Greenways Farm, Kent

Date: 19th April 2008.

Time: Evening until late.

Weather conditions: Dry and calm, overcast.

Persons present: Nick Jones, Tracey Milliams, Patrick McNamara, Karl, Janet Blair, Malcolm Dyer.

These notes were compiled on the night using two digital Olympus Dictaphones, (DW-90 and an Qlypus WS-310-Ml) and my own digital camera, (Olympus Camedia C-220).

A central failing of so many ‘investigations’ done by many groups over past years is that of recording evidence and source material. We are using movie cameras and Dictaphones to get over the problem of the scribbled notebook and evidence dependent upon the memories of participants. It seemed to me sensible, therefore, to ensure that these original audio recordings are archived. The visual recordings are, of course, actually placed on the website, albeit only where important content is detected during playback, (a painfully slow process).  By keeping the entire audio record a back up is kept of all that I transcribe onto these website pages and errors can be corrected at a later date if found to be necessary.

Donkey Dinner: Greenways Farm is a working farm and here smallholder, Nick Jones takes care of lunch.

Greenways Farmhouse – ground floor layout: This thumbnail sketch will, I hope show how this ancient structure has evolved. Initially it was a rectangular timber framed ‘Wealden Hall House’ of circa 1450. It was entered on the LHS beside the much later c17th FIREPLACE. The bottom partition wall still divides what was the original Open Hall - then in ancient times open to the roof and heated by an Open Hearth on the site of the present fireplace - from Chambers at ground floor level and ‘Solar’ above, whilst a similar layout existed behind the c17th FIREPLACE. The KITCHEN is a modern rear extension under a ‘Cat slide’ Roof adjoining the original. The modern entrance is at the very bottom of the diagram.

6.10pm: Patrick McNamara and Karl Fallon arrive and the latter immediately commenced unloading and setting up equipment for the Circle to be held in the upstairs ‘Solar’ bedroom.

Living Room: (PM) “George, George.” (Malcolm) “ What’s all this about George? – Its somebody related to Nick – as I came in – he said George – its something like a Great Uncle but its interrelated to Nick – definitely and it’s George.” (Nick) “Any side – on the mothers or fathers?” (PM) “ I think its on Mums side – make some inquiries anyway and I got George last time and this time, (said to Nick as they stood in the downstairs Living Room/Kitchen Area – PM and KF had almost just this minute arrived!). (PM) “Its quite strong and also you will be buying some equipment – heavy equipment.” (Nick) “I’ve bought a polytunnel” (PM) “You’ve bought a polytunnel – strawberries?” (Nick) “Yes, yes, anything - I am going to be planting strawberries……………..” (PM) because what they are telling me here is that you are going to start planting out a lot more on the amount you have got here and that you are going to need to borrow some equipment.” (Nick) “Ah, yes, yes.” (PM)”……….In fact a seed drill - I don’t know what the equipment is – but there is something that you need to borrow - there is something like – there is some kind of ‘farmer’s cooperative you can go and get some help  - this is George telling me this – there is the connection – as I said there I’m seeing something there – but there is a lot more equipment you are going to be buying here – but he’s saying that what you have got to do is to start thinking more on the edge of the retail side as well  – you understand that?” (Nick) “Yes, yes its spot on”.  (A discussion ensues about their egg production and marketing project  - (Nick) “I have all of these eggs and the problem is that we have been wholesaling them………….”). (PM) “George, definitely George, because he told me that – err – you’ve got all this equipment and you’re going to use it – but also there’s something like a field adjacent which is going to be sold – you understand that? – you understand that? – there is a field adjacent  - (Nick) “I am going to sell?” (PM) No, no, you are going to hire.” (Nick) “ Ahh -ooo that would be nice” (PM) “You understand that? – what I’ve got here – it like boggy land – full of water – it needs draining a little bit  –but it would be good for planting out something like trees.” (Nick indicated that he had been looking in this kind of direction) – it’s a field – a waterlogged field – a bit miry but if you put trees in it they will suck a lot of the water out.” (Nick) “I have been looking at land with water on it.”(PM) “ You know what they do in Ireland – fill it full of Christmas Trees – they suck the water up and you’ve got a dry piece of land basically………………as I said that is what he is telling me here” (Nick) “Do you talk directly to him?” (PM) “No, its like I’ve just had a conversation with him - he’s also talking about another dog – a black and white dog – you understand that – there’s another dog – you’ve been thinking about it”. (Nick) “Could you ask him what relation he is to Tom my grandfather – Thomas Raymond?” (PM) “Well, I can wait and he could tell me – I’m seeing glasses – which one of them wore glasses? - I’ve got someone wearing glasses here and its not him – its not George - George he does not wear glasses – there is someone here wearing glasses –ask your mum – it might not be great uncle it might be great great uncle – I’m not going to alter it – it is very strong – and when I asked  - it’s a relative like a great great uncle – I am also seeing something to do with tiles – roof – roof – what I am seeing here is somebody is doing something - its not serious – something has to be done with the roof – tiles – and also something that looks like a trough – looks like a trough – it looks like a new one – it’s a long…………………. (Nick broadly concurred that there might be something here to consider) - there’s a lot of agricultural stuff around here…………….also there’s something about Cyprus – do you understand that – Cyprus.” (Nick) “My Aunt lives out there”. (PM) “Something to do with Cyprus - it’s like a brief holiday – a couple of days.” (Nick) “Tracey’s asked me about taking time off next week”. (PM) “Ok, because I see it – but no, on the whole you work pretty well together – there’s a case of how much you can do and what you can’t - if you understand what I mean (much laughter) and also there’s talk about – umm - a DVD player or one of the old fashioned – err –“. (Nick) “VHS.” (PM) “(VHS -yes). (Nick) “ We were talking about that a minute ago”. (PM) “That’s what I’m getting anyhow.” (Malcolm) “The time is now twenty five minutes past six and a very interesting conversation there”.

