Welcome to the fiftieth edition of the Borley Ghost Society Newsletter.
Sincere thanks to all those who have made the endeavor possible!
If anyone is viewing these pages who is NOT an offical associate of the Society, please consider that the legitimate associates have paid a fee for the privilege. We look forward to having you as an offical member. Once again, all proceeds from the BGS above cost will be donated to the Borley Church Preservation Fund. Current associates are encouraged to contribute generously.

O'Neil, Vincent. "Letters." The Paranomral Review. Issue 23, July 2002. pp. 30-31. Review of Jack Hastie article "The Haunting of Borley Village" in the Review January 2002. ("Hastie very carefully constructed his essay to include both sides. . . . he is one of the few to discuss the rebuttal by Robert Hastings in 1969. . .") ** Complete text

Just thought you might find this interesting. I was looking through old memorabelia from my family's past and came across a newspaper clipping (well, a whole page) of the story of the Lord's Prayer. Nice, ok. But, on the other side is an article, copywrite belonging to American Weekly, with the headline "England's Most Haunted House Commits Suicide". It's a full page article (plus it continues on to another page, not included in my collection of odds and ends) with pictures and captions, etc. Quite dramatic, of course :-) Unfortunately, it has tears and is held together with what looks like opaque cellophane tape. I can, however, read through most of the tape. If you're interested, I can re-type the article for you and send it on. The original is not in the best condition. . . . I've been reading about Borley rectory ever since I was a child and it still fascinates me to this day.
Thanks for the great website, by the way? I've been lurking there for years now :-)
Heidi Strandt
[Thank you for all your hard work making this very important contribution! It will be interesting to see if a complete copy of the article can be found - associates?]
"England's Most Haunted House Commits Suicide." American Weekly, 1939. pp. 5, 19. (Very stylized article written after the fire, using some pseudonymns, some actual names. Author not credited, but might be Harry Price, as the names are similar to the ones he used in Comnfessions of a Ghost-Hunter in 1936.) Partial text contributed by Heidi Strandt

Guiley, Rosemary Ellen. Encyclopedia of the Strange, Mystical, and Unexplained. New York: Gramercy, 2001. p. 254. Originally published as Harper's Encyclopedia of the Strange, Mystical, and Unexplained. San Francisco, 1991. (Portion of one paragraph dealing with "Ghost Investigations." In discussing Price very briefly, the author writes, "English psychical researcher Harry Price was among the first to use modern technology in his ghost investigations. His most celebrated case was Borley Rectory, which he investigated between 1929 and 1938. . . . .Price believed a poltergeist was present, but his findings were controversial and allegations of fraud were made after his death in 1948. The case remains unsolved.) **

