| Aim:
To investigate reported paranormal activity within the building, using
scientific and spiritual methods.
Background:
The building is virtually untouched and closer inspection can reveal
the remains of camouflage markings on the brickwork. Also the roof and
walls of the middle ‘wing’ shows repairs carried out following
bomb damage.
Internally the only difference is the addition of benches and seats that
have been put in the Officers lounge or anteroom. This is a Listed Building.
The mock-Georgian design was repeated over England; this made the job
of ‘settling in’ for Officers changing stations due to postings
easier as they knew the layout of their ‘home’.
The sightings -
Ghostly goings-on in the old building have been reported for many years.
Stories told by staff from years ago are still floating around, the haunting
footsteps, deathly chills and close encounters with a wandering airman.
Not to mention the comings and goings through locked doors that even the
great Houdini would struggle with! For tales of the unexplained are still
coming, from staff working there today. Maybe there’s some truth
in it, or maybe a few too many people have been working a few too many
late nights…
Man with the keys
When Eve Smith first started work here in 1980 she got such a fright that
it’s a wonder she still works here. It was the end of the day and
Eve was getting ready to go home, when the caretaker came along to lock
up. As they left the building and the last door was locked Eve renturned
to the caretaker and said, “Are you going to leave that man in there?”
The caretaker asked who she was talking about and Eve described the man
she saw through the window. The man was in a uniform and he was holding
a big bunch of keys on a large ring. The caretaker went back into the
building and checked every room, all the doors and windows were locked.
When the caretaker returned he turned to Eve and said, “I think
you’ve just seen a ghost.”
Still in uniform
A former employee who used to work in the office, which is now Sharon
Brown’s, once had a scare. She was working at her desk when the
door swung open to reveal an airman standing in the doorway in full uniform.
She was so alarmed by how real the image was, she described the uniform
down to the very last button, to her war veteran friend, who confirmed
it was indeed the uniform of a World War II RAF airman.
Ghostly reflection
One Saturday afternoon, Sid Hurst was working here alone, repairing a
server in the computer room. The glass door of the server had been removed
and was leaning against the wall. While Sid was working away he happened
to glance at the glass door and saw the reflection of the room. In the
reflection he saw a figure behind him leave the room via the open door.
When he checked the other room there was no one there and all the doors
were locked from the inside!
Trespasser from beyond?
Another morning Sid and a colleague were working away and they heard the
outside door open and close and then Rita King’s door open and close
– they thought nothing of this as they often hear Rita arrive to
work. They expected her to walk in to their office as she usually does
while she waits for her PC to start up. But she didn't. About 10 minutes
later the outside door opened and closed again and then Rita's. It was
Steve Hadley delivering the mail. Rita was not yet at work.
Speedy spirit
Whilst working alone in the computer room Sid looked into the entrance
hall and saw someone quickly dart into his office. He went to check who
it was but the door was locked, as he hadn’t yet opened that part
of the computer suite.
Sticky situation!
On Monday 6 October Pauline Allen and Maria Bradley were in the Post room
sorting the days post when Pauline needed the sticky tape. They both looked
at the empty desk in front of them and the shelf above it - that's all
that's in the room, but neither of them saw the sticky tape. Then Maria
remembered that Keith Hodges had borrowed it so Pauline went to his office
to see if he had still got it, but he couldn't find it on his desk either
so Pauline went and got a new reel from the stationery cupboard and returned
to the post room. After about two minutes from returning and continuing
to open the post all of a sudden both Pauline and Maria noticed the missing
reel of sticky tape on the desk directly in front of them. Both are adamant
it had not been there when they had looked and Maria hadn’t left
her place at the table. This completely spooked both of them. They have
since then been told that the post room is the most haunted room in the
old building and the cleaners are scared of going in there as they have
experienced a few goings on as well!
Engaged or vacant?