Considering the evening: (L to R), Patrick, Nick, Karl and Janet, relax in the cosy seventeenth century timbered living room of Greenways and discuss the coming Circle and what will happen.

(PM) “………..He’s somebody basically who would not sit on his hands – if he said he would do something - right OK come on lads lets get on and do it …………… no, everybody leads a horse to water - he’d make it drink - Boxall, why have I got the name Boxall – Boxall – Simon Boxall. (Karl) “Simon Boxall?” (PM) “Yes – he used to be a member of the church a long time ago – Boxall – for some reason I’ve got the name Boxall.” (Malcolm) “Look him up and see whether he is still alive”. (PM) “Yes, he might have gone over actually”.

(PM) “I’ve somebody called Mabel”. (Malcolm) “Mabel, Mabel, Mabel on the table”. (PM) “Mabel, I’ve got someone called Mabel and she came downstairs here -  (this was when we were downstairs seated in the living room at around 7pm) ………someone like an aunt on your side – she was a slight woman – she wasn’t big – one of your relatives – came downstairs here – because I looked up – oh!

New information: I have just received an email from Nick, (Thurs 24th April, evening), informing me of the following “My Father called on Monday to say his Mother-in-Law, Mabel, passed last week. She was a slight lady of 89, very gentle and had been ill for some time. This is therefore very interesting.” This is absolutely genuine, the chronology is correct and there really is no way that PM could have had this information on Saturday Night. I am slowly and painstakingly working from Dictaphone recordings and Nick only received my draft text last night by email – hence his contacting me tonight rather than earlier in the week.

 (Nick asked whether he had mistaken them, (spirits), for people and PM said that they move much more quickly and also there’s ‘like a vagueness’-“ you are aware of them much more than you would be – if I looked at you, (Nick), its like there’s something that should not be there – you are aware that they should not be there – something in the voice – you had a bad chest?” (Nick) “Err –yes I have this week - yes”. (PM) “She’s talking about wrapping yourself up young man – your chest is rattling because you are going out there with no proper clothes on she said – you’ve really got to look after yourself because of this damp atmosphere as well – it will get a bit dryer soon – it will be a lot better – but then you’ll have the reverse then – you’ll have the hay fever. She’s showing me a cardigan for some reason – its like a mans cardigan.” (Tracey) “Like Starsky and Hutch?” (PM) “Yes” (Tracey) “We’ve wanted one for ages and ages”, (there seemed to be a desire for such a garment).

