A Quick Update

Greetings all, BCPS team member John here.  Just a short blog post today ahead of our monthly BCPS meeting, where we will be discussing the events of a recent investigation and going over our findings before presenting it to our contact.  If we get permission, we will tell you all about it!

We hope to organise a UFO Skywatch on Cannock Chase for the ealry part of May, we will be sorting this out tomorrow and will release information in the coming weeks, guests are more than welcome as Cannock Chase has had more than its fair share of Paranormal sightings over the years, and not just UFO's either!  Fingers crossed, with weather permitting and some nice clear skies, it should be a very enjoyable evening!  If you didnt make it to our Skywatch on Kinver Edge last year, we heartily recommend coming along if you are interested.

It has been interesting to follow the development of the story of the missing passenger jet,  Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.  As the hunt continues to get confirmation of its whereabouts and the poor souls that were on board, questions continue to be raised about what happened to it, and naturally the conspiracy theories and UFO-related theories soon started circulating around the internet.  While I find it very suspicious indeed that absolutely no evidence has been found to confirm its fate given the level of the search and technological capabilities available,  I think people should take the conspiracy theories with a pinch of salt.  Even if the plane is found, it will not quash the rumours and claims about how and why it happened and the claims of a government cover-up.  As an objective paranormal investigator, it is best to base opinions and conclusions upon evidence provided, as anything else is pure speculation.  I only hope the families of the missing loved ones get some closure soon.

On a personal note, it was very sad to hear the passing of Harold Ramis who was so instrumental in my interest for the Paranormal as a kid.  Ghostbusters is as popular today as it has ever been, and celebrating its 30th birthday this year just goes to show that it will endure for many decades to come.  RIP Harold. :(

Sticking with the entertainment business, I am thoroughly looking forward to the upcoming movie "Exists" - a found footage Bigfoot movie from "The Blair Witch Project" co-director Eduardo Sanchez, the pioneer of the found footage horror movie.  While nothing much has been released, which is a good thing in a world where we get to see way too much of movies before their release, this one has me very excited indeed!  https://www.facebook.com/existsmovie

This leads me on finally, to the latest reports in the world of Cryptozoology.  I was very excitied to see the recent report of a couple in Texas who believe they have caught a young Chupacabra.  No grainy phone videos here, as a US news team went to see for themselves and the footage is impressive!  The creature (claimed to be a type of canine by an expert in the report) certainly looks nothing like I have ever seen, and seems to be a mixture of a kangaroo and a dog.  I hope they are able to identify the animal soon!  http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/entertainment&id=9490035

Remember to like us on facebook (www.facebook.com/groups/305441396231415/) and follow us on Twitter (@BCPS_Paranormal) for regular news updates.  Stay frosty people!

Interview with Richard Lawden, the creator of "Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains"

Greetings all, John here from the BCPS.  Back in Halloween of 1992, my love for the Paranormal reached a fever pitch, as much as it could for a 12 year old anyway!  Already having exhausted the vast majority of books on the subject from every library in the region, I wanted more.  Luckily, the BBC decided to break away from tradition and actually broadcast something to celebrate Halloween, this came in the form of "Ghostwatch", a live broadcast from a Haunted House.  The rest was history.  I think it was a ground-breaking show, way ahead of its time.  It confused millions of people who tuned in, was it for real, was it scripted?  It was only some of the wooden acting and plot turns that eventually gave the game away, but it let to a media storm soon after its broadcast, with its dark and visceral subject matter.  It wasn't gory by any means, but the themes and story it dealt with were not for the faint-hearted.  For you Paranormal enthusiasts, the inspiration for the story closely resembles the famous Enfield Poltergeist case about a single mum and her two daughters.  If you have not yet seen the show, I won't spoil anything else.

22 years on, a huge fan of the show Richard Lawden has produced an independent documentary  called "Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains" which investigates the show from its creation through to the aftermath of the broadcast.  Richard has kindly given his time to talk to us about the show and his amazing documentary.




- Richard, many thanks for talking to us, we can't wait to watch the documentary! I suppose the first question is, were you interested in the Paranormal before you saw Ghostwatch?

"Well, I was only seven when I first saw Ghostwatch, but I do recall around that time, being intrigued by even the suggestion that there might be more to life than just what we see, hear, smell, taste or feel - "I can't see the wind, but I know it's there." is the quote, I believe. I'm sure we'll still be asking these types of questions for many years to come, and that's what is most fascinating, to me. As a kid, I do remember being into things like Ghostbusters, and that whole cross-sci-fi genre. The cartoon series was a favourite of mine, and I liked the idea of cross-pollinating Spirituality and Technology in order to prove that ghosts existed, or not. When you consider, almost the entire premise of the fictional Ghostwatch event hinges on that blend, you can probably tell why it appealed to me so much, as a youngster."

- So what are your views on Ghosts and the Paranormal in general?

