I was born in Dublin Ireland on 17th MAY 1956. But from the age of two I was raised with my five brothers in London. Stories of ghosts and banshees recounted by my grandmother awakened my interest in all things supernatural. At the age of ten I got my first taste of the paranormal. Living in an 18th century house in the Stockwell District of London I experienced footsteps in empty rooms, banging’s, objects moving and on one frightening occasion, saw a door swing open, complete with creak with no one in sight.
It fuled my interest even more and with my younger brother Mick, a passionate Borleyist and two friends we formed, in 1969, the ‘Ghost hunters club’. A short lived affair which saw our first all night vigil in the local graveyard end ignominiously ten minutes after we had arrived where we fled shrieking back to our homes after being startled by a lost cat.
My introduction to Borley was in 1970. Playing truant from school I spent the day, ironically in the local library reading. It was where I discovered “ The most haunted house in England.” It filled me with a burning desire to go to Borley which I did a year later. I revisited the site many times in the 70’s and 80’s always pulled back by the magic of Price's books and later those of Peter Underwood with whom I corresponded.
In 1983 I met my future partner Sue, a great cook and lover of crystals and alternative therapy. In 1985 we were blessed with a beautiful daughter Rebecca (see photo) who is approaching her 18th birthday and will soon begin her final year at college where she is studying Photography, History and Journalism.
In 1986 we moved from London to the Chiltern Hills west of the City. The area has its fair share of ghost stories and American links. Nearby is the haunted village of Penn. Ancestral home of William Penn, founder of the state of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia. Also close is the village of West Wycombe, home to the notorious Hell Fire Club. An 18th century rabble of Rakish gentry who indulged in dark practises. Their leader was Sir Francis Dashwood who was a good friend of noted American, Benjamin Franklin who would often visit here.
Apart from Paranormal research my other interests are photographing old churches, ruined castles and visiting the remote pubs on the Suffolk and Norfolk coast in winter. I admire the work of Bill Brandt, Robert Frank, Ralph Meatyard and of course Sir Simon Marsden. I have had two photo exhibitions which where staged in London. I also play guitar. In 1983 I wrote the theme music for the film “ Expesso Splasho”. A 40-minute comedy short, which displayed the talent of many up and coming young British actors.
My own taste in comedy includes The Pythons, Galton and Simpson, The Marx brothers and Bob Hope. My music ranges from J.S.Bach through to The Stones, Zeppelin and Early Genesis.
So a perfect day for me would be to visit a Suffolk coast pub with my camera, photograph a ruined castle, head for Borley, listening to the Pythons to finish up in The Bull at Long Melford jamming into the small hours.
But until that perfect day comes I’ll continue to research the most strangest, famous and captivating of haunting's and hope those of us in the Borley Ghost Society gain a better insight into why we still do it.