I thought you'd like to know about an article that my wife found in Chat magazine (a few months old). Amongst other things the article contains the top 10 "spookiest spots in Britain". Guess what's No.1!! That's right Borley Rectory. I'll write the Borley excerpt verbatim: "Borley Rectory, Essex, claims to be the most haunted building in England. The spirits of nuns,coachmen,even a no-good Catholic priest, are said to have contributed to the unexplained goings-on -- including ringing bells, screaming and writing on the walls".
The fact that they give the impression that the rectory still exists is worrying enough. The fact that they their headline reads "If your idea of fun is being scared senseless then here's where you should be hanging out...." shows that they write with little if any research and with absolutely no regard for the residents of the village. I only hope, as I know you will, that this particular piece of "journalism" did not cause any disruption to the locals. . . . I sent an E-mail to the editor of the magazine giving them my opinion. I will of course let you know of any response.
I saw that article as potentially a huge backward step in attaining peace and quiet for the villagers of Borley. Unfortunately the casual day tripper or thrill-seeking amateur ghosthunter doesn't seem to have the same respect for the village and its occupants as we as members of the Borley Ghost Society have. Sadly, this results in all being "tarred with the same brush." So [we] can be made to feel just as unwelcome as those who would run around the graveyard at night draped in a sheet and making "ghostly" noises. Oh for a world when we could flash our BGS cards and they'd say, "Thank you, sir. That'll do nicely," and we could reply, "I never leave home without it!"
Keep up the good work, kind regards,
Pete Hodkinson
Dear Editor,
I'm writing to you regarding an article you published in your very very best of 2001 edition, entitled the 10 spookiest spots in Britain, which suggests that "If your idea of fun is being scared senseless then here's where you should be hanging out...."
According to your article the No.1 spot is Borley Rectory in Essex which apparently claims to be most haunted building in England.
Does the journalist responsible for this piece realise that the Rectory was razed to the ground in 1939 and never rebuilt and that Borley is a tiny rural village who's inhabitants are fed up with having their peace disrupted by so-called ghosthunters who have often turned out to be nothing more than drunken vandals who cause damage to church property and disturb the locals.
I'm sure that your magazine has no intention of upsetting people, either the residents of Borley or the readers who may end up on a wild goose chase to look at a building that has not existed for over 60 years.
It's a free country I know and if people are hell-bent on going to look at nothing in Borley then of course they have the right to do so, but there is a great deal of difference between people flocking to a "haunted" pub or hotel (naturally the owners are only too pleased of the publicity not to mention the money) and turning up en masse to look at something which isn't there.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and obviously I would be delighted to read any response you may wish to make.
Kind regards,
Pete Hodkinson.
P.S. Just for the record I am not a resident of Borley and don't know anyone that is.
P.P.S. If you'd like any information there's an interesting website at www.borleyrectory.com
[Thank you VERY much for your e-response to them!! Response from Vincent O'Neil]

David Howard in the August 1989 issue of Book and Magazine Collector (UK.) pointed to a book that MAY have a Borley reference. Is any associate familair with it?
Today, first editions of "The Beautiful Visit" in dust-wrappers are hard to find. Miss Elizabeth Jane Howard [collaborated with] Robert Aickman. . . .on her second work, "We Are For The Dark" (1951). This book was an unlikely departure, as it featured six ghost stories, all imaginatively conceived with moments of real heart-quickening suspense. The inspiration behind the stories was undoubtedly Aickman's, as his knowledge of the paranormal is extensive and his involvement in psychic research, especially at the famous Borley Rectory, is well-known. But the prose style is certainly that of Miss Elizabeth Jane Howard, though it could be said that the confines of the short story rather cramp the elegant prose of her novels. Despite this, the stories are masterfully told, and today "We Are For The Dark" is a much sought-after title, not only by collectors of Miss Elizabeth Jane Howard's work but also by ghost story enthusiasts as well.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign explains: The three stories by Robert Aickman were: "The Insufficient Answer", "The Trains", and "The View". The three stories by Elizabeth Jane Howard were: "Left Luggage", "Perfect Love", and "Three Miles Up".

Many thanks for the continued supply of newsletters, which interest me very much. I do hope Ted Babbs is not having any unforeseen difficulty over the book Final Analysis. We must give him our support as far as we can. Somebody has put my name on an Internet web site. . . I was never consulted. If Harry Brown can find a copy of the British Who Was Who with an entry for Trevor Hall, he will see [Hall] claims quite clearly to have the Cambridge M.A. I believe "in abstensia" simply means he did not attend the offical ceremony at the University for the conferment of degrees. It is very unusual for any graduate to absent himself without very good reason. The Locked Book stolen by Hall from the Harry Price Library was sold to an American for £1,200. . . . a relatively small amount. We must always remember that Hall was a vicious bully who would stop at nothing to get his own way.
As ever,
Alan Wesencraft

