Comedy History Meals Visitor Information Tea Rooms
Many people spend their whole life without seeing a ghost, but when questioned most say they have felt something clinging on to them or perhaps have felt that something or someone was watching them. Many people over the last 16 years have joined my tour and some have said they felt disappointed at not seeing a ghost. But is that true, did they not see one or did they simply fail to be aware of one. This then begs the question what is a ghost? I my experience there are several things that we call ghosts, some people claim to have seen a ghost when they feel a cold wind on their neck or a chill runs up their spine, some feel that unless the ghost wears a tri-corn hat and carries a cutlass then it is not a real ghost. I would be fair to say that Ghosts and spirit people are around us at all times, we may not see them in the daylight because there are so many other distractions, but if you speak to a child often a lonely or bored child, they often claim to have what adults call "Imaginary Friends", who is to say that these friends are not spirit children, for just as we are un able to see or hear them the unquestioning gaze of a child may not be so easily swayed. I have come across many children that have had contact with spirit children, they are normal well adjusted children from good homes and all of whom claim to have talked at length to a spirit child, or at least to an imaginary friend. I know that my sister when she was about 14 years old, came with My Father and I on a trip to a place called Sanford Orchus in Somerset. The house was a Jacobean manor house, and claimed to be haunted, my sister refused to enter the house, not because it was haunted but she had a very unhappy feeling when she entered. She requested to wait in the car whilst we continued our journey. When we eventually returned to the car park, my sister was standing by the stable block, she appeared to be taking to an empty space. When I asked her who she was talking to she said "Just the chap who looks after the horses", I could see no one or any animal in the stable, so I said as much when she looked again she confirmed as much, but was dumbstruck as to whom she had been talking to. During our tour of the house the owner had described the events of a horrible fire which ripped through the stable block some 7 years previously and that a young man had been burned to death, trying to save the horse. He was described exactly as my sister had described the lad she was speaking to for over 40 minutes. Had she seen a ghost?
I got involved in
this field mainly due to the fact that I also saw a ghost, although like my
sister I did not take it for one as such at the time. I was sent away to public
school (Which if you are not from England you may not know but it is not for the
public) When my Mother said on the first day she would see me later I though she
meant later that day not many years later. By the time I got to the age of 13 I
was pretty good or bad at running away from school, I even got quite fit in the
process. On one particular occasion I decided to run away with my best friend of
the time Miles Parker, Miles was my age and was also being bullied by not only
the boys in his class but it felt like the whole world was against us. To this
day I despise bullies especially those who deny they are doing anything wrong,
and I rejoice on occasion when I hear that a bully has received his comeuppance.
However, I digress, I had agreed to meet Miles at the bike sheds around the back
of the playing field, to make our escape under cover of darkness, the plan was
we run along the lanes toward Maidstone and then hitch toward London. The route
we used to run during our games lessons and sports days. I said we should meet
at 9.30pm after lights-out and when the prefects had finished their checks. I
waited patiently for Miles from 9.30 until about 11.30, feeling very cold and
pretty angry that he had not shown up, I rather reluctantly went back to the
dorm for some warmth and some sleep, I was not going to risk getting caught out
side on my own again. As I got into my bunk, I checked up top to see if Miles
was in bed already, he was not, so began to wonder where he had got to. I
drifted off to sleep and was awoken at 1.30 am by Miles. He shook me awake and
said, "sorry I'm late but we must go now!"
I was very angry that he had let me down and I told him so, plus I said "If we
leave now we are sure to be caught going over the fence, you will make better
time without me slowing you up. Send me a post card from Disney World" The
assumption had always been that if we ever got to meet our parents they were
bound to reward us with a trip to somewhere decent. Satisfied that he was
alright, I turned over and went back to sleep. The next morning on the way to
breakfast I was called in to the headmaster's study - in our school that usually
meant that either you were going to be beaten, or some bad news was coming.
Either way I was very nervous about what he wanted.
"When was the
last time you spoke to Miles Parker?" He asked
"Last night, Sir!" I replied truthfully
"What were you arguing about?" he asked
"I was not arguing with him Sir!"
"Then why did your conversation wake the other boys in the Dorm?"
"I do not know Sir, we were only whispering, it was nothing important!"
"What time did you speak with him?"
"I am not sure, I think it was around 1.30am!"
"Are you sure about the time?"
"Roughly, I looked at my digital watch, Sir?"
"Miles Parker is Dead, he was killed last night, crossing the base of Linton
Hill just south of Maidstone and he died at exactly 1.30 am!"
"Are you sure Sir?"
"I have had officers from Kent Police here this morning asking me to identify
his body."
As soon as I was able I called Mile's Parents who confirmed that he had been struck by a truck descending the steep Linton Hill, and the truck failed to see his dark figure crossing at the bottom. The driver stopped and tried to revive him, but it was too late, my best friend had gone and I was to be alone.