(Patrick explained that his asking questions is particularly difficult because of the sheer number of people wishing to communicate. It is easier and more practical for him to wait for them unlike ‘Direct Voice’ when you can actually talk to them)

(PM) “I’ve got somebody in a First World War Uniform – a young man and I would have thought that he died in the First World War – army uniform but I’m getting like –err – Yorkshire – Yorkshire Regiment – its coming through and its coming around you and he’s saying basically that ‘me and the lads will look after you, (addressed to Tracey) - don’t worry, your not going to have anything that is going to leap out and do anything nasty and your not going to do anything nasty because he says when you talk about these things its because you’re honest and because you are afraid you will do something but you never will – all you are - you are a very sensitive sweet thing so you should stop worrying because you’ll be alright and he and his mates are going to make sure that you are ok – and I’ve got the name Tom – Tommy – the name Tommy – some relation to you again – First World War – would have died in the 1914-18 War – and as I said its like West Yorks or something like that – what is strange is that although I get West Yorks this guy would have been an East Ender – he would have been an East Ender – East London – quite a tough little nut – yes, quite a tough little nut – blond hair – brown eyes – you would not like to get into a knuckle with this guy – he could look after himself – bit of a ‘ladies man’ – the ladies did rather like him – he did like the ladies.” (Malcolm) “Anybody else out there?” (PM) “I’ve also got somebody named Lou – this is more up to date this is somebody who died in the ‘70s – it ‘s to do with Tracey someone in relation to your family – it would not be a member of the family it would have been a friend of the family – Lou – probably your mother would know who it was  – somebody who died who was relatively young when they died – why are you talking about carpets, carpet or lino? Why are they showing me a roll of carpet – on the floor – got put down on the floor a roll of something – its silver – silvery blue colour.” “It’s an impression - its pretty big” – he replied in answer to me on what it was that he was ‘seeing’ and no one within my hearing could solve the ‘carpet mystery’. However, my pressing PM on getting further information from contacts provoked him into telling me “that I was making it difficult for him” and by way of explanation he told us of just how they contact him and his words are recorded as follows: 

“What happens is – basically – they get into my ‘aura’ they are slightly behind me usually to the right of me – they put forward into me and they slow their vibrations down so they can hear what you are saying – they can understand me because I am talking to them at a slightly higher vibration telepathically – now anything that you want to say – they have to slow their vibration down – that is why it is very difficult to have a two way conversation. Once we’ve got ectoplasm in place and they can vibrate that ectoplasm and what they do is they put their ‘vocal cords - they put up   their vocal cords and they vibrate them and they can talk very much as they would talk here. Nonetheless if they are going to hear – if they are going to hear – if they are going to hear what you are saying – they have got to use somebody as a medium so they can hear your vibrations – they can hear your voice. It’s a whole new set of ground rules basically – and as we go along it is as I said to you basically.” (Malcolm) “It is important that we get this on tape because many people have the same problem.” (PM) “ It’s the same with electrical equipment – that is why we work in darkness with no electrical interference – no light – whatsoever – the spirit can then use the energies from the individuals sitting there – the voice boxes and all the paraphernalia they use – they have so many who help them on their side – that is why we need perfect harmony.”

  Nick, friend and a carrot:  Patience, generosity and kindness has its rewards. So true for our understanding of the psychic world. How are we to communicate if we fail to consider the feelings of those to whom we are addressing our overtures. If we fail to observe even the basic courtesies should we be surprised if we get no replies. So often, ‘psychic researchers’ approach the problem as if it were a military conquest, fail to learn anything new and then announce that all those who do succeed are charlatans.

 (PM) “I’m getting – like – a blue book – a paying-in book – for some reason – you understand what that is? (Someone “that’s a paying-in book!!) – I’m not going to change it coz that’s what I’ve got – this person showed – like – a paying-in book to a bank – like an old paying-in book to a bank – what that is I don’t know - something like a thousand pounds has to be paid into your bank account? – or maybe it is something about ‘a thousand’ that got to be paid – a Will or something like that – I’m seeing that and I’m not going to alter it."

7.30pm Living Room: (Janet) “I heard a middle aged voice and he said ‘I’m home – really loud” (M) “Can you repeat that Jan?” (J) “Oh yes it was a spirit voice really quite loud it was middle aged educated – I’m home - that’s the words  - I’m home”. (M) “When did you hear it?” (J) “When you were all listening for EVP, (on the laptop from a Dictaphone recording made last week in the upstairs Solar) – (J) “I heard it quite distinctly”.