Hello! I find your site on the famous Borley Rectory quite fascinating. I have a long held interest in psychic phenomena, so of course BR has sprung up on my radar many times. Since you are probably the most knowledgeable individual Borley Rectory around today, I thought I'd ask some long unanswered questions in the hopes you will be able to answer them at last.
Firstly, in one of Harry Price's books called "Poltergeists" he makes mention of "strange insects" or some such that appeared at the Rectory. He does not go into detail which is disappointing since I'd like to know more about this tantalizing tidbit. Do you indeed know more about this or is this reference just as cryptic to you?
Secondly, on your page you mention several ghost movies that may have based specific incidents in the film on accounts of the BR haunting. Do you know which films based what scene or scenes on these specific incidents? It would be very interesting
Lastly, I'd like to respond to something. I'm not sure if you wholeheartedly embrace the "if someone wants to see something bad enough, they will see it" theory but I find it rather clunky and its use by many skeptics to dismiss everything related to the paranormal annoying myself. Billions of people on the planet desire many things, so why is it this theory only works on those who want to see ghosts? Some people desire money so bad that they will kill for it, so why no reports of people seeing phantom money? Where are all the phantom Mercedes? How come when I desire food when I'm really hungry a Big Mac never appears out of thin air and then disappears when I go to grab it? Not to mention the countless people (yourself and myself included!) who do desire to see a ghost or ghosts and never have? Why doesn't the man who always wanted to own the Mona Lisa never look up and for a few seconds see it hanging on his wall? And how can it explain two people seeing the exact same thing at the exact time? Or one person describing an apparition and another describing the same thing without any knowledge that ghosts are in the area? So you see, I have a real problem with it as it seems rather spotty at best and is more often used only on those who saw what others don't want to believe exist. I also heard however, that many skeptics have seen ghosts or something unusual but refuse to do anything but try and rationalize it. Maybe it's just me, but I'm convinced that a house settling, some faulty wiring, and loose doors can really only manufacture so much misinterpreted phenomena, you know? When this thinking is applied to say, a house that has documented hauntings of a vast variety and a compliment of many different witness from different backgrounds over a period of fifty years or more it starts to strain a bit.
What do you think? Do I have some valid points? Thank your for the time and I really look forward to your response to my opinion of the "seeing what you want to see" theories and your answers to my queries.
Thank you.
Fred Zanfardino
[Harry Price goes into more detail about the "insect" on pages 134-35 of The Most Haunted House in England. A drawing is included, and the following description by Mrs. Margaret Wilson: ". . . quite three inches in length, the body entirely black and composed of sections enabling it to bend and expand with ease. Its eyes were large and the colour of bloomy black grapes. The object was flattish." No entomologist he asked could declare anything other than it was like "no other on earth." It was not seen again. As for the movies, I have not yet been able to see An Urban Ghost Story, Living Spirit Pictures, 1997. Nor have I seen Spotlight on Spooks, Rayant Pictures, 1951. "Spotlight" is as short feature film that includes a report of James Turner hearing lame footsteps of Lionel at Borley Church August 2, 1947. The Haunting does not mention Borley specifically, but does have wall writings, a cold spot, and a psychic investigator who recruits observers and leases the place for a time, as Harry Price did with Borley. You absolutely have some valid points in your critique, and I would invite you to join the debate as an associate of the Borley Ghost Society! You are also encouraged to use the forums inside the Interactive Center.]

While I was searching the Internet for Borley's phantom coaches I found Mr. Jarvis' web site. I gather he's a Borley local who has an interest in Borley.
Scott Cunningham
[I cannot support his recording methods - "We used to feed microphones through a tiny broken window at the back of the church but that has now been repaired. We have now found a great way of listening in and recording the inside of the church while it remains locked up. It involves taping a tiny matchstick microphone to a very thin metal rod and carefuly pushing this though a tiny crack in the chancel door, the mic is then inside the church very close to the altar...."]