It was because of the abruptness of the event and the feeling of immense loss that I never stopped believing in Miles and so started in the field I now find myself. The strange thing is that following the funeral I asked his mother if she had felt anything on the night her son had been killed and she said that a similar apparition of Miles had appeared at her bedside on the same night at the same time I saw him.
Since then I have read many books on ghosts and have in my time experienced some very strange things, most of which science fails to explain including some experimentation with something called Jahar's Pendulum - telekinetic trials. The other thing I have found is that ghosts like so many other things in this world and the next, do not like their own reflection. If you ever find yourself in a house which you believe to be haunted, take a hand full of small mirrors and hand them on a few doors, open those doors, turn all the light's out and then slam the front door, wait for no more that seven minutes and you should hear all the other doors slam closed. You could stay inside but most people evacuate their bowels when this happens.
I have also mucked about with Ouija boards, but would only use them in extreme circumstances and with proper guidance, in the USA some people see them as a game and true enough you can buy them in children's toy shops, but if you are thinking about using them in the UK just remember we can trace our history back over 3800 years, so when you make contact with the other side they may not speak English and they will probably be a bit angry. Many people I meet ask about the risks and how to minimise them. The best way is simply not to try it, but if you feel you must I may suggest saying a blessing prayer prior to using one and a closing prayer after using one. This should minimise the risks. The Danger is a possibility of Demonic possession, and of attracting an unwanted spirit into your house, once there they are notoriously difficult to rid, sometimes even exorcism does not work. Many people cause problems for themselves, by running from the board when it gets to the point when the people round the table find it difficult to either read the messages or when it starts to get a bit hairy. This will basically give you an open portal to the other side. A case in fact during an investigation into poltergeist activity which I undertook some weeks ago where some students had decided unwisely to make a Ouija board following a trip down the pub. The result was that one of the students nearly died and the rest were flung from their beds with such force that they all needed hospital treatment. Join the Canterbury tour to find out the rest of the facts.
It is also fair to say that not all visitors to Canterbury are looking to join a ghost tour and as such I have always been willing to help them too. I have therefore been working on a Comedy tour, similar to the ghost tour but without any ghost just a stand-up walk round tour of the city with lots of one-liners delivered in a witty and charming manor by me your host. Maybe it's your birthday coming up and you fancy something just a little bit different or unusual, then its time for you to pick-up the phone and call me. Who knows what we can do to make your especial day a bit more special.
Some school
groups attending in the day time would like a history tour, or at least their
teachers would like one, and so I have also written and currently produce a
Historical Hysterical tour, like a cross between Terry Dreary's Horrible
Histories and Monty Python. Having lived and working in this city for
over 20 years I reckon I know a thing or two about Canterbury. If this appeals
to you and you have a group of 15+ any age give me a call and find out how I
can help you.
A
Medieval Wealden house with it aged timbers and noted ghosts is the number one
location .
All Inclusive prices start from £30 per person
A 3 course meal prior to which a private ghost tour is conducted, and after
which a tales of haunting take place by a roaring fire, with a glass of your
favourite spirit to calm your nerves. Located near the heart of the mediaeval
city and within walking distance of the Coach park and city centre parking, the
pub below offers an excellent selection of real ales and fine wines, to warm you
following the cold tour of darkened Canterbury.
Your schedule:
Meet at ALBERRY'S
Wine Bar 7:30 for pre tour spirits
Depart at 8pm Sharp
Arrive at Venue 9:15 pm for aperitifs
Dine at 9:30 pm
Ghost Stories by the fire following your meal
Carriages at Midnight
Sample menu
Carrot &
Coriander Soup
Prawn & Avocado Cocktail
Asparagus, Bacon & Parmesan Salad
Baked Sea bass with Thyme and Ginger
Vegetable Wellington
Traditional English Cottage pie
(all served with Seasonal vegetables and potatoes)
Chocolate fudge brownies (served with Vanilla Ice Cream)
Crème Caramel with a winter fruit compote
(Drinks and coffee are not included)
Ever felt like dining in a Restaurant where you were sure there were more than just your close friends attending, but could not see them. Over the last few years we have been working with a number of establishments to achieve a very high standard of dining for a very reasonable price. The haunted meal venue is designed to allow guests to participate in one-on-one ghost hunting, séances and paranormal activities. To find out a bit more call me and let us make your evening a bit more special. Ideal for team building or corporate entertainment - all can be tailored to your needs - price, location, activities.
Tourist Information Centre Canterbury
Just above the Information Centre there is a coffee shop called Ferns Coffee Shop and tea rooms, run by a friend of mine Michael Woodcock. Here you can find good food reasonably priced and a very nice cream tea!
You could also try Tiny Tim's Tea Room
in St Margaret's Street, close to where we meet for the tour. A very haunted place but nice warm and friendly on a cold afternoon.
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