This year is the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. Head of the Volunteer for Liberty group Tony Fox, talks about a commemoration event to be held in Sunderland.
‘The Volunteers for Liberty (VFL) remember the 120 International Brigade volunteers from our region, especially the 33 volunteers who lost their lives defending democracy in Spain.’
‘It is apt to be holding a commemoration in Sunderland’s Holy Trinity Church on 1st November 2026 because some of Sunderland’s seafarers and dock workers played a significant role in the Spanish Civil War and the church overlooks the docks.’
Tony explained ‘We also remember the seafarers from our region who risked their lives to take supplies to and evacuate refugees out of Spanish Republic ports. We also remember the volunteers who raised funds and cared for the Basque refugee children who found sanctuary here.’
‘First to challenge the Fascist naval blockade was Sunderland born Captain Andrews (pic.) in a ship built in Sunderland. I am delighted that the relatives of Captain Andrews and other relatives of the brave sons of Sunderland will be joining us.’
‘It’s always an honour to be joined by relatives of the volunteers, however many cannot make it and send messages of support. In return we reassure them that they are remembered showing that the City of Sunderland is proud of them and their loved ones.’
‘Dr Scott (author, Social Poilcy & Criminology, Open University) will also be bringing a memorial to the Sunderland North Sands Massacre of 1825 which the VFL attended last year. We collaborate often. The memorial will be mounted inside the Holy Trinity church.’
‘We will also hear from representatives of the North East Volunteers for Liberty, the Association of the UK Basque children (Association of the UK Basque Children ), the Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d’Italia (anpi.org.uk), and relatives of some of the volunteers.’
Tony added ‘I am especially pleased that Sister Mary Scholastica (pic) of the Sunderland Sailors’ mission has agreed to speak again at our commemoration. This year she was awarded the freedom of the City of Sunderland for her work looking after the welfare of seafarers who visit the city, an act of international solidarity as honourable as the formation of the International Brigades ninety years ago.’
The commemoration on Sunday 1st November 2026 will be opened by The Right Worshipful Mayor of the City of Sunderland, Councillor Robert Hutchinson and the Mayoress Councillor Glenda Hall.
Refreshments will be available on the day also music and poetry from Francis David, Sara Dennis, Harry Gallagher and Eileen Richardson.
For further details contact NEVolunteersforliberty@gmail.com
Featured on here have been a few stories about myths, legends and mysterious happenings, so when talking to North East entertainer Dawn Wilkinson about her work for a future post, she mentioned if I had heard of the Gateshead Grey. No, tell me more.
It was a story about a 5 year old boy called Robert who was visited by a UFO in 1940, subsequently the alien grey was killed with a coal shovel by his Uncle Ernie and buried under St Cuthberts Church in Bensham. Well, I’m in.
North East radio late night talk show host Alan Robson remembers numerous callers phoning the show who had remembered the incident and reading about it in local newspapers.
So, what did happen? A quick on line search revealed more information about the story plus an unexpected email from another source gave me a name to contact. Richard Hall had made a documentary about the Gateshead Grey in 2008. You can watch it here >>
Richard was born in 1967 in Ashington where his father was under manager of the coal mine. The family moved to Shotley Bridge in County Durham where he was educated at Blackfyne Comprehensive School in Consett. He obtained a scholarship and sponsorship from NEI Parsons Ltd to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Newcastle University, finally graduating in 1990.
‘I worked as a professional engineer from 1986 to 2002 for Rolls Royce Industrial Controls and later for Joyce Loebl Limited. In 2002 I set up a computer repair business and did that until around 2008.’ explained Richard.
‘In 2008 I started making videos on various subjects and published the work on my website richplanet.net. Since then, I have made hundreds of videos and films about a wide range of subjects. From 2009 to 2015 I had my own TV show on the Sky Satellite platform.’
How did you first come across the story of the Gateshead Grey?
‘I put an advert in the Evening Chronicle for a lecture I was giving at Caedmen Hall in Gateshead about UFOs. The main witness, Robert Hall (no relation) saw my advert and contacted me and told me about his story. He gave me a copy of an article that had been written about his case by former detective and UFO researcher Gary Heseltine. So, I decided to look into it as I lived locally at the time.’
