Man in ‘ghost’ house alert.
By David Benjamin.
A senior Stourbridge based official of the National Spiritualist Church today warned a council house tenant not to hold a seance to try and contact ghosts he believes are inhabiting his home. The leading Midland official of the church issued the warning after 35-year-old Mr “Sailor” Bate said he wanted to hold a seance at his home. Mr Bate, who shares his council semi in Stoney Lane, Kidderminster with two lodgers, claims a spare bedroom is haunted.
“One night I suddenly heard what sounded like someone pushing a pram around the room, a slamming like the lid of a desk going up and down and two children laughing,” he said. “The room has not been slept in since but my tenants and I still hear the noises two or three times a week. I want to hold a seance to find out who the ghosts were and a bit more about them. They haven’t done me any harm and I certainly don’t mind them sharing the house.”
But Mr Eric Hatton, president of the Stourbridge National Spiritualist Church said: “It is very dangerous for anyone who is not an expert in psychic phenomena to hold a seance. If he ignores them, they will probably go away. If they remain, then really he should contact someone with experience such as us.”
Sandwell Evening Mail, 13th November 1986.
Ghost hunter told: ‘Don’t’.
A senior spiritualist today warned a Midland council house tenant not to hold a seance to try and contact ghosts he believes are haunting his home. The warning was issued by Mr Eric Hatton, president of Stourbridge’s National Spiritualist Church. Mr “Sailor” Bate, of Stoney Lane, Kidderminster, said he had heard someone pushing a pram round a bedroom, slamming of a school desk lid and children laughing.
Mr Bate, aged 35, said: “I don’t want to get rid of the ghosts but I want to hold a seance to find out who they were.”
Mr Hatton said: “It is very dangerous for anyone who is not an expert in psychic phenomena to hold a seance.”
Mr Geoff Craddock, housing manager, said: “I have not heard of this house being haunted from previous tenants.”
Birmingham Mail, 13th November 1986.