A member of staff who would like to remain anonymous was walking down
a corridor in the old building to use the toilet. She stopped to speak
to a colleague for a brief moment and as she turned to head down the corridor
again she saw, for just a split second someone disappear into the toilet.
There is only one toilet but she decided she’d go and wait anyway
but when she entered the room there was nobody there.
Moving objects
Late one afternoon when we’d all gone home, Eve Smith was dusting
the desk when suddenly a chill fell across her and she heard a sliding
noise. She looked down at the desk and watched in disbelief as a large
glass paperweight moved from one end of the desk to the other.
Time to leave
James Horton insists he doesn’t believe in ghosts. But a recent
visit from a contractor to fit the new curtains in the meeting room spooked
him slightly. On showing the visitor out of the building the man turned
to James and said that he was glad to be leaving as he could feel that
the building is full of lost souls. Whether it was because James believed
the man or because he thought the man was slightly mad, John was quick
to show him the door.
Voice from the past?
Frank Perks claims he has always treated any tales of ghouls and ghosties
with a pinch of salt (or garlic!) and, despite tales of ex-airmen haunting
the west wing of the building, he says he’s always felt entirely
comfortable working late in the building. Until recently.
Working late one night, Frank, Andrew Richards and Janet Smith were the
only people in the wing. Frank was walking down the corridor from his
office to Stan Millers office with Andrew and, as they passed Debbie Fullers'
office where Kelly Smart was working , both Andrew and Frank heard a deep
voice say "Hello". Andrew and Frank both turned to see who had
followed them up the corridor, but there was nobody there. Turning back
to Kelly's office, Frank asked Debbie if she had just said anything, thinking
that she may have been suffering from a sore throat. But no, Debbie hadn't
uttered a word.
Frank thinks if he had been alone he would have put it down to poor hearing,
but Andrew had heard it also - quite clearly.
Apparatus:
Cameras
Nikon Coolpix 3100
Fuji Finepix S9500
Kodak Easyshare cx7310
Sony DCSV1
Olympus Camedia C160
Fuji Finepix S550
Camcorder
Sony DCR- HC30E
Samsung VP-D351
Sony DCR-HC19
Sony Hi-8
EVP
Olympus DM-20 (x3)
Sony VOR tape
Digital Recorder
Cassette Recorder
Tomy Walkabout Digital Baby Monitors
Whisper 2000 Super Sensitive Sound Modulator
EMF
Spectral Electronics EMF Meter
Gauss EMF Meter
Spectral Electronics 2G EMF Meter
Gauss Master
ElectroSensor EMF Detector
Cellsensor EMF Meter
Trifield Natural EMF Meter
CCTV
IR Nightvision Wireless CCTV Cameras (x2)
Monitor / Receiver (x2)
Mini CCTV Colour Cameras + Receivers (x2)
VCR (x3)
DVD Recorder
Thermometer
Laser Thermometer Maplin 610C
IR Laser Thermometer Model 110CE (x2)
Environment Meter
Digital Probe Thermometer
Inside / Outside Digital Air temp. Thermometer
Hygro-Thermometer
Other
Data Logger EL-USB2 (x4)
IR Emitter Sony HVL-IRM (x2)
Binatone MR200 2-Way Radios (x4)
Binatone MR610 2-Way Radios (x2)
Metek Laser Measure
Timeguard Passive IR Motion Sensors (x3)
Active IR Beam Doorway Sensors
Cable Detector
Tripods
Torches
Tapes (VHS/DVD/Hi-8/MiniDV/Cassette)
Trigger Objects
Laptop
GCUK has previously investigated this site on the 17th June 2005 (see
Previous
Visit), and based on this previous experience we will be limiting
our investigation to certain areas of the building.
Co-Investigators:
Ghost Connections - Ian, Paddy, Kim, Dean, Sarah, Rick - Guests
- Rachel and Dave
Method:
Use of EVP, still photography and camcorder to record the evenings events
whilst calling for spirit in the hope of capturing evidence of paranormal
activity.
The Investigation:
Observations: To follow
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