What was the outcome from your research into the Gateshead Grey?
‘At the time I was persuaded by the evidence that something along the lines of his claims did happen. Since then, having investigated many more cases, I am more sceptical about people’s claims – having learned just how un-reliable witnesses can be – for lots of different reasons.’
‘However, in Robert’s case, many things in his narrative are true. For example, Sergeant Brooks did have a beat on Saltwell Road at that time, there was a coal yard where he said, Mona Hollands shop did exist and the names of the children. So, if he was fabricating his story, he has carefully woven many real provable details into his account.’
‘I do feel something happened. One woman I managed to trace, who was one of the girls who Robert said were frantically climbing over the railway fence to get away from the scene, wrote me a note after I tried to speak to her – warning me strongly never to contact her. Her reaction to me simply asking if anything happened was indicative that she was petrified – or not allowed to even talk about it.’
‘I cannot put my hand on my heart and say it happened as Robert described. If I was to pick up the case again, I would start by transcribing all of his interviews and have them analysed by a statement analyst who will be able to say confidently whether he was fabricating or recalling real things.’
‘I have used expert statement analysist a lot in more recent investigations – in order to determine the veracity of witnesses. I am totally open minded on Robert’s story.’
How did you first get interested in media work?
‘I heard an interview in the 1990s with Bob Lazar who claimed he had worked on recovered UFOs at area 51 in America. Since then, I have always had an interest in UFOs. Around 2005 I became aware of the UFO Disclosure Project ran by Dr Stephen Greer, which further cemented my interest in the subject.’
‘I started making my own videos and films on the subject around 2008. From around 2011 I started delving into other areas where I believe the truth is being hidden from the public at large, and have produced many films on controversial subjects.’
Have there been any unusual events or surprises when researching a story?
‘I’ve had a death threat in a phone call, plus death threats by email. There have been many surprises. When you set off to investigate and find your own evidence and seek out witnesses who have not spoken before, the picture is never exactly as it has been portrayed in the media.’
‘One surprise was to meet a key witness in the Derek Bird mass shooting incident in Cumbria 2010, who stood and watched the gunman at close range for over a minute and described him as a completely different person to the alleged gunman.’
‘Other surprises involve being visited or telephoned by police to warn me about certain investigations. When I started investigating the Jill Dando case, I got a phone call from former Tory MP and author Jeffrey Archer, that was a big surprise. Being jumped on by mainstream journalists and filmed has happened several times.’
What are you working on now?
‘I am writing a book entitled ‘Revising Everything’ looking at the creation of the Universe, the Earth, life, gods, history, power, technology etc. My take on everything basically which corrects or ‘revises’ a lot of the untruths that people carry around in their heads.’
For further information go to the official website >>>
New book ‘Mother Marshall’s Make Believe Menagerie’ released by Sunderland Writer and Illustrator Fiona Duncan
What was the inspiration behind the ‘Mother Marshall’ book ?
The inspiration wildly became clearer afterwards, when I sat and looked at the finished book. I’m from a family of story tellers, surrounded by amazing women especially and had a great childhood, spending every summer with my extended family in the wilds of Scotland.
So, a life long interest of folk horror, traditional folk stories and a love of the witch rather than the princess in fairy stories definitely shaped the idea of Mother Marshall from the start.
Even as a child, I was fascinated by the witch in every story. Why did Dorothy take those shoes, they weren’t hers so no wonder Elphaba got pissed? Why was Maleficent so cranky when she could turn into a dragon?
They always intrigued me rather than scared me and combine that with finding out about the witch trials and looking at them through a feminist lens, it all just became even more compelling. The actual history combined with the cultural impact of the witch has made for a life long obsession.
What is your background?
I’m a 56 year old author and artist left school with the minimum qualifications but still managed to get into Art College, then took two decades before I made it to the University of Sunderland to study Fine Art and yet another 10 years before I managed to finish an MA in Illustration at Falmouth University.
