BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY

I had the good fortune to correspond with Ivan over the latter half of the 1980s as both he and I researched the story of the haunting of Borley Rectory.

During our lengthy correspondence Ivan’s attributes as a conscientious researcher soon made themselves apparent. His painstaking eye for detail was phenomenal and coupled with his huge capacity for lateral thought around a problem, showed him to be worthy of a place among the pantheon of noteworthy lay historical researchers.

Looking back at our friendship and collaboration, it is only in retrospect that I realise how seldom we touched on personal matters. Reviewing our correspondence though I was shocked to realise that Ivan was only 50 years of age at the time of his death [in May 2000]. It is with sadness that I think of the research he might have gone on to perform. As it stands though, every Borley enthusiast owes a great debt of gratitude to Ivan Banks. He re-evaluated the Borley legend with a keen eye for historical accuracy, technical integrity and a writing style which held the reader absorbed throughout.

As Alan Wesencraft so shrewdly points out, Ivan’s driving concern was the rehabilitation of Harry Price, a fellow researcher for whom he had great respect and who he rightly thought had been treated in a shabby fashion by detractors since his death. In a letter to me in November 1984 he said of Price “I have many times said to Mr Wesencraft that it was about time Price was given a fair hearing in public, by issuing the Hastings Report [which did a great deal to exonerate him of Trevor Hall’s trumped-up `charges’] as a book - I wish the Society for Psychical Research would do so”. It was a wish, which was, regrettably, never to be fulfilled.

I am gravely saddened at Ivan’s passing. Lay historical research has lost a great contributor - one whose ability to juggle a full-time and exhausting occupation with an admirable capacity for investigative work, left me deeply impressed. Borley enthusiasts have lost a man whose fund of information is unlikely to be contained elsewhere and one who would respond to fellow researchers with an old-world courtesy and efficiency seldom encountered these days. I only hope against hope that Ivan made arrangements for his mass of research papers - not to mention his prized Rectory gateposts - to be cared for in the event of his death. Their loss, on top of his premature passing, would be doubly tragic.

It was in the Summer of 1984 that I received a letter from Ivan Banks requesting permission to examine the Borley Rectory material contained in the Harry Price Library. Assent to this request was readily given since, apart from The Locked Book, which had been stolen from the Library by Trevor Hall in 1956, all the extensive collection of Borley material was freely available to any person desirous of taking an intelligent interest in it.

It is my experience that a first inspection of the H.P.L. does sometimes encourage students to undertake research for which they have neither the necessary aptitude nor the essential determination. I remember one young lady who announced that she was going to write the definitive history of vampires and vampirism. After about six weeks’ study of some musty tomes she suddenly abandoned her plans and disappeared. The same abrupt opting out occurred in the case of a zealous male student intent on investigating in-depth the origin and nature of fairies. He investigated diligently for about two weeks and then suddenly vanished without trace. However, on first meeting Ivan I soon realised that he had given considerable thought to his project which was to compose, if possible, an accurate, unbiased and readable account of the Borley haunt. He also gave the appearance of being able to endure the long hours of hard work, often resulting in some measure of disappointment, which meticulous research demands. Ivan had made a very careful study of all the available books on Borley. He quite rightly considered the Critical Survey of the Evidence by Dingwall, Goldney and Hall to be biased, grossly unfair and a slur on Price’s character. Apart from his own interest in the subject of hauntings, I believe he was moved to find the truth about Borley by a strong feeling that the malicious attack on Harry Price displayed in the Critical Survey must not remain unanswered.

I was determined to give Ivan all possible assistance, even to the extent of slightly bending the rules of the Library by allowing him to remove material for home study. He never once let me down. His work as a furniture salesman in a large Maidstone emporium was tiring and did not leave much time for research, nor did his pay allow him too many visits to London. Nevertheless he maintained a fairly regular weekly visit to the Library usually on a Wednesday which was my day for visiting and which was made more enjoyable by the stimulating conversations we had from time to time, wherein Ivan showed considerable knowledge about an extraordinarily wide range of subjects.

