Haunting Fear.
Mother pleads: exorcise this black spectre.
A young Portsmouth mum is appealing for ghostbusters to rid her of the spectre which she believes is haunting her flat. Miss Lorraine Maltby (21), claims her ghost, named Matthew, roams around her flat, plays with her daughter’s toys – and even got into bed with her. Miss Maltby is appealing for help after two priests and a medium failed to exorcise Matthew from the flat.
She said she first noticed there was something odd about her council flat at Droxford House, Alexandra Road, Buckland, when she moved in last November. “At first there was just a bit of knocking and a faint shadow would appear sometimes at the top of the stairs,” she said. “Matthew’s presence has been getting worse over the last three weeks. He seems to be getting stronger and braver.”
Miss Maltby said Matthew has tried to wake her one-year-old daughter Holly, plays with her toys and makes loud noises on the fourth step of the staircase. She said the only time she has actually seen Matthew is when he climbed into her bed. “He is aged 50 to 55, is black, and has greying hair,” she said. “He didn’t touch me, he just held out his arm.”
Miss Maltby has tried to have the spirit exorcised and has called in pastors from Elim Church and St Faith’s, but so far all efforts have failed. Said pastor of Elim Church, Arundel Street, Mr Stephen Potter: “All we did was go to the house to pray. We wouldn’t waste our time if we didn’t think she was genuine.” Medium Mr Tony Ashenden, has also visited the flat and believes the spirit’s name is Matthew and he is using Miss Maltby’s psychic potential. “She is consciously frightened of it, but subconsciously encouraging him,” he said. “Adults are frightened of these phenomena because of education . If she wants to get rid of it she has to shut down her mind to it,” said Mr Ashenden, of Stubbington Avenue, North End.
A warden who has visited the flat also claims to have witnessed inexplicable events. Said Mr Nigel Ede, of Darwin House, Australia Close: “I heard the organ play but when I turned round it was not plugged in and there were no batteries. I couldn’t explain it and I won’t set foot in that flat again.” His colleague Mr John Gaskell, of Dale Park House, said: “All I heard were three notes. They could have come from anywhere. I have been on to the council about this, but she doesn’t want to move.”
Miss Maltby is adamant that she is staying because she has friends and family nearby, and doesn’t like the thought of the council resettling her outside Portsmouth. “I want to stay. I have just finished decorating and my family and friends are at hand,” she said.
Portsmouth Evening News, 10th March 1988.
Ghostbusters Jinxed.
TV exorcism is hit by mystery breakdowns.
Report by Dave Williams.
A London camera crew sent to exorcise a Portsmouth ghost “live” on TV yesterday almost failed to get there – because a mystery jinx struck four times in a row. The crew – from trendy “Network 7” on Channel Four – had to reschedule transport plans to rush the presenter and camera gear to Portsmouth when car after car inexplicably broke down. Unit Manager Nick Badham (25) explained: “It was eerie. It was as though someone just didn’t want us to get there.” Presenter Richard Brecker (25), a former Portsmouth journalist, said: “The whole thing has been very strange.”
The jinx struck after “Network 7” contacted Portsmouth mother Lorraine Maltby (22), who for months has been plagued by a spectre she says is haunting her flat at Alexandra Road, Buckland. The ghost – a black, grey-haired man called Matthew – made Lorraine’s life a misery after she moved into the flat last November. According to Lorraine, Matthew often played with her two-year-old daughter’s toys, appearing in a misty grey form, and sending chills through the flat. On one occasion he even climbed into bed with her. But Lorraine insists she wants to remain in the flat.
“Network 7” wanted to carry out the first “live” exorcism of a ghost, with the help of former Portsmouth man, the Rev. Jack Dover-Wellman (70). He is widely accepted as an effective exorcist of spirits – with a string of successful “operations,” as well as two paperback books to his name. But as Nick (25) attempted to round up the crew for the programme, which went out live yesterday morning, the jinx began to strike. “For some reason the main unit manager’s own car developed an electrical fault, and had to be abandoned. Then my own car broke down – again with an electrical fault. By this time I was wondering if I would get to Portsmouth – I borrowed my mother’s car – and that broke down without any warning too.”
The final straw came when a last minute plea to his brother secured the loan of a Ford Granada – which eventually limped into Portsmouth after developing engine trouble.