I’ve always struggled with education in the traditional sense but I love reading and researching stuff so once I get my teeth into something I enjoy that part of the process.
Have you had any reviews or feedback, have the band commented? (Fiona is also vocalist with Sunderland punk band Slalom D)
I’m very lucky to have had some fantastic reviews and the feedback has blown me away. Certainly, made all the hard work to get it out there worth it.
As far as band are concerned, they’ve supported me all the way, through the writing, the endless months of planning and drawing, they’ve been there, bought the book and I’m sure they’d get the t-shirt if I made any.
Sunderland Literacy Aid and Media Savvy in Sunderland were a huge help in getting the project over the finish line too. Without SLA this would probably still be a pile of sketch and note books, they helped financing the printing and encouraged me from the very start and still continue to support me in getting ‘Mother Marshall’ out there.
Lastly prayers and thoughts should really go to my partner Roy, he’s holding the rest of our life together as I’m cracking on with book number two!
Is the book available to buy or is it on loan in the library?
You can get a copy direct from my website feduncanillustration.com (A huddle round the cauldron) or from Chapter 13 bookshop in Sunderland. She’s also made it into our local libraries, schools and even our newest library in Sunderland, Culture House.
How many books have you published and when was the first?
Four so far Gary. My first book, ‘The Five Stone Steps’, a tale of a Policeman’s life in 1920s South Shields, came out in 2014 and was followed by ‘Blitz PAMS’ (2016) a tale of the Blitz on Shields, then ‘A Chill Wind off the Tyne’ (2018).
My last book, ‘He Wears a Blue Bonnet’ (about Scottish survivors of the Dunbar death march who were sold as indentured servants to work in the salt pans of Shields) – was published in 2022.
What is the new book about?
‘The Pit Boy’ is true story of the early life of my Granda’, Teddy, who was brought up in Wilson Street High Shields in the 1900s. His early days were marked by poverty. His Da’, a rivetter/boiler maker who had moved to Tyneside from Loughborough, died of rheumatics in 1902. Teddy’s Mam, Lizzi, took to the drink, and the family ended up in the Workhouse.
Back on the cobbled streets of Shields, Lizzie took up fish hawking, but when the drink took over, she abandoned Teddy and his brother Alf on a doorstep in Brunswick Street. She was sent down for two months for child cruelty and neglect.
Teddy started as a trapper lad at St Hilda colliery. He worked hard down the pit, went to night school, and when War broke out in 1914, he had become the youngest deputy in the Durham coalfield.
Why do you focus on South Shields?
After my Granda’ died in 1955 when I was six, my Nan, Gertie started coming for tea four times a week. ‘Tea’ went from half past two until six o’clock. She sat in an old wicker chair in the corner, drank tea and never stopped talking in her broad Geordie accent.
Her tales of old Sheelz still ring in my ears – of Dick Borke (Burke) the one-legged bookie, of when they ‘bornt Kredga in the streets’, (effigies of Kruger were hung from lampposts and burnt during the celebrations of the relief of Mafeking.) Although I left Shields in my early twenties, I love the town and the old memories kindled by my Nan.
When writing, is that when you are happiest?
I have always suffered with my nerves and had a breakdown in my second year at Oxford. I was advised to take a year off and went home. After a couple of weeks, me Mam told me that she didn’t want me moping round the house and if I was going to stay then I’d have to get a job and pay keep.
I tripped off down to the old Labour Exchange in Wawn Street and joined the long queues of men drawing their dole. There was only one job going in the whole of Shields – at Wrights Biscuits. I took it and learned more about life there than I ever had at Oxford.
I went back to my studies, and qualified as a Solicitor. I had a second nervous breakdown in my mid forties and have never fully recovered. I started writing as a form of occupational therapy and have kept it up. I am happy sitting at the keyboard researching my stories and then writing them.
It is fascinating to learn how folk lived a hundred years or so ago and then write about it. It’s not all I do but it’s now a settled part of my life.
As well as novels do you write short stories?
My first thought was to answer no – but then I reflected on how I started ‘The Five Stone Steps’. I had been intending to write a whodunit set in 1920s South Shields.
