Cecil The Lion Wants Revenge

Legendary psychic, medium and entrepreneur Crystal O'Future has hit out at the American dentist who killed famous Zimbabwean lion Cecil and vowed to take revenge on behalf of the angry lion.

"Walter Palmer is a monster," Crystal told fans at a lecture in Smallthorne. "I've been in contact with Cecil's spirit and he told me personally that he sanctions a biblical revenge on this American scumbag."

Artist's impression of Cecil the Lion before his death

Palmer caused international outrage when he killed the lion during a hunting holiday in Zimbabwe.

"Even though I'm not allowed to travel to America, I shall be casing havoc in other, more supernatural ways," Crystal added. "And contacting people over the internet."

Woman Gives Birth To Ghost

A Stoke woman being investigated for benefit fraud has had her investigation suspended while her claim that she gave birth to a ghost are checked.

Gabbee Bonkers, 21, from 24 Blizzard Street in Birches Head, had been claiming child benefit and income support for her fourth child, Billy, for over a year when a social worker paid her a visit to find no evidence of Billy.

A baby dressed as a ghost

Ms Bonkers, currently on holiday in Kavos, told investigators that she had given birth to a ghost in a home birth but had previously been too embarrassed to say anything. She says she also didn't know how to stop her benefits.

"I'm going to stick my neck out and say that this story is true," says psychic, medium and Gabbee's literary agent, Crystal O'Future. "This is a real game changer in the world of ghost babies."

Burslem Road

The Burslem Road is an underwater rock formation in Lake Burslem. The Road consists of a 900 metre-long north-south linear feature composed of roughly rectangular stone blocks.

On September 2, 1968, while diving in 10 metres of water off what is now known as Phil Taylor Bay, Keg Hunter encountered an extensive "pavement" of what later was found to be stones of varying size and thickness. After this discovery, the Burslem Road has been visited and examined by geologists, archaeologists, anthropologists, marine engineers, divers and celebrities. In addition to the Burslem Road, investigators have found two additional "pavement-like" linear features that lie parallel to and shoreward of Burslem Road.

In 1978, Burslem's radiocarbon laboratory calculated that the shells composing the Burslem Road are about 3,500 years old.

The Burslem Road, the largest of the three linear features, consists of stone blocks measuring as much as 3–4m in horizontal dimensions, with the average size being 2–3m. The blocks consist of limestone composed of carbonate-cemented shell hash that is called "acerock". Acerock is native to Burslem. Given the degree that these blocks have been eroded, it is highly implausible that any original surface features, including any tool marks and inscriptions, would have survived this degree of erosion.

The consensus among conventional geologists and archaeologists is that the Burslem Road is a natural feature composed of acerock that have broken up into rectangular, polygonal and irregular blocks.

As a result of the unusual arrangement and shape of the stones some believe that the formation is the remains of an ancient road, wall, worship site or some other deliberately constructed feature. Nigel Rockbasher, a retired naval chef, was part of a famous expedition sponsored by Dave Munton in 1995, at the height of the Blur vs Oasis Britpop battle, that included explorers and a number of psychics from the Crystal O'Future Foundation. The group stated that there was "little doubt" that the massive stone blocks were cut by people or aliens, based on their experience of looking at, and sometimes even touching, rocks.

Crystal O’Future Hits Back At Critics

At a live show at Vale Park last night, Crystal O'Future spent a good proportion of her time onstage attacking her critics, to wild celebrations from the sell-out crowd.

Crystal told her fans that she would never turn her back on her calling as a medium and entrepreneur, and said that spirits would hurt her if she ignored them.

Crystal, described on her website as "Europe's most beloved medium", and a known confidante of Noddy Holder, has been caught up in controversy recently after a local crazy woman questioned her psychic powers.

"This earpiece," Crystal announced to the crowd, while pointing to it, "Is so that I can keep in touch with the Vale," she said, to rapturous applause from the crowd. "It is definitely not used to get information, no way. Anyone who says that can fuck right off."