I visited borley last year not believing a thing I heard, but something happened which to this day I cannot forget. An old man I presumed was the vicar of the church walked up the road towards the church, stood on the other side of the road sataring at the church. He was clutching an old black bible with a gold cross on the front to his chest. He wore the oldest dirtiest tattiest clothes I have ever seen. They were torn and at the time presumed he had been gardening or something. He had a monks hair cut (bald in the middle). He took no notice of us. Then two locals come out of thier homes and stopped near him and started to talk to each other. They ignored him and him them as if they couldn't see him. We turned to walk away and I took one last glance back at him and he had dissapeared. We ran straight back but could not see where he could have gone. Later my 10 year old asked "who was that old man with the bible and why were his clothes all burnt?"
Was this a real person or a ghost? Can you please tell me as I can't stop thinking about it. Also there was a blue plastic angel on a grave round the back. My 10 year old picked it up to look at it, but it fell from her hand and ended up in the exact spot exactly the same position as it was originally. She says she didn't drop it, it flew off her hand. Again any explanations?
This chap I saw was not dressed a a monk but he was bald on top with hair around the sides and back. To answer your question I knew nothing about Borley. I took my son and his wife to a shop near there and they asked if we could just pop there as we were not far away. I knew nothing about it before then but I left that day feeling quite shook up. I have not been back since. Could this have been the real vicar of the church at the present time? Does he fit my description? If he is I wonder why the locals don't seem to acknowledge him or he them? If you are able to find out that answer I would be most grateful.
Beverley Burton
[Thank you for your interest. As I was not with you at the time, it would be impossible for me to render any explanation of either event. Have you viewed the pictures of the current vicar, Capt. Sampson? Have you viewed the pictures of the former rector Harry Bull? Neither has the hair style you indicated. It has been pretty well disproven that a monastery ever existed on the site. If one did exist at some long-distant age, you might want to consider my question, "When does a haunting cease to be a haunting?" As for the angel falling to the same spot, I have no idea except to ask if it might be repeated several times. How did you first become interested in Borley?]

I went. . . . to see the Whaley house, reputed to be the most haunted house in the United States. I saw a special on haunted houses on the travel channel last week, which is how I got interested, because I noticed it was built at the same time as Borley Rectory and thought maybe I could get a feel for the size of the windows there. As it turns out the 'Harry Bull' I've painted comes above the cross bar of the window, (the top of the bottom window that opens by sliding upward). I have the top of that lower window coming across his body just under his chin, because I figured him to be about 6 foot or a little taller, but I'm not sure I'm right. The Whaley house windows are large and a man who worked there was 6'3" and his head came just about to that window. So before I work more on the likeness of Harry, do you know where a person would come up to in that window? Do you know how tall Harry is as well? Is it written anywhere.
I was wondering, is there anyone still alive who has actually been to the rectory when it was still 'alive'? Also, does anyone know is any more stuff being done with the tunnel?
By the way, interesting story with that Whaley house. They had a haunted occurrence just last Monday. This is the story as reported to me by the man who works there, and I think who owns it as well. He was downstairs, and he heard some kids on the second floor screaming. He said, " Well that's not all that unusual, sometimes someone's big brother will stand behind a kid and go 'boo!' and the kids will scream, playfully. But this screaming was real screaming. The kids were sobbing and tumbling over themselves to get down those stairs, and really screaming in terror. There were two little boys and one little girl, she was a little older than them but they were all young. I asked them what was wrong, and they were too afraid to even answer and were sobbing and crying. She said the chair upstairs (the rooms have the original furniture of the occupants in the bedrooms and then the first part of the room by the door has a glass partition set up so you can see the rooms but not step inside) 'flew' across the room by itself and slammed into the wall. The girl saw a man with a red shirt and hat on go running across the room into the curtain covered closet (next to the door where you stand looking at the room). The closet happens to exit to a stage in the room where a theatre had been set up by the owner of the house, Whaley, but no one ever left that partitioned off room onto the stage.
Barbara Clements
[No one who visited the rectory in any capacity is still alive. The tunnel caved in or was filled in decades ago. These questions have been added to the FAQs.]

could you tell me if there are any modelsof the rectory available perhaps inshops in borley
ian paul moore
[No, especially in the area shops. The locals do NOT wanted to be associated with the haunting in way, shape or form. Did you see the Underwood model on my web site?]

