Medium is called to haunted shop.
A medium this week gave a graphic description of an 82-year-old “ghost” said to be haunting a Camberley shop – and as she did so a watch and an electric clock stopped and the room went icy cold. A reporter was present when medium Mrs Vera Gammon conducted a psychic investigation at Mr Peter Elkins’ shop in London Road. Mr Elkins sought Mrs Gammon’s aid after a series of eerie happenings at the shop, where he sells and repairs garden tools.
Mowers were being moved, tools went missing and strange noises plague staff day and night. “We hear children upstairs and there are knocks on the window. The door buzzer sounds even though no one has come into the shop,” said Mr Elkins. “The other day a customer was suddenly pushed backwards. It felt just like a cool breeze.”
On Monday night Mrs Gammon and her husband Peter met Mr Elkins at the shop. A “News” reporter was also there. As Mrs Gammon spoke of a “presence” in the shop, the room went icy cold. “His name sounds like Castle and his christian name is Edward – Ted,” said Mrs Gammon, of Harrow Lane, Hartley Wintney. “He says he is 82 and that he died suddenly.” Mrs Gammon said that “Ted” – who she thought lived around 1911 – had a great affinity with children. Four lived next to the passageway at some time. “One of them died as a child but it has brought the others back as though they were children,” she said. She described “Ted” as about 5ft 4in tall, with a moustache and very thick grey hair. “He is a very helpful, loveable man,” she added. “This man knows he has been worrying you and he is trying to get you off the worrying vibration. By April, you won’t hear the noises again. He told me he is worried that these buildings around here may be pulled down. That is why he has come back.”
Later Mr Elkins discovered his watch had stopped for 35 minutes. And the electric clock in the shop was slow by 35 minutes.
Shop owner Peter Elkins, indicating the shears which moved mysteriously.
Aldershot News, 17th February 1978.
The friends who fell out…
The owner of a car repair firm stole £200 from another businessman after they fell out, Camberley Court was told. Graham Hall (31) of Pinewood Park, Cove, started out as friends with the man who shared his business premises in London Road, Camberley. But the two had disagreements. Hall stole the cash out of sheer spite, said his solicitor. After stealing the money, Hall returned it and apologised because he felt so ashamed, said Mr Peter Mather, defending.
In court Hall admitted stealing the money from Mr Peter Elkins on May 4. Magistrates heard that Mr Elkins occupied the ground floor of 225 London Road for his lawn mower repair business. Hall occupied the first floor as a base for his business, G.H. Auto Service. At the time of the offence they both shared the lease and paid all the running costs between them.
On May 5 Mr Elkins arrived at work to find that a cash box in his office had been opened and £200 taken. Hall later returned the money and was arrested. Mr Mather said life had become unbearable for Hall because he and Mr Elkins fell out and did not get on. “As the months went by, Hall’s business was prospering but his original intention of using the premises as a base were not working out. There was no exuse for the offence, it was a stupid and spiteful thingn to do. It was quite out of character and very sad,” he said. Hall was fined £150.
Aldershot News, 13th June 1978.