"There are certain crazy slags out there who feel the need to shit all over my good name," added Crystal. "I shall hunt down and wreak a terrible vengeance on these pygmies."

Crystal O’Future Scandal

The paranormal world is in a tizz after it was claimed that famous psychic Crystal O'Future may have been fed information by an assistant during a live show in the convention stadium at the Fegg Hayes Hilton.

The claims, by local dancer Carole Egger, were made on Signal Gold's drivetime show yesterday. Ms Egger said that she was sitting at the back of the auditorium and could hear a "camp" man's voice coming from a small room (with an open window) behind her. She claims that what the man said, Crystal then repeated on stage 10 or 15 seconds later. She also claims that several other people heard the voice and turned around to look, before the window was then closed and the voice was not heard again.

Barry Pythagorus, manager of the Fegg Hayes Hilton, claims that the voices heard by Ms Egger were those of spirits from the other side and that maybe she has medium abilities herself. "The only people supplying Crystal with information are the ghosts of dead people, and occasionally animals."

Ms Egger, who is married but insists on being called "Ms", still believes in psychic powers but has said she feels "totes let down" by the experience and will think long and hard about paying £50 to see the psychic ever again.

Crystal O'Future, and her holding company Crystal Corp. Inc. Ltd, have so far refused to comment.

Bank Deposit

Birches Head International is one of the biggest banks in the region, whose prestigious clients include Jonathan Wilkes and bearded funny man Dave Gorman, who has an online savings account.

In 2004, the board decided to hire psychic medium Crystal O'Future to help deal with a ghost that was bothering staff in the Prayer Room!

Bank spokesman Perry Boner explained that the ghost's behaviour had recently got out of hand. "Our lunch maid, Mrs Muntford, was on her knees praying to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ – Amen. When she got up, she the ghost tried to cock-slap her in the face, with some success."

A priest was called and, together with Crystal, the ghost was put out of its misery.

Crystal O'Future: "I'll Take Savile To Task"

Celebrity medium Crystal O’Future has outlined her most ambitious stunt ever: she will attempt to contact dead nonce Sir Jim’ll Savile and psychically reprimand him!

"It's become clear now that he nonced off a load of kids over the years," said the medium (real name: Bev Scaggs) at a launch party. "He probably thought he'd got away with it when he died. Well, he didn't factor me into his pervy plans."

In a forthcoming TV special, to be broadcast live on Sky One, Crystal will ask her spirit guide Alan to bully Sir Jim'll in the afterlife, and ask other spirits to do the same.

In the final segment of the show, over pictures of distressed teenagers, Crystal will then confront Sir Jim'll and present covers of newspaper stories about the scandal to him and ask for his response. If/as he attempts to comment, Crystal plans on interrupting the former wrestler by saying the names of his alleged victims and looking angry.

Guests confirmed for the show include Paul Gambuccini, Esther Rantzen, Kirsty Gallacher and street dance crew Diversity.

The show will end with the song 'Wind of Change' by Scorpions being played over the credits, which will feature Crystal walking through the empty streets of Stoke looking disappointed and bog-eyed.

Alternative Therapies Under Threat

A series of alternative therapy health services in North Staffordshire face being cut back or scrapped after a councillor read a Wikipedia article saying that they are unproven.

"Looking at our health budget, we spend more on alternative therapies than we do on hospitals and GPs and shit," says city councillor Bert Barcroft. "And this must change. Therapies such as 'buttock frenching', 'psychic pumping' and 'soul clamming' are not health practises recognised by the experts. As far as I am aware. Though I could be wrong, and often am."

Celebrity psychic Crystal O'Future
(real name: Bev Scaggs)

"I don't care what the so-called 'experts' reckon," says celebrity psychic Crystal O'Future. "I know better and I know that these therapies work. A chat with any of the vulnerable old ladies who pay £150 per session for my services can testify to that. TESTIFY!"

Tracy Cocking is Stoke's leading practitioner of 'hate dancing', where she gets criminals to dance the illegal tendencies right out of their body. "My work is tried and tested," she says. "Over 5% of crims who come to my studio do not get caught re-offending again within 3 weeks of seeing me. That is under threat now. It's a disgrace."

