ghosts as far as he knew, a past resident of the house had apparently hanged himself there....!! 
On the general subject of ghosts, however, he informed us that he did indeed have first-hand experience of something 'peculiar' in the area; and encounter from a few years earlier, which - as most good ghost stories do - occurred on a foggy, cold night!  He had been driving along a particular stretch of country lane, not too far from his home, when he had suddenly seen a figure - reminiscent of the character from the old 'Sandeman Port Bottles' - walk across the road in front of his vehicle and vanish into the mist!  Interestingly, he had old relatives living in the region concerned and, on speaking to them about the experience a little later, he was told that the same figure had also been seen 'inside' one of the properties along that lane too!

Upon moving on to talk of our forthcoming detecting for that day, he had cause to digress and, back-tracking a little, said that there was a ghost also associated with a particular spot actually situated on his land!?  Ironically, it was a place that we had visited many, many times in our previous forays into the region.... but, of course, we had known nothing at all of its history until this point in time!!  Lol!!  

The thicket to the far-left of the picture shown above is the site of an old dwelling from many years gone by.... now long demolished. The last occupant of the property is said to have been an old woman, who had lived there alone;  which, of course, might well account for numerous sightings of an elderly, female apparition that has supposedly been spotted abroad in this rather secluded spot!?

The site of future scrutiny by the W.M.G.C., do you reckon!?!  You betcha....!!!

Thursday 31 October 2013

October 31st 2013:

Following article appeared in the 'Shropshire Star' today:

Midlands Ghost Club Looking For Fresh Blood 

It is the night when ghosts and ghouls come out to play – and in Shropshire paranormal activity is said to be particularly widespread.

But one group of enthusiasts sees it as their job to examine the truth behind the tales. The West Midlands Ghost Club was founded 24 years ago, then under the name “West Midlands Friends Of The Paranormal”.

Since then its members have visited thousands of allegedly haunted sites around the Midlands region and some further afield, as well as being involved in television and radio shows – and even video game production.

Nick Duffy, from the club, says membership consists of a mix of both sceptic and believer, but it strives to stay impartial.

He said: “We have no interest in either proving the existence of the paranormal, or disproving it. In the field, our research work is solely based on observation and impartial study”.  

And the group is on the lookout for fresh blood.

Nick said: “Ideally, the group would be interested in hearing from friendly, intelligent people with a level-headed outlook on paranormal related topics.  

“An objective and truly unbiased attitude towards investigation and research is crucial.”

That research has taken West Midlands Ghost Club members to some of Shropshire’s most well-known “haunted” sites.

One of the “most intriguing and possibly ‘productive’ investigation sites ever visited” by the group was Shrewsbury Library, which members explored twice in 2009.

Members were told that 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 man 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 climbed out of the window to catch the suspected “burglar” and discovered that – while the outer doors to the property were found to be still locked and bolted – the padlock to his room had been opened.
The WMGC was also told of the figure of a woman in period costume 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.

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 Headmaster’s House.

Nick said: “During our investigation of June 26, 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. 

“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.

“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 its discovery and it’s inclusion on our online photo album has resulted in thousands of visits.”

On the back of that discovery, a second visit was organised.

Nick said: “On the evening in question, a vigil was carried out at 9.52 pm. 

“During this period, the overall group split into four separate teams and covered the music library, the old school library, the offices above Riggs Hall and the basement level. 

“At approximately 9.56pm, 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. 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.”

In 2002 the club visited Lilleshall Abbey, where a number of visitors have reported hearing unusual noises during early evening, said to resemble the moans and shrieks of someone being tortured.

The club has also carried out investigations at the Prince Rupert Hotel in Shrewsbury; Telford Steam Railway in Horsehay; Maws Craft Centre in the Ironbridge Gorge and Madeley Court Hotel.

For details about the investigations, and further information about the club, e-mail wmghostclub@yahoo.co.uk

Wednesday 30 October 2013

OCTOBER 30th 2013:
Media Related Activity:

In recent months, the West Midlands Ghost Club have featured in a small number of newspaper articles and local radio broadcasts:  

*On August the 9th, a group member appeared on the Shane O' Connor Show on BBC Radio WM, as part of a broadcast concerning a new 'EVP App' that had just been released for mobile phone users.  

*On August the 19th 2013, a WMGC member was interviewed for BBC Radio WM as part of a ghost related show on the Caroline Martin Show. 

*On Sept. 20th 2013, a 'Birmingham Mail' article was published about a 'haunted hair salon' in the Northfield region that the group is currently involved with.  On the same day that the aforementioned piece appeared, a group member was invited to speak on the Danny Kelly Show (BBC Radio WM) on the subject.  The 'Mail' article concerned can be accessed 'HERE'.

*On October 24th, A 'Staffordshire Sentinel' article was published outlining some haunted sites in the North Staffs region that had been suggested to the newspaper by WMGC members.  The article can be read 'HERE'


Wednesday 23 October 2013

Hi All,

Just a brief note to let everyone know that the website of the West Midlands Ghost Club is set to close down for good within a very short time and all net related dealings of the association will be moved onto this blog page from that point onward.

We would just like to take the chance to say a HUGE 'Thank You' to former member and good friend of the group Kevin Wallace for initially setting up the site and kindly hosting it for us over the past few years....  Very much appreciated, we assure you mate!!