A very good friend of mine, Tommy Gordon, had taught me ragtime piano and I knew that his Da’, also Tom, but only ever called Jock, had been a Station Sergeant in the Shields police. I asked him about policing in the twenties and he went to his bookshelves and produced a dusty, dog-eared manuscript of his Da’s memoirs.
As I read these tales of Old South Shields, very much like those my Nan had remembered, I could almost hear Jock Gordon’s whisky voice as he sat down at a table by the fire to set his memories to paper.
I thought that one particular tale about publicans in old Shields putting out a little jug of whisky for the Bobbies on night shift might make a good story. My first book is in fact a collection of short stories but much like a ‘soap’ on telly all the tales connect-up.
What are your hopes for this book?
All my books are self-published with help from Uk Book Publishing in Whitley Bay, a great team. With the stranglehold Amazon has on the book trade it is nigh impossible for a self-publisher to make any money and the few independent bookshops that are left are reluctant to stock self-published books.
The only place in South Shields where my books can be bought is the Shop at The Word, so I rely on social media and word of mouth for my books to get known.
My hope for ‘The Pit Boy’is that a Tale of Old Shields will capture the imagination of folk and remind everyone of what a vibrant industrial town Shields was in the 1900s – that despite the poverty and hardship, folk stuck together, got on with life, and made the most of things.
I’m often accused of living in the past but we should all remember our forebears and their struggles – without them we wouldn’t be here!
Alikivi June 2026
Search for more John Orton posts on the North East Music & Culture site.
Ronnie is in his mid 40s and was educated at Monkwearmouth school. He worked as a mental health therapist for 20 years.
“After leaving my professional life behind I decided to focus on myself and had some counselling and in the sessions found myself writing about the past.”
When he was young Ronnie had a traumatic experience where two of his friends were murdered.
“Talking about the horrendous murders that took place and the lads I knew hasn’t been easy to revisit. But the truth never is. It naturally pushed me towards writing.”
“Also, in my youth I made a million bad decisions which resulted in a little holiday in the old mental health unit Cherry Knowles in Ryhope. This was also inspiration behind my writing.”
Earlier this year Ronnie met up with a couple of friends who have been supportive of his work. Two examples are added below. He is now looking to get some of his poems and a short story published.
“My friend has helped a lot with telling my story and I’ve really taken to poetry and bending words, its great fun.”
“This has all started to come together the last few months, I’ve got a couple of great editors working on the short story. The poems haven’t been edited yet.”
“We’ve had some really good feedback but if I’m honest, I think the story was born in Sunderland and I would like it continue to have a North East connection.”
What are your hopes for the work when it is published?
“I’m hoping the overall work of the two books is a positive message. Even when you think you are at rock bottom, believe it or not you can bounce back.”
Alikivi June 2024
This evening by Ronnie James
I wonder the meaning.
As I’m cleaning.
Am I right in believing.
This evening.
Isn’t for thieving.
Its for believing.
My mate knows the meaning of this evening.
Talking goods times and current achievements
Its not for screaming or disbelieving.
Its time for escaping the machining.
And giving the evening a meaning
Mad Matty by Ronnie James
He resided in the bed next to me.
Long jet black crazy curly hair. As if he’d been electrocuted. God knows why he was there we never spoke. Apparently, I heard some horrible violence some staff I heard saying.
He was drugged to the point he couldn’t talk just laugh and giggle. He needed constant attention from staff.
He would sleep under my bed at night.
I’d waken to hear a giggle. I’d look to my left and his bed would be empty. Bastards under my bed. I looked under upside down there he is. Giggling laughing, insanity, crazy eyes, evil. This happened a few times.
I went from trying to be his mate to him hissing like a wild cat at me under my bed to me completely exploding with anger to which either situation me being restrained by 3 or 4 men and Matty getting carted off to where ever.
After a few times of that and other situations 1 day he never came back. Apparently, he hung himself. He never got out the asylum.
Alison Stanley, Katie Potts, Crissy Rock & Leah Bell.