Psychic Scholarship For Student

Staffordshire University student Vladimir Holdcroft has been awarded a grant of £6,000 by the Crystal O'Future foundation to study psychic phenomena.

Vladimir, currently awaiting the result of his BA (Hons) Accounting and Business degree course, hopes to get a PhD Research Degree for his study.

Crystal O'Future

"Vlad has got the potential to all the way in this game," said Crystal O'Future at a celebratory luncheon at ST1 in Hanley. "He's got the chops to make it big."

"I've been a fan of Crystal for years," added Mr Holdcroft. "I have a poster of her on the ceiling above my bed. Not in a weird way."

RAF Trentham In UFO Gagging order

A senior military officer in Stoke has stepped into a growing row over a "gagging" order which restricts members of the armed forces from talking about UFOs with members of the public without the express permission of a government minister or a high profile right wing celebrity (such as Jeremy Clarkson), who has permission to speak on the government’s behalf.

The chief of RAF Trentham, General Barry Booth, insisted the advice was necessary, and was for reasons for national security. "This is in now way being done to cover up any secretive UFO programmes," he said. "Honest."

A UFO over Trentham

But local councillors, conspiracy theorists and UFO enthusiasts, including Paul Brown, general manager of both The Paul Brown Conspiracy Cabal and The Paul Brown UFO Club, say the RAF is trying to hide THE TRUTH. "Conspiracy theorists rely on being able to talk to people who claim to be in the military," says Brown. "We rely on these secretive people to tell us what is going on. I think these kinds of restrictions make the RAF look like a bunch of fucktarded cockpigs."

Local medium Crystal O’Future added: "This is an unwelcome change which will affect paranormal investigations of all kinds. No single government owns the RAF, it belongs to the people of this country. I didn’t die in two World Wars so the government could shit on my face like this. This seems like some sort of conspiracy. By the way, I’m talking about my past lives, just in case you’re wondering how I could have died twice before and still be alive."

In a statement to the Stoke Paranormal Society, General Booth said: "It is very important for RAF Trentham to maintain good relationships with UFO fans and conspiracy theorists, as they make up a good proportion of our local core fanbase. Along with idiot women with no imagination who like 'men in uniforms'. However, as is the case for any organisation, we are required to act in accordance with certain rules and to ensure we remain within established security guidelines. As such, the weekly Saturday night UFO theme parties we hold on our base will no longer be open to members of the public."

Crystal O'Future: The Whitney Interview

Crystal O'Future recently held a televised séance for Sky1, during which she contacted the very dead pop legend Whitney Houston. I spoke to her about the show.

Crystal O'Future:
"I'm getting the word... 'crack'."

Attempting to contact Whitney Houston was a big task. What made you want to do it?
Basically, at the end of the day, this is what I do. And from a medium standpoint, it would be a privilege if we could achieve a connection with this recently deceased popbitch. It could help the fans as well. Hopefully she showed them she's happy and not in hell.

Whitney didn't do many interviews when she was alive - what made you think she'd talk to you now?
We couldn't command that Whitney's spirit step forward, as much as I would have liked to have that power over the dead. I'd love to control her ghost any way I want, use it to take care of my enemies and critics; that would be great. However, that ain't gonna happen. But, I just got that spiritual inclination that maybe she would like to do this.

Have you spoken to any of Whitney's family about doing this?
No, I haven't, so I don't know their stance. But I'm 110% sure they would approve. Whitney told me so herself.

Have you tried anything like this before - contacting a dead celebrity?
On a couple of occasions, yes. The first one being in 1998 in Tunstall at a theatre where John Lennon, Donny Osmond and Andy Gibb, the other brother to the Bee Gees, the one no-one mentions anymore, made an entrance, which quite literally shook me out of my skin. Mainly because Donny Osmond isn't even dead yet and his spirit had appeared.

What do you say to Whitney fans who don't like what you've done?
I would say, get over it, bitches, it's already been done. If that doesn't help, then I'd just ignore them.