Tracey hands PM a black and white photo: “ Tell you what Trace - I’ve got a ring with this straightaway – I’ve got a ring you know like an engagement ring – like err somebody who had a long engagement – you understand that?” (Tracey) “No” (here his attention shifts to Janet) (PM) “What I’ve got is I’ve got a ring here - I’ve got somebody here who is refusing to let me get this – my fingers burn - somebody who will not allow me talk about it – whatever this is – it is something in relation to somebody getting a ring like a relationship – which ended that ring is coming off – and its err – umm – I’ve got somebody here – someone who wore it here – and they are saying ‘No!’ its not your business – its not your business – its not yours to talk about – you understand that – its somebody who – there’s enmity here – like somebody who had something done to them – and they don’t like it – you understand – its like they are pushing something away – like there’s a secret to it – you understand – secret – there’s a relationship that’s been ended – and this relationship should have lasted a lot longer – they don’t like the idea that the relationship ended – you understand – its like ‘its nobodies business but mine’ – I’m getting heat with it – almost like Hell Fire.” (Tracey) “There’s two people in that picture” (Tracey is referring to that photo which is in fact of Janet’s grandmother and herself as a baby) – (PM) “No – I know – there’s a relationship for certain and there’s the ending of a relationship – that should have gone………I’ve got someone really angry – this relationship been ended – and its like – there’ve got betrayed – there’s something really badly wrong here – almost like there’ve been murdered – or pushed to one side – somebody plotting against them – you understand – separation …..there’s …err.err.err……its nobodies business but mine – nobodies business but mine – there shouldn’t be anything between……..nothing can be done about it – its private – you understand – this is what I’ve got – and its like an engagement ring – like an eternity ring – engagement or eternity ring – it what they are telling me – this relationship – it should have been a long term one but was ended – does that make sense to you?” (J) “Not really” (PM) “Let me put it this way – a ring is a symbol – a ring is a symbol – a ring is a symbol of two people coming together in like a relationship – one of them thinks it should have come together and it should have lasted a lot longer but it didn’t – you understand? – and there’s a sense of betrayal – and a sense of – err – this is nobodies business – why is this being brought forward? – its like there’s a secret involved with this – and its nobodies business – but all I can say is that is what I am getting – can I look at this now? (All of this time he had held the photo face downwards and could not have seen the obverse) – as I said its like – umm – it’s the ending of a relationship – and there’s great anger – about the ending of this relationship – that should have lasted a lot longer – and it didn’t – there’s separation – she felt very betrayed by this – very, very angry – and its nobodies business but mine – its almost like – its almost like – as if the child was illegitimate – you understand that  - err – err – a secret which to her was very important – that’s what I am getting – let me put it this way – there’s a secret there – something there she’s talking about – she’s very very angry about – relationship come to an end – but also there’s death associated with this – a separation almost like death –like something’s come to an end almost like death – but its devastating for her – torn apart – torn apart -  its like the end – its very traumatic – I am not…….its almost like I’ve got this woman – and its nobodies business but mine – its almost like -  its almost like she’s almost in your aura and she’s saying no -  its nobodies business but mine – but I’ve got this – like a relationship – a long term relationship which ended – torn apart great betrayal – I’ve got this heat like someone -  like someone – very hot – what I’ve got here is like  a betrayal – like a betrayal – like something that really, really hurt – what I can say to you is that there is a betrayal – a very bad betrayal – its as I said I’ve got great heat with it –like a hot country – great heat  like a hot country – and  I’ve got – I can’t alter it – its like betrayal – a feeling of betrayal – and almost -  and as I said – I’ve got to say this again -  its almost like someone’s almost murdered someone – so devastating – its like a final end – a end of life almost – its like a ripping apart – you understand that – its very traumatic – its almost like with the child – the child is like is like it doesn’t belong – its like its illegitimate – I’ve got a feeling like the child does not belong to me – do you understand me – what I’m working on things like – err - ummm – I’m working on the emotions – err – I’m getting the emotions as though – yes, yes as I said -  its almost like a bastard child that does not want to be known – its pulled apart – that’s what I’ve got – and as I said its like a relationship that should have lasted a long time was terminated totally ripped to pieces - ripped apart – and a feeling like betrayal – almost like death – almost like somebody has tried to murder me – and its pulled me apart – do you understand? – immense betrayal – errr and a secret there – its still a secret and will remain a secret – you understand that? (Janet indicated that her knowledge of this was very sparse “I don’t know what happened – I don’t know what went on”). (PM) “ But also I’m not getting – and I’m getting a Jewish connection as well – (Janet confirmed this) I’m getting a Jewish connection – not only am I getting a Jewish connection but I’m also getting Sidon – Sidon – the place Sidon – Sidon – I believe its in Israel – I don’t know – all I know is that this woman I’ve got the Star of David –I’ve got Sidon – I’ve got a feeling of betrayal – tearing apart – she’s very, very angry about the ending of a relationship that should have been long term and wasn’t – a feeling of betrayal – almost, as I said, totally devastated – devastated – almost  like death – what I feel with this was – I don’t think – I think the past is the past and the pain is too painful – all I’ve got is -  I’ve got this barrier – I’ve got this barrier – and its like – if it were brought together I don’t know what would happen – but I can tell you that the pain is very real and very solid whatever happened there it is something which is devastating – as I said almost like somebody is bad - somebody is bad - somebody tried to kill them – almost like a murder – a separation – that’s what I got – I cannot alter it – I hope that helps you – I’m sorry – I wish I could be a bit more positive – I tell you what I’ve got something else I got a name it sounds like flowers – flowers – Violet – what I got with this was I got somebody saying flowers could be violets could be roses – flowers – I thought was that a name? – but I don’t know what I got – I got flowers from that……….. what I got with this – I got one of the old fashioned wrap around overalls.” (Janet) “She used to wear the old fashioned pinnies”) (PM) “Yes, that what I’ve got – one of the old fashioned pinnies – one of the old fashioned pinnies – yes, yes that’s what I feel – that’s what I feel – and I’ve also got he name Gloria – well all I can say to you – I’ve got the name Gloria and I’ve got the impression of this woman – but I’ve also got something which was devastating and I don’t think - it was like this woman felt really betrayed - something happened - somebody betrayed her – she never wanted to speak to those people again she was so disgusted – so alarmed – that she did not want to continue to even speak or see these people again – the past is confirmed the door is closed and that’s it.” (Malcolm to Janet, “that’s 1958 that picture”. (J) “Yes”. (M) “ And that’s a picture of your grandmother” (J) “ My grandmother and me”. (M) “And that’s you”. – Janet agreed). (PM) “The significance of this ring – as I said the ending of a relationship – I’m not going to alter this – I’m going to tell you exactly what I’ve got – which was – I got the ring like a relationship as though she was attracted to somebody – in the relationship – and there was a betrayal – a massive betrayal of this relationship – she should have been with this person but wasn’t.” (J) “ My grandfather was disabled in a traffic accident some years beforehand and it affected him mentally he could only speak a few words in the morning and that was it – she did all the work – she did everything – it was down to my grandmother.” (PM) “She had a marriage or relationship” – (J) “they were very much in love” (PM) “Yes, she had a marital relationship it was ended so bad - abruptly it was almost like half a person had been murdered ………. he’d been murdered………… he’d been murdered……had to cope…….this what I’m getting – I’ve got to come back to it – No, no what I’ve got with this is I’ve got this – as I said - the, the feeling of a marriage – a relationship that should have lasted a lot longer – obviously she was very happily married – and loved him very much – then this accident happened – and that destroyed her life – so that relationship instead of it having – err, err a wonderful…..” (J) “They had a second family after the accident” (PM) “Maybe this is where the illegitimacy comes in”(J) “Of course, if my mother was illegitimate……” (PM) “This is a secret”. (J) “Sometimes I look at my mother’s face and my face – and I’ve got another photograph – and I don’t look - my mother and myself don’t look………..” (PM) “Put it this way I am not going to build castles in the air – I told you what I got – what I got was ‘illegitimate’ like a ‘bastard’ and I don’t want to upset you but that’s what I got originally and that’s what I’m giving you……..what I’ve got there is this relationship with a ring was very, very important – that’s why I said to you ‘why am I getting a ring?’ An engagement a relationship – long term - it should have been long term but wasn’t – it was severed because of this illness…… she felt betrayed by all this and because of this the door closed on what she was doing - and she……..purely and simply because she was a woman who needed love she probably hadn’t it in the marital relationship and the children came from it ……………this feeling of death as I said to you – of death – she lost her first marriage – a total betrayal and to lose four children within  a year!! -  (Janet had just informed him of this fact) – 1930s 40s.”         (J) “It was before the war she lost her babies”. (PM) “That’s why I said to you I’m going back to the 1930s and you said no - 50s and I said ‘No – 1930s’ (I cannot find this on the recording but some areas are indistinct particularly when conversations are occurring and people are speaking over one another) – this is what she is talking about – there is a secret there and of course that’s why the secret was there because in those days of course, you did not talk about this sort of thing and also from your viewpoint ……certain things are best not said - so you know the old maxim, ‘Don’t ask the question if you really don’t want to know the answer? – so, I ‘m now going to close this because, as I said, I’m sorry if it is not what you wanted to hear I can only be practical and tell you what I’ve got.” (M) “That was pretty good – the time is now five past eight in the evening.”