I live in a town called Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire and myself and another lady are inhabited by a small boy, a duchess, a cat and still counting. The family were the duke and Duchess of Kingstone and our little boy was reputed to burn churches to hide the fact his wife was a biggamist and infact already married to Earl of Bristol we have dated the aperitions to Jacobian times
Phillipa March

I think this may be the same painting that hung over the monk's mantlepiece. It must've been a print, the original is by Landseer.
Barbara Clements
[Agreed! Good eye! It has been added to the approproate web page.]

I recently visited Borley church in the evening, and i took a number of photographs with a digital camera. The camera i used doesn't have a flash, so any pictures i took in the darkness, would either appear blank, or what i hoped for was perhaps the appearance of strange lights. several of the pictures i took did appear with lights, so i digitally enhanced the photographs removing the light source as much as i could, and what appeard was the face of a woman. I have uploaded for you both the original untouched photograph, as well as the digital enhanced photograph.
Stephen
[You have three interesting pictures. Due to space limitations on my server, I've had to consider a few things when posting future pictures, including - looking for a reference that will tie it to Borley. If you get some more photos, please feel free to share.]

yes hello im was up borlay last night with my wife and famliy just having a look we saw some strange stuff my uncle took some picture's with camara and got some strange returns on them ill attach the pics for you my uncal said the was 2 lady standing by the door in there 1930 gear and im sure i saw something but we had to leave when some loud mouth youth turrned up in there car's . . . i dont think i will be going back it's a bit scary
Sarah Jordon

I have read much on the subject of the hauntings and I have come to the conclusion that Mr Harry Price has much to answer for. I have no doubt that most of the so called hauntings were made up and set up by Mr Price and now unfortunately the poor people of Borley are paying for it. Leave the dead with the past were they belong and let this story of nuns, monks and coaches go with it.
Jane Coburn
[I appreciate your input very much, and I agree with you totally about the abuses suffered by the residents. That's why I have made a concentrated effort to not only dissuade the rowdy with an appeal to visitors, but I also created the Borley Church Preservation Fund. My mother lived there for five years, so I understand completely what you are saying.]

I enjoyed the last newsletter. You still get a lot of interest. I especially enjoyed seeing the picture of the current priest. The floor plan was interesting, I thought the pulpit was in an odd place. Over to the side, hidden between groups of seats. I guess that is an old English thing.
Kathy Rageur

I am considering buying Mr. Underwood's latest book about Borley Rectory. This is the one that is $14.something and has four views of the rectory on the cover. I don't remember the title either and this gets us to the problem. ghostbooks.com doesn't seem to be online anymore. Was that your server? Anyway, if you can supply a link where I can order this book I would appreciate it.
Scott Cunningham
[Yes, ghostbook.com WAS a family project. It died when our old server died. I have a couple of autographed copies (now one) of Borley Postscript left, but they have a couple of shipping dings. They are available at half price. Or, get an unautographed copy in new condition.

Thank you very much for the article "Travels with Dr. Joad," which I am delighted to have to add to my dossier.
It is alright as far as it goes, but there is nothing new and a lot has been missed: nothing about his early life, his family, his success at games and academically head-boy, and going up to Balliol on a scholarship, his life at Oxford, as a civil servant, his participation in the Rudi Schneider seances and membership of the Society for Psychical Research, or indeed that he was the author of more than 30 books, and a member of my London Ghost Club.
Sadly, Harry C. Brown Jr. seems to accept all slimy Trevor Hall's statements as genuine fact, whereas his credibility bears very little scrutiny and his 'facts' are often manufactured!
The M in Joad's name stood for Mitchinson. He was a knowledgeable and likeable man who, like all of us, had his faults. Thanks again for the article.
Best always,
Peter Underwood

I just realized I missed the first Borley ghost chat, and on the day of the nun's appearance too! I didn't get home until about 8:30 and then I fell asleep on the couch, not remembered it at all and I wanted to try and remember to go to it. I'm so dissapointed, I REALLY wanted to be there. . . .
Barbra Clements
[We will have to try again - only next time, I will give more advance notice! I'll schedule one whenever a newsletter is released.]

can you elaborate on how people think that the child is a bull. please can you e-mail me with all the info you have on the child please. thanks.
Mathia Taylor
[The photo was originally posted 26 January 2001. All responses have now been added to the page.]