Someone that's criticised you quite publicly for this is Derren Brown. What do you make of his comments?
That bald bastard is just looking for publicity! He always does it, every time, the fucker. I don't know what his problem is. We are worlds apart - Derren Brown is a tricks-and-japes man. What he does is little more than cheeky tom-foolery. He can't do what I do and I wouldn’t want to do what he does. He's riding the publicity off my back.

Did you prepare yourself for the possibility of being possessed by Whitney's spirit? Could that happen?
If Whitney was capable and she tried to take over my body, I'm not going to object to it. If anything, it would give it more credence that Whitney was there. Just as long as she didn't use my body to smoke off a load of crack.

Whitney Houston's Ghost: "Crack Is Wack"

In a move certain to delight fans everywhere, Sky1 screened a show last night featuring local medium Crystal O'Future contacting the recently departed (i.e. dead) singer Whitney Houston during a live séance.

Producers rounded up a group of Whitney fans, including two lookalikes and one on the brink of emotional meltdown, throughout the séance, and took them to a hotel room in London that Houston had stayed in a few years ago.

The first thing Whitney's spirit did was to give a shout out to "your man Clive Davis". Then she muttered something about her dislike of journalists followed by ranting that "crack is wack" over and over again.

Crystal sat at a table with four fans during the séance and did her best to goad them all into crying on live television.

Speaking at the aftershow party at Stringfellow's, O'Future said Houston was annoyed she had not been buried alongside the late (i.e. also dead) Michael Jackson. Speaking as Whitney, Crystal said: "I wished to lie alongside MJ. I don’t care if he fiddled with some kids, that was ages ago, I wanna be next to my boy. I love MJ and I wanna be with him."

Whitney's spirit also said: "I'm only now starting to adjust to my spiritual life. I'd like to thank Sky1 and Crystal O'Future for this opportunity to speak to my fans one last time."

One fan who saw the Sky1 show said: "I looked into Crystal's eyes and I could feel Whitney's presence. This show was the real deal and I hope the show wins awards. Especially an RTS [Royal Television Society] award for Innovation, an award I feel this show strongly deserves to win."

Crop Circles: A Cynic's View

Of course, not everyone believes that crop circles are of extraterrestrial origin.

Dick Mellor, yesterday

Traffic warden Dick Mellor, who wears an orthopaedic shoe on his left foot because he suffers from hammer toe, self-published a leaflet in 1998 called 'Crop Circles: A Truth Punch To The UFO Face by Traffic Warden Dick Mellor'. He wrote: "If crop circles are the work of hoaxers, then they should stop doing it now. They are breaking the law, embarassing the city and molesting the local food supply. If aliens from another planet are responsible, they should return at once to where they came from and leave us alone. And if supernatural, the beings responsible should realise that us Stokies do not stand for this kind of thing; we are not willing to accept supernatural happenings of any kind. Not in this town and not on my watch."

Critics of Mellor are not shy in coming forward. "He's a fucking tit-munching monkey bollock, and you can quote me on that," says leading medium Crystal O'Future. Dave Munton once described Mellor as a "knob-toed bender".

Your Love Stars With Crystal O'Future

Capricorn

The chances of meeting someone are pretty slim right now, so hope and pray you don't get any wrist injuries any time soon.

Destiny is a West Ham fan.

Aquarius

Venus is currently in your alleyway, urinating against the wall while smoking crack. However, Venus is good at matchmaking.

Destiny has stolen its neighbour's shed.

Pisces

The alliance between Mars and the Sun is unlikely to result in children, but it does tell you to go and sleep around.

Destiny bitches about you behind your back.

Aries

A discovery at home under the patio spells trouble for your family, while an enchanting new stranger who speaks of tag-team wrestling enters your life.

Destiny is innocent until proven guilty.

Taurus

Don't be a fool it's only blood. Jupiter is hanging around with you, taking pot shots at people for you with Cupid's bow, which it stole when Cupid wasn't looking.