While all around insisted “something strange” occurred during the six minute broadcast from the flat at Droxford House, only Mr Dover-Wellman remained unmoved. As he packed away his holy water, cross, and bowl after the ceremony of exorcism, in which he laid his hands on Lorraine’s head, he claimed: “We have asked God to bless her home. Lorraine will feel much more at peace now. But if she has any more occurrences, she can contact me.” Said Lorraine: “I do feel more relaxed. I spent an hour yesterday talking to the vicar, and he has helped me. He has told me how to protect myself if anything happens again.”
Mr Dover-Wellman was born at Elm Grove, Southsea, and later became a Sunday School teacher in the city while living at Laburnum Grove, North End. He was an Admiralty officer at Haslar, carrying out “experimental works.” He is now vicar of Emmanuel Church, Hampstead. He said that although he had not sensed the spirit in the flat, Lorraine had a “psychic personality.” For Mr Dover-Wellman, the ceremony was routine. On another occasion he was badly frightened when he was attacked by devils. Subjects have sometimes yelled obscenities, and sweated profusely.
After the show, presenter Richard Brecker said that despite the jinx, he believed he and the vicar may have been “drawn” to Portsmouth for the exorcism. “Something strange happened during the exorcism. It was eerie, but very, very peaceful.”
Portsmouth Evening News, 19th September 1988.
Haunting Moments Plague Residents.
Boy sees faces in bathroom.
By Helen Blow.
The ghosts are back at Buckland. Seventeen months after the exorcism of a flat at Droxford House, Alexandra Road, following a series of ghostly apparitions, the spirits have returned. Three year old Alexander Emm tells his mother he can see faces in the bathroom and the mobile in his room moves on its own, without a trace of a breeze. Mum Cheryl (27) is getting a little nervous. Sometimes when she is downstairs in the living room she hears someone walking about upstairs, but she knows no one else is in the flat. Other unexplained mysteries have set her wondering. The stereo door continuously clicks and her fridge-freezer has been turned off at the mains twice, but young Alex cannot reach the plug.
Next door neighbour Sylvia Rose fares little better. Sometimes when she is sitting on her own she feels someone – or something – tugging at her jumper. One day recently her granddaughter Michelle told her she had seen an old man at the bathroom sink. “She said his leg was in plaster, he was walking with a stick and had large protruding red eyes,” she said.
The stories are all too familiar. In 1988, resident Lorraine Maltby told of a spectre called Matthew appearing in a misty grey form and sending chills through the flat. Miss Maltby called in the Reverend Jack Dover-Wellman to bless the flat and exorcise the spirit and it seemed to have worked. But now the spirits have returned.
Mrs Emm contacted her vicar to ask what to do, and he advised her to pray in the room where she thought the problems were. “But things are happening all over the flat, and they do not happen all the time, just every so often,” she said. The two women do not know what to do next and are getting more than frightened of the ghostly goings-on. “If anyone can help us or tell us what to do to make these things stop happening, we would like to know,” Mrs Emm said.
Portsmouth Evening News, 19th February 1990.
Cheryl renews her spirited fight.
A petrified mother has called in a “ghostbuster” in a bid to put an end to things that go bump in the night at Buckland. Cheryl Emm called the exorcist to her Droxfield House flat after a series of unexplained and spooky happenings which frightened her and her toddler son. And the medium – who asked not to be identified, revealed startling facts about the ghost who invaded the second-floor flat at Alexandra Road.
Mrs Emm (27) said: “He was called Mullen and his initial was J and he used to live in a house which was demolished to make way for these flats. The medium told me the ghost was about 50 and as he got older he became obsessed with his possessions. The medium gave me a lamp which I use to burn herbs, and he has been here three times so far. He said the ghost was not harmful, but he could draw on emotional stress and become violent. I am feeling better already, there is less of a tense atmosphere, and I am really grateful to the medium who was the only person to help me when I really needed it, and he has not charged me at all.”
Three-year-old Alex Emm has told his mother he can see faces in the bathroom, while the mobile on the ceiling of his room moves of its own accord. Alex is too small to reach the fridge freezer plug, yet it has been turned off at the mains twice, and the stereo door clicks continuously. Mrs Emm continued: “At first I was petrified, but since the medium started coming I feel a bit sorry for the old ghost, who I have nicknamed George. I have only lived here for a year, but I met the previous occupant who said she had seen an old gentleman in the bathroom wearing a grey suit, so I am not the only one. I am still frightened, but I am more hopeful now the medium is coming to see us regularly.”
In 1988 Droxford House resident Lorraine Maltby told of a spectre called Matthew who haunted her flat and a vicar was called in to exorcise it. The flats were built in 1957 after the terraced houses in Alexandra Road had been demolished.
Portsmouth Evening News, 26th February 1990.