On page 115 of Peter Underwoods book, Borley Postscript, (which is the best read I've had in a while about Borley, what a book!) there is mention of Guy L'estrange staying one very productive day at Borley. He was in the Drawing room and heard footsteps behind him, which he discerned to go through the wall, later on finding out there used to be a door there! This reminds me of my dream where there was a doorway through which the older woman went through and led me to the way to the courtyard, is he referring to the same wall between the drawing room and the library?
Barbara Clements

I first read about Borley Rectory when I was about 12, now am 37. And it still fascinates me. . . . I'm not consumed by Borley, but ... interested. Interested as I have had my own singular and brief paranormal experience in America. . . .And I meant it ... borleyrectory.com is well done.
later, or as you say ... cheers
Joe Blower, "the skulker"

The Child Looks like one I've seen in a Borley Pic Before And I think it is probaly One of rev,Harry Bull's Sons or Something like that.
Scincerly
Alpha One

I am trying to figure ways to quiet down Borley Village while harnessing the power of unwanted tourists for bona-fide supernatural investigation. . . . I honestly think that Borley residents should try to communicate to strangers in whispers whether indoors or outdoors to reinforce the aspect that ongoing investigation which requires quiet is taking place at Borley Village. When villagers speak to strangers they should consider holding their index fingers vertically in front of their lips (the accepted shhhh sign) while they concentrate their hearing on a certain spot as suggested by eye movement. And while charading a suspicious noise they could ask the stranger, "Did you hear that?," to which the stranger would minimally but importantly think, "No". And this may stimulate the gossip that Borley is actually quite boring.
Yes, although the above theatrics can be regarded as somewhat dishonest, they do have an honest basis with respect to Borley Village's reputation. I know that if I were a Borley resident that I would regard the employment of such theatrics as minimal cost if it trained visitors to be quiet. Also, I think villagers should refer strangers to the Borley web site. They could say that the site has ghost hunting instructions and that they can file a report of their Borley experience at the web site. The site could provide a map of Borley for people to click record where they thought they were standing and where they thought they saw something or heard a noise. But most importantly, they would have to leave Borley Village to access the web site! Again, the bottom line is let's give tourists something arguably useful to do with respect to ghost research while hopefully quieting down the area at the same time.
Consider the definition of a poltergest: A ghost that manifests itself by noises, rappings, and the creation of disorder. Note that the definition for a poltergeist emphasizes noise. In other words, poltergeist activity is evidenced as much by questionable noises in contrast to actually seeing something unusual. Indeed, Borley Rectory investigator Harry Price observed that the most frequent unexplainable occurance reported both inside and outside Borley Rectory was the sound of footsteps when there was no one visible at the place where the steps were evidently coming from. In fact, note that Reverend Eric Smith, who inadvertently put Borley Rectory on the map by seeking help from the press, was concerned about footsteps he heard in a room in the Rectory. The footsteps evidently happened so regularly that he finally decided to do something about it. From the "Ghosts That Will Not Die" by Vincent O'Neil, Ch. 1: "The first untoward happening was the sound of slow, dragging footsteps across the floor of an unoccupied room. Then one night Mr. Smith, armed with a hockey stick, sat in the room and waited for the noise. Once again it came - the sound of feet in some kind of slippers treading on the bare boards. Mr. Smith lashed out with his stick at the spot where the footsteps seemed to be, but the stick whistled through the empty air, and the steps continued across the room."
Note that footsteps have also been heard both in the church yard and on the road. (Keep in mind that roads in general are dangerous and Borley's seemingly quiet little road is, unfortunately, no exception.) As an added "bonus," consider that a witness report on this web site indicates that the galloping horses of the legendary phantom coach have also been heard in recent times. At the other extreme, the phantom nun is known to move around without making any sound whatsoever. (The fact that she has been noticed to be floating above the ground as she moves at times might have something to do with this.)
Given that poltergeist activity is evidenced by sound, the bottom line is that probably the main reason that thousands of visitors to Borley have left the place disappointed is that you practically have to be able to hear a pindrop at all times in order to notice anything out of the ordinary there. Indeed, hearing suspicious footsteps at Borley Village has been a rare occurance for the last 74 years undoubtedly because of thousands of untrained, ghost hunting tourists who have dropped in at all hours for a visit. Borley's tourists tend to arrive in groups and understandably engage in light-hearted small-talk to relieve nervousness while they are there. But such activity basically guarantees that they're not going to have any Borley Rectory war stories to tell. After all, can you tell the difference between the sound of four sets of footsteps and that of five? The significance of being able to tell five sets of footsteps, for example, becomes evident when there are only four people walking in your immediate vicinity. But when you are unable to concentrate on the sound of your own footsteps because of unnecessary noise around you then you've lost the war.
But don't walk around anywhere at Borley Village alone. Indeed, you are warned that Borley Rectory literature shows one possible instance of outdoor phantom assault! But consider walking in very small groups and being as quiet as a church mouse as much as possible. Indeed, it's really no joke to suggest that you and your friends should consider learning a few basic hand signals before visiting Borley Village. But then don't hesitate to shout for help if you need to either.
I’ve got another theory concerning a Borley Rectory event that BGS can ponder. This theory concerns the observation that temperature sometimes drops in an area when a poltergeist is present which suggests that unseen forces are able to use heat energy to become visible, for example.
With this in mind, consider the fire at Borley Rectory. If I remember correctly, witnesses reported that two figures, a man and a woman, were seen leaving the burning building together. Given these two figures were actually ghosts, I wonder if the heated air satisfied some energy threshold which enabled these particular phantoms to appear? Indeed, could these ghosts have been leaving the rectory on a regular basis for years and the fire effectively “marked their tracks”?
Scott Cunningham