 (PM to Tracey) “…….as far as that’s concerned you’ll be OK – but equally you mustn’t be too proactive – when you get defensive you get pushy – you have to back away a bit – you understand? – the point is you are a positive lady – you are very clever – and really you acquired some of the ideas you have – and you were so frustrated because every idea you had was taken from you – do you understand? – you are so frustrated but now – now you can actually start to develop that and bring it forward – and you are going to have success but – you’ll have to work for it – but then that’s part and parcel of working………..and with the written word – writing things down…….but once again I’ve got to tell you this - there’s a chance it will leave you again – I am being told this ……….if you want it – its your choice…….you’ve got to stop worrying about your daughter - she’s got to make her own mistakes – she’s got to make her own mistakes – you’ve got to back away a bit – its difficult – sorry but that’s what I am being told – there’s a lot more but I’m not going to say – its very personal – the reality was that I have only said this briefly…………..I have stepped back with that one – and there’s nothing seriously wrong with your health - you – its tiredness – you understand that? – and anxiety – at the moment – you are now finding you are starting to relax after a stressful period – you have had a very, very stressful time……….(some more personal details followed) – you understand?” (Tracey) “Uh hu mmm”. (PM) “ You are Ok - you are alright with it - I don’t know anything about you – I’m just telling you what they give me.” (T) “Is there any way you can tell who this lady is?” (PM) “Ummm – not at the moment – not at the moment – but she’s somebody who loves you very, very much – its almost like a mother figure – she loves you very, very much – really impressive, very small lady very intense – and she is around you perpetually and has been for some time – and in an emotional sense – really you are only vulnerable because you allow yourself to be – you always had a lot about you – you were always very confident – but basically you allowed one b…….. to crucify you – and I’ll tell you something else as well – she is showing a watch towards you – a little heart shaped watch – does that mean something to you?” (Someone to T) “You understand who it is?” (T) “ Yes, I’ve got it (that heart shaped watch), upstairs, yes………………”