Destiny has eyes bigger than its belly.

Gemini

A newly-wed spies potential partners for you, but soon gives up and tells you to go to a club and try it on with some drunken skanks.

Destiny's best friend has had a leg amputated.

Cancer

Cupid thinks you stole his bow and shows up with a baseball bat.

Destiny is attracted to Anthea Turner.

Leo

The torrid but orgasmic relationship between the Sun and Mars fills you with verve and energy, but you soon feel tired and go to bed for a nap.

Destiny likes to watch.

Virgo

Venus moves into your love zone on a hovercraft, meaning new love at the seaside.

Destiny puts out on a first date.

Libra

A new relaxed attitude will appeal to "K". Try to find out the other letters of K's name.

Destiny says there's plenty in this game for two in a bed.

Scorpio

You're working too hard, so chillax. Love talks to you in a deep voice.

Destiny has always had a dance element to its music.

Sagittarius

Mercury tells you to travel, Mars tells you to stay but be promiscuous. Unsure of what to do, you ask for a fist-fight to decide.

Destiny takes pleasure in the misfortune of others.

Introducing... Crystal O'Future

If you live in Stoke, there's no bigger player on the paranormal or celebrity scene than Crystal O'Future.

"Is there a Monty here?"

Born Bev Scaggs in Norton to parents Terry and Kendra in an unspecified year ("I don't view time as a linear concept," she explains), Crystal connected with spirit guide Alan at a young age.

After finishing school and obtaining a 2:2 in Media Studies at Stoke Polytechnic, Crystal started working as a spiritual adviser to several of Stoke's coal mines, where she met future husband Keith Coolio. (Keith changed his name to Scaggs after their marriage.)

Renaming herself at spirit guide Alan's insistence, Crystal quite literally poured her heart and soul into the paranormal, working as a psychic, medium, spiritualist and astrologer in the Stoke area for many years, eventually becoming a leading light in the local scene.

As well as being astrologer for local newspapers The Daily Gargoyle and The Evening Oatcake, Crystal has written several books including 'A Medium Life', 'Scaggs For The Memories', 'Scaggs To The Future', 'The Psychic Cookbook' and the best-selling 'Crystal O'Future: My Story'.

Crystal has appeared on many TV shows including her own ITV2 specials 'Crystal O'Future: Star Psychic' and 'Crystal's Christmas House Party', and she appeared in 'Peter Andre: Going It Alone' in 2009, where she investigated the Australian pop muncher's new property. She advised Mr Andre that his property was haunted and that he needed to bury some badger bones at a nearby pet cemetary to appease angry spirits, something he did gladly.

Crystal is also the personal spiritualist to local darts world champion "Fingers" Phil Taylor. Taylor, who was convicted in 2001 of indecently assaulting two female fans in a camping van (something Crystal has distanced herself from), owes much of his success to Crystal's guidance.

Crystal was also implicated in the recent phone-hacking allegations involving The Daily Gargoyle newspaper, something she vehemently denies. ("It's a big bag of hairy old man's bollocks," she says on the topic.)

Lake Burslem Monster: The History

The Lake Burslem Monster, sometimes called “Bursie” or “Bossie” is a creature reported to live in Lake Burslem. Burslem is located south of the mountainous Fegg Hayes area and north of the Forested area of Central Forest Park. Lake Burslem is around 12 miles long and 1 mile wide, and is more than 1000 feet deep and ice free.

The western edge of Lake Burslem

Bursie is one of the best-known mysteries in the world, though most mainstream scientists regard Bursie reports as hoaxes or misidentification of mundane creatures.

Some local researchers, included noted psychic Crystal O’Future and Paul Brown (Managing Director of the Paul Brown Bossie Foundation) postulate that there are no anomalous physical creatures within the lake. These researchers argue that many of the reported sightings must be attributed to hoaxes or misidentification of conventional creatures and objects because of the absence of physical evidence.

