Office workers say their premises are haunted.
Pickpocket prankster Jack takes keys off desks.
By Sarah Holmes.
Unexplained happenings in a Leighton office have left staff baffled and at times scared over the past year. Amanda Gainsborough and Duncan Komenda of Adecco Recruiting Agency in Peacock Mews say they have daily encounters with a mischievous spirit believed to be a small boy. The building they occupy could be centuries old and still retains its low ceiling and black beams. It was previously the stable block belonging to the former Peacock Inn, which is believed to be the second oldest building in Leighton Buzzard and dating from the 15th century.
The spooky encounters started soon after the company moved into the premises. On one occasion Mr Komenda was sitting at his desk when a small yellow stone was thrown onto it. He says there was nobody else about and no explanation as to where the stone could have appeared from.
Every evening the staff routinely turn off their computers as a fire precaution. One morning when they arrived at the office one of the computers was on and they had no explanation for this either. Duncan called in the ghost busters, or at least a medium from Newton Longville. She told them that Adecco’s “little tinker” guest was a boy called Jack, who had lived during the 17th century. There were also two other ghosts, she claimed – Reg, who is a 17th century technophobe – he’s the one who messes with the computers because he does not like them – and a girl called Felicity who also dates back to the 1600s.
‘Jack’ was almost certainly a pick-pocket in his day, and visitors’ keys often go missing. A sales manager’s keys vanished from where she had put them during a recent visit. Everyone hunted high and low for the keys until eventually Duncan asked ‘Jack’ if they could be returned and sure enough they were.
Duncan, of The Maltings, Leighton, and Amanda, of Ashwell Street, have come to terms with their office inhabitants over the past year. But Amanda says that the spookiest place in the office is the stationery cupboard. It stands where an old alley once ran the length of the mews. Amanda described it as very cold and Duncan claimed he was grabbed by the throat on one occasion. He found himself asking whatever, or whoever, it was to let go and thankfully it did.
Amanda and Duncan fear ridicule for admitting to mysterious encounters, but would be interested to hear from any of the neighbouring businesses whether they have ‘residents’ as well. Duncan said: “I’m not frightened any more. We have learnt to accept them, and give them some respect. I always say good morning.” The work colleagues say they have also experienced light flashes across the office and heard harp music. There have been other witnesses to the ghostly goings-on and a sighting of ‘Jack’ lurking behind a pillar in the office.
Duncan added: “I am itching to spend the night here just to see what goes on – but not on my own. I would like groups or anyone with an interest in the subject to give me a call: we’ll set up a video camera and wait to see what happens.”
Leighton Buzzard Observer, 2nd November 2004.