Cat ‘n’ keyboard: I attempt to find potential EVP on a Dictaphone recording and amuse a Greenways resident cat. The sheer amount of psychic data that we are obtaining poses real problems of recording and analysis. Maybe, the cat has a better notion of how to approach things……….

(M) “The time is quarter to nine and apparently that was Tracey’s great nan and the heart shaped watch identified correctly”.

(At this point there was much discussion on what I can and what I cannot put on the Website. This highlights a very real issue in this kind of recording, due to the frequent revelations of material of a very personal nature which amounts to being excellent evidence for the existence of the paranormal, but equally can be too sensitive to actually record in this kind of narrative)

0.13. After the above interview we adjourned upstairs to the main bedroom – original medieval ‘Solar’ for the ‘Circle’. Here, we participated in musical chairs until we finally arranged ourselves in a true seated circle without a table and with the Dictaphones and lighting – red and blue - sited on the Axial Beam overhead and classical music playing softly in the background. We joined hands and even touched feet…

PM starts with the Lords Prayer…………we are sitting in virtual darkness and all facing a ‘trumpet’ sited on the floor marked with luminous paint at the top and middle. Apparently a ‘mist’ started to obstruct the top and made it hard for people to see it. I experienced this but am unsure of whether it was simply an optical illusion. Much entertainment is gained at my expense and Karl learned from spirit that I am about as psychic as a concrete wall and plank of wood…………..

It is difficult – even with a recording of the Circle playing on headphones – to convey what these sessions really are like. You sit in almost absolute darkness holding hands with the person on either side of you and listen as some of your companions apparently ‘see’ and ‘experience’ phenomena. However, as I am confident of the integrity of my companions, I can entertain no reasonable doubt as to the reality of their findings. Remember that a radio can only play one station at a time but this does not mean that there are not thousands of stations out there and ready to be heard if it is tuned in to their wavelengths. Same principle applies, it seems, in experiencing psychic phenomena and I have no reason to doubt this.