Most accounts of Bursie describe a creature resembling the long-extinct plesiosaur. Fossils of this creature show that it had a long neck, small head and flippers; most of the Bursie witnesses describe something similar. A gaping red mouth and horns or antennae on the top of the creature's head is often mentioned by witnesses. Bursie’s movements have been studied, and the films and photos analysed to determine what Bursie might be, if she exists. But some other sightings describe Bursie differently.

Theories as to the exact nature of the Lake Burslem Monster sightings are varied: misidentification of seals, fish, logs, mirages and light distortion, crossing of boat wakes, or unusual wave patterns. Very large octopus have also been found in Lake Burslem, and due to octopus’s size and unusual appearance, one could easily be mistaken for a monster by someone not familiar with it. Local paranormal expert and pikelet impresario Dave Munton argues that only a small residue of reported lake sightings could be paranormal or supernatural in nature. Munton, who has a conviction for sexual fraud, believes Bursie is a pan-dimensional time-traveller, here to warn us against the dangers of pollution, global warming and other similar issues. He does not give a reason why he believes that.

Some sheep near to Lake Burslem

Carvings have been found in caves near to the lake, believed to have been made almost 2000 years ago by the ancient inhabitants of Burslem. These carvings show an aquatic beast eating nudists who dared to venture too close to the lake. The earliest recorded literary reference is a diary by Italian Monk St Kevin of Palermo, who claimed in 532 AD that he fought off the monster when it attacked the naked young boys who were accompanying him on a journey. Critics have questioned the reliability of the source, noting a different story in which St Kevin slays a wild dragon by the power of his penis. They also point out that, according to his diaries, St Kevin encounters and conquers assorted monsters at various places in Europe throughout his life, always defeating them, often with the power of his penis or testicles. Additionally, it has been pointed out that the Lake Burslem Monster has few other reported instance of attacking anyone, and in fact is generally portrayed as shy and people-avoidant.

In around 1912, a new road was built on the northern shore of the lake, originally designed to allow tourists to access the Fegg Hayes Mountain Range. This new road provided easy access to unobstructed views of the water. Bursie sightings increased immediately and began to draw international attention.

The first modern sighting occurred in January 1913. The Daily Oatcake newspaper carried a story of Paul Sifter, who reportedly saw a massive monster thrashing about on the surface. The report of the "MONSTER!" (a headline chosen by the editor) became a media sensation with newspapers in London, who sent reporters and an elephant circus to Stoke, and offered a reward of 25 pounds for the capture and killing of the monster. In June that year, Phil Mycock claimed to have witnessed Bursie. Mycock, who would go on to die during World War I fighting for Bulgaria, described the creature as having its head set low in the water and opening and closing its mouth as if it was smoking an invisible cigar.

Mail Scam

A mail scam has been identified so I thought I'd make you all aware, especially in the run up to Christmas, and for anyone looking for a psychic reading.

The scam has also been confirmed by Stoke's leading psychic and medium Crystal O'Future. The Stoke Society of Psychics (SSP) are making people aware of the following:

A card posted through your door from a company called PDS (Psychic Delivery Service) suggests that they were unable to deliver a psychic reading by Crystal O'Future and that you need to contact them on 0898 50 50 50 (a premium rate number). DO NOT call this number as it is a mail scam originating in Derbyshire. If you call the number and start to hear a recorded message you will have been billed £316 for the phone call.

If you do receive a card with these details then please contact the Stoke Society of Psychics Fraud Office on 01782 633 955.

I'd Like To Thank...

The blog is one week old!!

So far the reaction has been pretty good. Here is a selection of the many good reviews:

"An essential guide to the paranormal. If you happen to live in Stoke" - Crystal O'Future, psychic and medium

"The first thing I look at in the morning" - Example Gobbs, The Daily Gargoyle

"About bloody time!" - Dave Munton, explorer

"I may or may not have read this website" - Tony Pulis, Stoke City FC

"Back of the net!"

It's not all been good. I'm not going to lie, there's been some doubters and non-believers. Here's what they've said:

"A tear on the face of Mother Earth" - The Stoke Skeptic Magazine

"A shit stain of hapless paranormal investigations and bungling paranoia" - Stoke Society of the Paranormal

"I did not see it" - Arsene Wenger, Arsenal FC

"I did not see it"

What do I say to the skeptics? I say: I spit on your grave and I sleep with your daughters!