We do not know very much about Ivan’s private life. I believe he was a Man of Kent and he must have received a good education from which he benefitted to the point of continuing self-education throughout his life. He was celibate and lived in a listed cottage on the Pilgrims’ Way at Detling, a small village near Maidstone, well cared-for by his widowed Mother. He had an elder brother, but it seems that they were not very close. His supply of “general knowledge” was extensive and he was well informed on many contemporary problems. His prime interest covered all things mechanical but, above all, he delighted in railways and railway history and on these topics his knowledge was encyclopaedic and his enthusiasm unbounded. He would take holidays in South America for the sole purpose of exploring lines still using aged steam locomotives. On learning that I shared his interest in railways, he very kindly presented me with a copy of his well-researched and well-illustrated pamphlet Rails to Jaywick Sands which is a fascinating account of the little-known narrow gauge line from Clacton to Jaywick Sands in Essex. On another occasion, having told Ivan that I was anxious to find some information on the Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway, on which I had worked for a time during World War II, he went to great trouble to procure for me the definitive account of that attractive, but ill-fated, line. His fine gauge HO model railway, in the construction of which he had spent many happy hours, was unfortunately destroyed in the great storm of 1987 which blew down the garden shed in which it had been displayed in full working order. Ivan was a fine draughtsman and presented the Library with a greatly enlarged set of plans of the Rectory external and internal. Copyright considerations were waived for anyone who wished to reproduce them. In his researches no detail escaped his notice and no avenue was too much trouble for him to explore. His list of acknowledgments covers an astonishing range of individuals and institutions with whom he corresponded sometimes at great length.

At last, after ten years’ hard work, the book was completed and Ivan showed me with justifiable pride the finished MS neatly bound and with all the carefully chosen illustrations adorning the relevant pages.

In these times publishers are very chary of handling any MS which does not promise to be an instant best seller. However Ivan had justifiable faith in the merits of his book and, after two wear years of endeavour and disappointment, The Enigma of Borley Rectory (1996) appeared in the bookshops and received the well-deserved plaudits of all persons, young and old, sharing an interest in the Borley saga. Ivan never lost his enthusiasm for Borleyana and succeeded in purchasing the original front gate posts of the Rectory, after they had been spotted by Richard Lee-Van den Daele on a summer trip to the village. These he transported on a friend’s trailer and erected in the garden of his cottage home. Many people wrote to Ivan; some offering their own theories for consideration, others seeking advice or assistance. All received carefully though-out and helpful replies but Ivan had no desire to be considered an expert on his subject.

It is sad that Ivan, a few years after the publication, suffered from kidney failure. Dialysis kept him alive until at last a transplant could be obtained. With exemplary courage he even replied to correspondents from his hospital bed although suffering considerable pain. The transplant was not very satisfactory and he died peacefully in May 2000.

Over the years I corresponded extensively with Ivan Banks who always wrote to me in longhand and if he was not always accurate and careful in his research and writing as he night have been, he made up for that in enthusiasm and I never doubted his sincere interest and attempts at objectivity in the difficult realm of Borley. He constantly referred to himself as 'an amateur Layman' and he told me that what he had tried to do in his book was to examine the story through the eyes of a layman and offer his findings on that basis. In this I think he succeeded admirably.

He told me he had acquired the original driveway gateposts from Borley in 1985 (for £20) - much to the disgust of his mother - and in later years he collected a number of other Borley items and it is only right that his many years of dedicated study, here and abroad, were crowned by the publication of his book in 1996. I treasure the copy he sent me and the generous inscription he wrote inside.

I know Ivan Banks felt the publication of The Engima of Borley Rectory was a just reward for all his efforts, especially after he was 'lumbered with kidney dialysis,' as he put it.

I know he was especially proud of the scale elevation drawings of the rectory which are fascinating and unique to his book which will be a lasting memorial to a sincere seeker after the truth.

It is a saga with the characteristics of a detective novel, and Ivan Banks has shown himself to be a thorough investigator of the facts. . . .
In the first half [of the book], Banks is a painstaking investigator, giving a physical description, complete with photographs, diagrams and elevations, so detailed that you can visualize the building clearly. The history of the house and its residents is also supplied in fine detail. . . . It must be said in fairness that Banks is not always ready to plump for a paranormal explanation, deciding, for example, that the fire was probably arson committed for the insurance money. The assessment of Harry Price too is reasonable. . . . Banks is inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, but criticises him for the deficiencies of the investigation. This is a balanced view with which I am inclined to concur. . . .
The proof-reading standard could be higher, and it seems wilful to have put the photograph of the famous 'flying brick' on page 123 and the enlargement of the brick itself on page 143. Why on earth were they not put side by side? . . . .
Ivan Banks should be congratulated for the depth of his historical research. . . . The Enigma of Borley Rectory is not going to become the standard work which Banks probably hoped it would, but it will have to figure large in any subsequent research. Complete article.

