The Ghost Story

[Caliban]

You have presumably seen the photo of the ghost in St Botolph's near Bishopsgate in London? http://www.london-ghost-tour.com/ghost_photo.htm One of the more convincing. I shall be around that part of the world tomorrow afternoon, shall have to pop in...

[Serial_Apologist]

My favourite, most creepy ghost story of all time is Rosemary Timperley's "Harry". The name is that of the imaginary brother of the small adopted daughter of a couple, who, at the end of a story of mounting anxiety as the mother finds out more and more about the little girl's tragic origins, comes to collect her from school.

As a small boy my parents took me to see a black and white English film about a haunted houseboat. I have searched an online archive for a record of this film, but without success. One scene I remember as particularly impressive was of a man smoking a pipe in the lower deck, who then fades from sight, just leaving the pipe smoke. Does anyone remember seeing this film?

Oh, and BTW, does anyone else have personal experience of the supernatural? Or is asking this straying off-topic?

[Chris Newman]

Oh, and BTW, does anyone else have personal experience of the supernatural? Or is asking this straying off-topic?

I have two. I hasten to add that I am a sceptic, though. Example Two may explain why.

As an ageing teenager my friends and I frequented a place in Horsham called The Coffee House in the evenings. Even today we have annual reunions. One family of owners suffered with a poltergeist that caused night-time havoc. They did not widely talk about this for fear of looking stupid but I commuted to London with the son who occasionally seemed haggard after bad nights and confided in me. Things became so bad that the Vicar performed an exorcism. It did not work and after some research he discovered that a Roman Catholic lady had died before receiving absolution. So he and the local RC priest tried another exorcism which also failed. The son, Rob, told me that the family were considering selling up and moving. One day Rob's mother told me that she knew Rob had told me about the ghost. I had noticed he had seemed more cheerful. She said that one afternoon a month before a complete stranger had ordered a coffee. When she had brought the lady her drink she (the customer) had sniffed the air and said "Ah, you have a ghost here!"

"How can you tell?" said Maggie.

"I can smell her" replied the lady. "Don't worry. I'll take her with me."

And they were never troubled again.

The second example was personal. I had been playing rugby for Horsham Colts (the boys team). After joining in the post match meal and a few drinks I left for home. My parents house was not far away across some fields from the clubhouse. I crossed the sports ground. It was bitterly cold and the grass sparkled frostily in the full moon. Yes, it is true! An owl hooted! I heard foot steps behind me. I turned to see if another player was going my way. There was nobody there. The sound of footfalls behind me continued and then stopped. I was puzzled and a little spooked when the owl hooted again. I turned and continued on my way. The sound of steps was following me. I leapt round looking back at the clubhouse in the distance. Several footfalls were heard and then stopped. I was getting ready to run but I tried once more. I thought the steps sounded so close I must look more closely. As I walked I could hear this person right behind me and I swung around catching sight of my own imprints in the hoar covered grass. I watched in bemused amazement as the foot prints sprang back up and became faint. The frost was not yet cold enough to let the grass stay down but it "creaked" as it rose back. I wonder how many poor souls have been caught out by that experience and not looked down.

[Serial_Apologist]

I have two. I hasten to add that I am a sceptic, though. Example Two may explain why.

As an ageing teenager my friends and I frequented a place in Horsham called The Coffee House in the evenings. Even today we have annual reunions. One family of owners suffered with a poltergeist that caused night-time havoc. They did not widely talk about this for fear of looking stupid but I commuted to London with the son who occasionally seemed haggard after bad nights and confided in me. Things became so bad that the Vicar performed an exorcism. It did not work and after some research he discovered that a Roman Catholic lady had died before receiving absolution. So he and the local RC priest tried another exorcism which also failed. The son, Rob, told me that the family were considering selling up and moving. One day Rob's mother told me that she knew Rob had told me about the ghost. I had noticed he had seemed more cheerful. She said that one afternoon a month before a complete stranger had ordered a coffee. When she had brought the lady her drink she (the customer) had sniffed the air and said "Ah, you have a ghost here!"

"How can you tell?" said Maggie.

"I can smell her" replied the lady. "Don't worry. I'll take her with me."

And they were never troubled again.

The second example was personal. I had been playing rugby for Horsham Colts (the boys team). After joining in the post match meal and a few drinks I left for home. My parents house was not far away across some fields from the clubhouse. I crossed the sports ground. It was bitterly cold and the grass sparkled frostily in the full moon. Yes, it is true! An owl hooted! I heard foot steps behind me. I turned to see if another player was going my way. There was nobody there. The sound of footfalls behind me continued and then stopped. I was puzzled and a little spooked when the owl hooted again. I turned and continued on my way. The sound of steps was following me. I leapt round looking back at the clubhouse in the distance. Several footfalls were heard and then stopped. I was getting ready to run but I tried once more. I thought the steps sounded so close I must look more closely. As I walked I could hear this person right behind me and I swung around catching sight of my own imprints in the hoar covered grass. I watched in bemused amazement as the foot prints sprang back up and became faint. The frost was not yet cold enough to let the grass stay down but it "creaked" as it rose back. I wonder how many poor souls have been caught out by that experience and not looked down.

Godd story, though - that second one - Chris! Maybe if you'd whistled, he'd have come for you!!