A UK tour is planned for ‘Tits Up.’ The play is based on the real life story of women with breast cancer. It’s written by Alison Stanley and Leah Bell who also star in the show along with Crissy Rock and Katie Potts.
The show played at a sold out North East venue this year. You must be pleased with this Alison?
I’m really pleased with how everything is going. The audiences have been great and the reviews have been amazing. I think the subject matter (breast cancer) is relatable to so many people, in fact I really don’t know many people whose lives haven’t been touched by cancer in some way.
I think this play is really important in raising awareness, it looks at the lives of very different women. It looks at women who have caring responsibilities as well as dealing with their diagnosis. This puts an entirely different slant on dealing with cancer when you have to care for others as well.
We also wanted to look at breast cancer in very young women. Most people think breast cancer is an older person’s disease but the fact is young women can get this too. We hope that this play encourages young women to check themselves.
Are you looking forward to the tour and taking the show to new venues?
I’m really looking forward to touring. This tour goes all over the UK in October to coincide with breast cancer awareness month. I’m looking forward to new theatres and new audiences also playing some old favourites. There are some really beautiful theatres in the UK.
We’re also playing in the North East at Alnwick Playhouse, South Shields Customs House and Live Theatre in Newcastle, so it’s great to be showing out on home turf.
What type of audiences do you think the show will attract?
Cancer affects everyone so we have people who have their own cancer journeys, their families, health professionals and theatre goers who want to be entertained by a great story. All very different audiences of all types of people. The play is raw, honest, heartfelt and at times hilarious.
‘Tits Up’ starring Crissy Rock, Katie Potts, Leah Bell & Alison Stanley is playing across the UK in October 2026.
Playwright, lyricist and poet Tom Kelly who now lives further up the Tyne river at Blaydon, has released a new collection of poems published by Northumberland based Red Squirrel Press.
‘My collection, prior to ‘These Are My Bounds’ was ‘Walking My Streets’ (interview on site July 2024) published in 2024 and from that point I was building up work for my next collection’ said Tom.
‘I prefer to have new work published in magazines and the majority of poems in a new collection have been published. It allows me to see them more objectively.’
‘Once I’ve had a number of poems published, I begin to select which ones may work in the together. Next is the business of the running order. I found with, ‘These Are My Bounds’ they worked best by moving from past to present. I open the collection with a poem using my grandmother, Maggie Henderson, who died in Jarrow in 1969.’
Tom has had fourteen books published by Red Squirrel Press, the first was ‘The Wrong Jarrow’ from Smokestack Books.
‘That was in 2007 and is now out-of-print. Before these collections I had a number of pamphlets published by a variety of small publishers.’
Tom adds ‘My first pamphlet was the ‘Gibbeting of Wm. Jobling,’ published by the Bede Gallery, Jarrow in 1972.The publication was made up of poetry, prose, contemporary documents and illustrated by Vincent Rea.’
What are your hopes for this new collection?
‘I would, like most poets, to find readers who warm to my work with positive reviews and good sales to have my publisher Sheila Wakefield of Red Squirrel Press publish my next collection.’
Quotes and reviews from previous collections.
‘Another consummate, heart-warming collection from the talented Tom Kelly’.
Alan Morrison, in Morning Star.
‘He writes in a simple style, sometimes in the dialect of his native north-east. What he writes about should never be forgotten, though the rich and the powerful do their best to expunge it from collective memory.’Review of ‘No Love Rations’, short story collection.MQB
‘Tom Kelly writes poems that are straightforward and about the people and the places he’s known all his life. The North-East is his “small patch” and its history and traditions loom large in just about everything he writes. If the term “regional writer” means anything it certainly applies to a writer like Kelly. You can see and smell and hear both the past and the present as you read the short, jabbing lines with their penny-plain words.’The Penniless Press
‘These Are My Bounds’ available from Red Squirrel Press.
Glynis was born in Cullercoats, a small fishing village on the North East Coast of England.
‘Where I spent a happy, carefree childhood. Cullercoats Bay was, literally, at the end of my street, and the village had a real community feel – it still does. Now aged 63, I haven’t moved too far from where I grew up.’
Her creative writing journey began at the age of eight.