Dear Mr. Wesencraft;
Thank you very much indeed for the two videos and for the review of my book.
I was pleased to hear that your friend enjoyed the book, because it is that sort of feedback that makes it all worth the effort.
With regard to Tom Ruffle's review, it that's the worst criticism that my book has attracted so far, the I haven't done badly for a layman!
I would agree with his comment about the two "flying brick" photographs. It would have been better if they had been shown together, for comparative purposes.
As to his comments about my speculation and assessment of the real cause of some of the Rectory's mysteries, well, given the strangeness of the whole episode, I feel that my conclusions must inevitably be speculative in many instances, because hard evidence about Borley Rectory's historical background is difficult to pin down.
The peculiar nature of Borley Rectory's mysteries is not that I don't think anybody, least of all me, can ever be dogmatic about all the answers!
Tom Ruffles seems to think I expected my book to be the last word on the subject. Good heavens no! If I've learned anything about Borley during my researches, it is that there will probably never be a definitive answer to the whole story!
If brick and mortar could literally talk to us, I wonder just what stories that brooding Victorian rectory would tell us now, if it were still standing?! But, like a loyal secret service agent, through the fire of February 1939, Borley Rectory has, I think, taken its secrets to the grave!
I wonder!
Well, I hope all's well with you and Mrs, Wesencraft. Mum sends all her best wishes to you both.
Yours sincerely,
Ivan
28 February 1997

Dear Vincent;
Thank you for your letter and the various enclosures relating to the Borley Ghost Society.
I've lost tract of my contacts with whom I corresponded when I was compiling my book on Borley, largely because since 1992 I've had six years of dialysis after kidney failure, finally getting a successful transplant on November 3rd, 1998, which is still going strong. Since then I've had to be responsible for looking after my elderly mother, now coming on 89 years old, but with rapidly failing memory.
I've really had to leave my correspondence on Borley as I just don't seem to have any time to spare to deal with it any longer.
My interest in Borley will always remain undiminished of course.
I've always thought of my contribution to the Borley story as being that of a layman rather that as any sort of expert on psychic research, and I doubt I could undertake a similar exercise now, although as far as further books are concerned, it would very much depend on what subject I tackled. . . . .
I have most of the books on Borley, including the reproduction of Price's famous original (given to me by Alan Wesencraft some while ago), others I've been lucky enough to come across secondhand. . . .
I'm not on the Internet. . . . .I could never be persuaded to put any of my personal details on the Internet. There seems to be far too much potential for misuse.
Actually my private hobby is very different from the world of psychic phenomena. It is in fact a lifelong passion for steam locomotives that I have had since childhood. They seem to be the closest that a man made machine can come to being alive, depending as they do on two of the essential elements of life, fire and water!
In due course, I hope to be able to catch up on my correspondence, but I just don't seem to have any spare time lately.
I look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Yours sincerely
Ivan Banks
11 April 2000

Ivan's research work about Borley Rectory has been valuable. Although I did not often agree with the conclusions expressed in his book The Enigma of Borley Rectory, that was far less important than the fact that we shared a common interest in the events at Borley Rectory during the first part of the twentieth century. I admired his tenacity and his determination, and it is sad to hear of the passing of another of the first generation of Borley researchers.
One of the most enduring values of the whole Borley saga is to study, understand and document the way that people reacted to the reports of the events that happened, the explanations they came to, and the actions they took. If for no other reason, I believe Ivan's contribution will have a lasting value.
Andrew Clarke

I was so sorry to hear of the death of Ivan Banks. It was through his book The Enigma of Borley Rectory that I found my interest in Sir Edward Waldegrave of Borley.
I wish to send my sincere condolences to his family. His work will not go on in vain.
Alison Love

Sorry to hear the sad news. Please accept my condolences. My prayers are for the family and friends of Ivan Banks. May he rest in peace. God Bless.
Maureen Shaw, daughter of Ian Shaw, grandaughter of Marianne

We are reissuing the above book in August [2001] at a cost of $25.95. Thank you for your continued interest in our publications.
Yours sincerely,
Sue Peirce for
Graham Kitchen
Director
foulsham