PM guides us on what we are and are likely to experience. A ‘dryness’ or ‘metallic taste’ in the mouth, ‘cobwebs’ across our faces, ‘tiny light phenomena,’ clouds of ectoplasm’ “How can you see ‘clouds’ in complete darkness? He asks as some of us agree that they can see such ‘ectoplasm clouds’ near the ‘Cabinet’. Good point. Apparently these actually possess ‘luminosity’.

PM can ‘see’ spirits as they attempt to form – “Welcome Friend” he often says as he invites them to “Come forward”. He mentions the name ‘Oliver Lodge’ and it seems that several deceased mediums are helping us tonight. To what end you ask? To the ultimate objective of visible spirit presence on camera – that elusive evidence of survival that evades the persevering researcher time and time again and affords the debunker endless enjoyment and confidence in his position.

”There is something building on my left”, says PM. Often he invites participants to put their hands into whatever ‘something’ is there and often they report feeling ‘resistance’, see tiny ‘lights’ and temperature changes. You point out that we have done these Circles several times at Greenways Farm and we have not got any ‘walking spirits’ on film yet – why not? The answer lies in the word I used earlier – perseverance. This is something that has to be built over a lengthy period. We have to develop our own abilities, just as the psychic world has to build contacts with us. It is as if we are building a link with a foreign country starting with a simple smile and taking it from there. Time and patience has its rewards and it is up to us to take it forward.

We start to witness phenomena as time passes: “There is a ball of orange light above,” says PM. “There is a cloud of blue energy” I can hear Tracey and Janet seeming to confirm his findings. Janet has been defined by PM as a ‘battery’ and she is becoming more and more successful in identifying and experiencing phenomena.  The same applies to Tracey, whilst Karl too is ‘sensitive’.

Lighting is critical – we are as yet a very small ‘Circle’ – I understand to be well below accepted numbers of up to a dozen or so – and even the tiny LEDs on the Dictaphones can adversely affect ‘energy levels’. Life and limb, in general, is put at risk by someone clambering up to the overhead Axial Beam and covering them over.

Joviality is a positive asset and a very happy atmosphere develops. It is remarkably pleasant sitting in the dark, in an ancient room, in good company for up to three hours at a stretch.

As witnesses, as well as in our role as active participants, we are given guidance on what to expect and what it is that we are to witness. This is a serious learning experience, because it is a very different format to the usual media promoted, ‘pub ghost hunt’ performed by so called paranormal investigators who produce, ‘ghostly phenomena’ on demand. No need to beware of hazardous flying spoons, bouncing books, or grim phantoms hurling stones at pretty blond presenters, no screaming girlies and trembling cameramen - for that is the stuff of TV entertainment and not reality.

(PM) “There is someone standing by the door behind Jan – a gentleman in Puritan dress and wearing black shoes with silver buckles, and there’s someone over by you Malcolm – there’s like an old fashioned telephone and its important and its important.” (M) “I shall remember that.” (PM) “Its something very important and very relevant to you – someone you have not heard from for a while – its like a pile of folders – papers and referring back to these – I am aware that there are clouds of energy – I am aware of someone walking about – there are tons of books………I can small ammonia Karl.”

Comment on these notes given to me by Karl: “Ammonia is a chemical element that spirit use and it is quite common in physical circles. Also the smell of Ozone has been picked up before but not mentioned. These references are very important, including things like people with tears in their eyes, yawning, a feeling like a weight on people’s shoulders, cold drafts. These are all physical phenomena and objective evidence.”

Every Circle has, as part of its preparation, the creation of a ‘Cabinet’ that consists of a convenient corner of the room being cordoned off with a sheet of black material. This apparently is vital for psychic phenomena to manifest. As the session progresses PM calls upon spirits to ‘come forward’ and then he guides participants to put their hands into the space that these spirits ‘occupy’, (Moving around the room would have been hazardous if the lighting had not been slightly raised). Positive reports ensued from those involved – Nick, Tracey and Janet.

Finally, to end the Circle Session for the evening, (past 1am, in this case), Patrick recites our thanks and appreciation to the psychic world and we actually applaud them!

Malcolm Dyer, 25th April 2008.