‘In reality, I was copying the themes and formats of children’s authors. At the age of 11, I was still making notes for my first full-length story book – Five at Mystery Camp!’
‘Leaving school, I wanted to do something other than sit behind a desk – so with the qualifications I had, I was encouraged to spend the next 45 years working behind a desk! I also took on part-time work all within the Cullercoats or North Shields area. I was a barmaid, had a go at working as a housekeeper and one job was cleaning a local morgue. The smell was one of bleach and cleaning products but the atmosphere was spooky and spine tingling. I dreaded every shift – my imagination sometimes does get the better of me.’
Who inspired you to start writing?
‘Growing up, I would spend a lot of time in Cullercoats library, and my first real interest in reading came from Enid Blyton mystery stories. By the time I joined Marden High School in North Shields, it seemed my natural reading progression was to jump from Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers series to James Herbet – The Rats – a huge leap in genre. My imagination was ignited, and my storytelling went up a few notches!’
‘I created my DCI Caron Dell crime fiction novels in 2005, and have written several short stories – none of which are published. I began taking things more seriously when my daughter, Beth, a singer-songwriter, wrote a piece called Stay Young. Something about that song lit a fire in me—and that spark become the basis for my first novel.’
‘To date, I have written and self-published two books from my DCI Caron Dell series: Dying to Stay Young and Where is January Blue?’
Have you surprised yourself?
‘I am surprised at how engrossed I have become in my research, whilst developing personality profiles, locations, and murder! Autopsies were an eye-opener, too!’
‘I’m learning something new each time I delve into the world of DCI Caron Dell – she is a stalwart for justice. And, I’m totally bowled over by the interest and support I’ve received, not just from family and friends, but from people I haven’t even met. So, a huge thank you – genuinely, I value everyone’s support.’
How was your debut book received?
‘My first book Dying to Stay Young, has good reviews on Amazon and five-star reviews in Goodreads. I am delighted by the feedback. Another huge thanks to those who have taken the time to read my books and to those who have left a review.’
‘At the beginning of March 26, Cullercoats Library hosted an event for me to talk about my DCI Dell novels. The venue was very fitting. Providing more detail about DCI Caron Dell and having a face-to-face discussion has encouraged me to continue my storytelling. For my first event, I was grateful for a full room and an engaged audience.’
While researching have you come across any unusual stories?
‘Not unusual, but more surprising. Whilst listening to Professor David Wilson, a Criminology expert, I was shocked by the low number of convictions for crimes against vulnerable groups. With one statistic flooring me – 2% of abuse against women crimes actually lead to a conviction.’
‘Obviously, there is more to the stats, but what is worth noting is that not all crimes are reported, so what is the real percentage? Is it higher or lower? I don’t think we’ll ever know for certain. My interest was piqued, and my hunger to write psychological thrillers grew.’
Would you like to see any of your books adapted for the stage or TV?
‘Absolutely, that would be utopia!’
For furtherinformation and upcoming releases contact the official website >>>
As requested, readers of this site have contributed stories featuring supernatural phenomena. 60 year old Jeff Anderson from Washington, County Durham, talked of his experiences.
The paranormal equates to something or some activity that is unknown now but is likely to be known and possibly understood in the future. So, a good example of paranormal activity would include ghost sightings and other spiritual activity of that nature.
It’s the stuff of sixth sense, which we are all aware of in situations when somebody is staring at us from behind, we look around and sure enough someone is. And vice-versa when we stare at someone suddenly they become aware of our stare.
I have over the last few years been equally fortunate and unfortunate to have been exposed to very real paranormal activity.
It was the very height of the Covid-19 pandemic I had been to Lidl one Saturday morning, nothing unusual there. Bonnie my German Shepherd was eagerly awaiting my return to the car. No sooner had I done so when quite inexplicably the car radio started playing and this despite being most definitely being switched off. I had the presence of mind to video the occurrence for future reference.
It sounded like Metallica playing but I wasn’t sure of the song. It turned out to be Creeping Death. I learned later it’s a song about the Biblical pass over featuring the Angel of Death. Creepy right?
