All mod con and no ghost
A family “evicted” from their council house by a ghost have been given a new home. At first, Grimsby’s housing committee decided that Mr and Mrs Ted Barmingham and their five children would have to live with the ghost or find a place of their own. But now the committee has decided that the Barminghams can move into a new council house next week.
The family left their house in Newton Grove, Grimsby, two months ago after the electric lights and gas taps were turned mysteriously on and off and clothes and furniture moved without explanation. They moved in with a married daughter.
After a top psychic expert confirmed the existence of the ghost – a “hideous old man in a white habit” – Mr Barmingham appealed to the housing committee. The chairman, Alderman Matthew Larmour said yesterday: “They are genuinely frightened. We often do allow moves on humane grounds.”
Said Mrs Joan Barmingham: “This is like being released from a nightmare. I would not go back even to move the furniture.”
Their old home – a 40 year old three bedroom house – was built on the site of an old burial ground.
The People, 1st October 1967.