That is all.

Chops Manor

During a séance at Chops Manor in Werrington in 1993, held by local medium and psychic Crystal O’Future (real name: Bev Scaggs) and her husband, Keith, they would uncover what they felt to be a strong presence of spirits at Chops Manor. Enough of a presence to make this a classic ghost story. I hope you're reading this Brian Cox! (Or should that be Brian COCKS?!)

Chops Manor

Located near the Staffordshire Moorlands border on Stoke's east side, Chops Manor was originally built as a Benedictine monastery in the 13th century. Legend has it that a monk and his lover, a priest from a nearby church, were captured by highwaymen while trying to elope and start a new life together. As the monastery refused to negotiate with highwaymen or robbers, the monk was hung while his friend the priest was walled up, alive, in the cellar of a manor outbuilding. Was this the priest who had been seen floating through the gardens, crying horrible tears? Was he the priest who roamed the property searching for his lost love behind bushes, trees and gazebos?

The manor was sold off as a residence in 1882 to Reverend Paul Perez and his family. Reverend Perez had become self-appointed pastor of Chops Manor as he owned the land, and despite warnings from local peasants and rag-and-bone men, built a rectory on a site they believed to be haunted. Over the years, Perez’s servants and his daughters were repeatedly unnerved by phantom noises, unexplained footsteps and ethnic dancing. Reverend Perez found these happenings to be wildly entertaining and he and his son, Terry, built a viewing balcony on the property where they could enjoy after-dinner opium and snuff and wait for an appearance of the phantom priest who roamed the property. After Reverend Perez died from choking on a badger bone, his son Terry inherited the establishment and position until he himself passed on in 1947, dying from infected rickets.

The house was then bought by Reverend Nigel Pike and his wife, Tracy. The ghostly happenings in the manor increased in intensity and frequency. Without any explanation, they found themselves locked out of rooms, windows would suddenly smash and personal items would vanish under their noses. As time went on, these cheeky antics became aggressive and Tracy was actually bitch-slapped by a spirit one evening. The final straw was when she was nearly made unconscious by a pistol-whipping from an angry apparition.

Available now!


Someone (or something) obviously didn’t like Tracy! Perhaps it was jealousy from a ghost that caused these physical transgressions?

The involvement of Crystal O’Future came about when Signal Radio Gold asked her to investigate following the popularity of the story after it was told on air instead of the news one day. It was during this investigation that writing started to appear on the wall, usually when Tracy was present. The ghost(s) scrawled phrases such as “TRACY POO OFF” and “TRACY LIGHT YOURSELF ON FIRE YOU SLAG”.

The Pikes moved out in 1993 and leased the house to Crystal and Keith for a full year for deeper investigation, although the tax breaks weren't unwelcomed. Now that Crystal had the house to herself for an extended period, she excavated the gardens, checked the property for hidden rooms and passageways, built a bowling alley and contacted other paranormal investigators to help her monitor and document the ghostly activities and to uncover some of the fascinating history of Chops Manor.

During one séance, a spirit named Father Alan Pegg claimed that he had been murdered by carnival folk ("carnies") in a dispute over root vegetables. To Crystal, he seemed to fit the profile of the ghost that haunted Chops Manor, even if the cause of death differed from the legend. The spirit also said the house would soon burn down, thus revealing the location of his bones, and just 11 years later a fire was started by the new owner, Captain Ken Major, as he fell asleep while cooking scampi. The fire spread fast through the manor and the rectory was destroyed. (The bowling alley survived the fire.)

Since previously inaccessible areas were now open to them, Crystal and Keith decided to excavate the cellar where they found bones and a priest's collar. Was this the proof needed to validate the story of the betrayed priest? Regardless of who the man was, the bones were thrown into a junkyard in Kidsgrove and his spirit no longer haunts Chops Manor.