There is a story about a mathematician who was about to present an important finding to a congress of his colleagues. Arriving at the podium, he arranged his papers and looked at them closely while his peers waited on the edge of their seats. After a few silent moments, he folded his papers and said quietly, "Gentlemen, I must think more about this."
If I had followed that precept, I would not have advanced in the last Newsletter my theory of Trevor Hall's claiming to be "an MA of Cambridge, which he never was," much less demanded proof of any such claim in print. The proof was right in my files, all the time. From 1983 onwards, the following appears in the listing for Dr. Trevor Henry Hall, JP; MA; PhD &c. in "Who's Who:"
"Trinity Coll., Cambridge (Perrott Student, MA)...."
Biographical information is of course supplied by the subject in WW. I should have folded my papers; but as a cautionary experience it was valuable. And as I said, the chips have to take care of themselves.
All best,
Harry Brown

I hav been 2 the Borley site may times with my wife over the past 10 years and have been interested in the `hauntings` from a very early age. When I woz approx ren yesrs old in 1982 I was given a childrens ghost annual, I cant remember the title as I only have the pages regarding the Borley hauntings now. There are 3 colour photos I thought you mayb be intersested in on thses pages, 1 shows the rectory cottage in the 1970`s 1 shows a few inches of brickwork in undergroth which the book claims in part of the remaining outside wall of the rectory. 1 shows pig stys which again the book claims were built from the the remains of the rectory Oh and there is one pic of some victorian pottery which the book claims is asscociated with the rectory. I also have a number of colour pictures taken by myself of the church and rectory cottage about 6 years ago, 1 of which shows a round flash of light which looks like sun rays but if you look at the shadows in the picture you can tell that the sun was low and on the other side of the church. Please let me know if any of these pics might be of interest to you and if so, the best way for me 2 send coppies of them to you. I do have a scanner by the way so can scan thses pictures. I am also a member of the `Ghost club soceity`
Robbie Bailey