On my weekly visit to my elderly parents house I explained to them the car radio occurrence and showed them the video I made that day. I felt someone somewhere was trying to communicate something.
In an instant a powerful gust of wind blew in through the upstairs front bedroom window, it came down the stairs twisting and turning and blew into the living room with such force that it actually blasted open the living room doors. It then turned back on itself and blew out of a small living room window. I mentioned it to my parents but they didn’t want to discuss it.
Unfortunately, my mother suffered a stroke a few year later. One afternoon I visited her in hospital with my Auntie. My mother occupied a room with three other stroke patients. There were just the six of us in the room on this occasion with no medical staff in attendance.
Of the four stroke patients three were asleep including my mam. The other patient was awake lying on her back, staring at the ceiling and occasionally crying out for her mother every few minutes or so, even though she was in her 70s herself. She was unaware of anything going on around her due to a possible dementia diagnosis.
The next thing it started raining mixed with hail and with such force and intensity I thought the window nearest to her might be blown in. After a short while things settled down.
However, the woman in the bed nearest the window was like someone possessed, she no longer cried out for her mother and was now fully aware. She turned her head and looked directly at me in the eye, diverting her gaze away from the ceiling. She even attempted to get out of bed at one point and come over to me. It was then I decided it was a goodtime to leave.
Sadly, my mother died a few months later. Two nights before her funeral I had left my bedroom window open only to be awoken at 3am by a strong gust of wind, so powerful it took every ounce of my physical strength to slam the window shut. Before I managed to close it the wind blasted me directly in the face, at which point an image of mother’s face unexpectedly appeared in my mind’s eye.
More revelations of supernatural phenomena will feature on this site. If you want to share your experience don’t hesitate to get in touch.
As requested, readers of this site have contributed stories featuring supernatural phenomena. Actor and theatre producer Alison Stanley talked of her experiences. Featured in this story is a medieval castle in Chillingham, Northumberland which is reported to be one of the UK’s most haunted castles.
In the past I’ve been a celebrant at funerals and enjoy doing it. I’ve always been interested in spiritualism. I believe in a next life. We’ve talked about what happens when you die and we’ve mentioned ghosts, spirituality and the like people believe different things explained Alison.
Some say when you die you just die and there is no afterlife. But how do they know for sure? And by the laws of science we are a ball of energy and by those laws it doesn’t die so where does that energy go? The physical body dies and is buried or cremated but what happens to the energy? It’s an interesting subject.
A few years ago we went to Chillingham Castle on a day trip. There was me, my mother, my youngest son and my step dad. It was a grey dark day lashing down with rain. We were driving along the country roads getting near the castle. We turned a corner and saw an old woman in a red coat standing at the side of the road. She wasn’t old as somebody from the 1800s but there was something about her that didn’t look right. We all remarked about this woman who was in the middle of nowhere really.
I looked in my rear view mirror and she was standing looking at the car. Where did she come from as there were no houses around maybe she has dementia? I just wasn’t sure I couldn’t put my finger on it. What really was wrong was she didn’t look wet she was bone dry. But it was lashing down?
We get in to Chillingham Castle and looked at all the artefacts and stuff it’s quite cluttered. On one of the clothes dummies was a lady with a red coat and she had a hat on. It was from one of the women who had worked there as a housekeeper. I swear it was the same coat we had seen.
Another time was 10 years ago. We were sitting in a bar called the Pig & Whistle in Hollywood which is a very theatrical, grand sort of place. I went through a red velvet curtain to the toilet downstairs and after four steps I couldn’t go any further, I stopped because I froze and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. There was no way I could go any further down the stairs.
I came straight back up and told my husband we’re going to another bar for a drink because there is no way on God’s earth I’m going to the toilet here. Later we found out there had been a fire there and there was strong spiritual activity in the pub.
I think if someone is in the next life and they visit you I think it’s a bit of an honour really. They might have plenty to do and they have taken time out of their day to see you – so yes, it’s an honour.
More revelations of supernatural phenomena will feature on this site. If you want to share your experience don’t hesitate to get in touch.