"I'm fairly open-minded. Brand-new discoveries are made in so many diverse fields every day, so I prefer not to wholly discount the experiences of others, no matter how incredible, on face value. If Ghostwatch has taught me anything, it's that the best ghost stories largely depend not only on the voice of scepticism, but also the strength of the narrator. Nevertheless, there still remain countless, inexplicable events which transcend even that. I can't admit to having experienced many paranormal occurrences myself, but over the years, I'm sure I've seen or heard the odd light or sound that shouldn't have been there. That's about the limit of my expertise, I'm afraid. But it hasn't turned me off to ghosts and ghoulies - if anything, it's made me look into the shadows, that bit closer!"


- Well your views sit very nicely with how the BCPS operate, we are all believers to varying degrees, but we stay objective in our investigations, so we can certainly understand your viewpoint.  So even at that young age, can you still remember watching the infamous Ghostwatch broadcast? How did you, your family and friends react to it at the time?

"My folks' reactions, that night, were priceless. Dad couldn't resist dismantling the show from a technical standpoint ("I can see the wires", "That camera couldn't do that unless...", etc). My mother, on the other hand, was looking at the programme from a completely different angle, which was identifying which parts were scripted/fake, and which were real/impromptu. The story was quite a bit more intense than we might had been expecting, I think, but we all somehow knew that this would be a night to remember.

I think it was helpful to have that kind of safety blanket, actually. Both of my parents knew that the show was fictional, but we all enjoyed it as a Hallowe'en special. We've only ever watched it once more, together again, and that was for the Twentieth Anniversary, I believe. That was great fun, revisiting it decades later. Honestly, I can't recall very many mentions of the show whilst I was at school, all the way up to college. The 'blanket ban', such as it was, did a remarkable job at suppressing Ghostwatch's very existence.

This is what naturally led to distorted accounts of the plot, and especially the after effects on the viewing public. For instance, over eleven million people watched Ghostwatch. 2215 officially complained, as far as I'm aware. That's less than 1%. Even so, I do remember being very frightened a couple of weeks later, though my grandmother quickly put an end to that by insisting we watch the VHS again, and falling asleep halfway through. It was at that point, I knew not to take it too seriously, and have tried to carry her philosophy all the way through the Behind the Curtains project."


- Why do you think it caused such a stir and why it was banned for such a long time? These days it seems younger audiences are exposed to far more adult content than back in 1992?

"It's worth bearing in mind that Ghostwatch was an exaggeration of TV at the time - at certain points, it's borderline satire. Certainly in the writing, there's at least an edge of cynicism concerning shows which dramatise real-life for entertainment purposes. Ironically, now, the speculative format is almost old hat, so it's interesting to see just how much has changed over the years. So much so, that you'd be forgiven for wondering why we've yet to see the fabled repeat screening, now over two decades later. The writer, Stephen Volk, once said that if the show had been made, let's say on Channel 4, it possibly wouldn't have kicked up nearly as much fuss. I think because Auntie Beeb has always been the nation's 'trusted' broadcaster, some people just let their guard down. The buzzword for Ghostwatch tends to be 'hoax', which I also think is unfair. It was, is, and forever shall be a drama. It just went a different route as regard engaging with its audience. Drama programming is designed to immerse the viewer in a compelling story. That's what Ghostwatch did, plus it was never billed as anything else, so I can't quite fathom much of the negative reaction. It was a cautionary tale about the power of television, and is still prescient today.

There are lots of theories as to why Ghostwatch has never been shown again. Possibly, a combination of factors are responsible for keeping it sealed in the vaults, so to speak. Recently, the Global iPlayer platform made it available to check out for a while, and it has been shown on Belgian and Canadian TV, so there's always hope that it might one day happen on British television. Plus, it was never 'banned' as far as I know. It was just strongly discouraged. Otherwise, the BFI wouldn't have been able to release it on home video, ten years later. With a '12' certificate, no less!

Until we get that repeat viewing, we intend on continuing on the tradition of National Seance, which is a great event held once a year. Basically, on Hallowe'en Night, at 21:25, we ask fans worldwide to play their copies of the show simultaneously, and then see what comments come in, usually via Twitter and Facebook. For the Twentieth Anniversary, the stats were huge. I think we were trending #4 on Twitter at one point. There's definitely an appetite to revisit the show in some form. Hence, the doc, book, and the BtC project, as a whole, really."

- Wow! I had no idea about the annual viewing, I will certainly take part this year! I agree with you on the fact that people classify it as a hoax, I consider it a drama and one that is also effective as a lesson in storytelling, particularly for the horror genre. It was never gory but the themes and content of the show were certainly powerful enough to fire people's imagination, hence why it is still so popular after all these years. 

So moving on to your documentary "Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains" (GBTC), how did that all come about and what drove you to do it?

"Behind the Curtains first came about, around late 2007. At the time, I was a bit of a struggling writer, searching for a way into the industry, and it just dawned on me one day to stop trying to platform my career, and just dive in at the deep end. As much as I love writing, I had hoped that it might lead to one day producing, or directing a film of my own, but I had this moment of clarity and thought, why not just make a start, yourself? So, I began to think about what kind of projects I could realistically take on as my first attempt, and recalled a brief moment at college when I considered making a documentary for a film course, but there really wasn't any kind of backing available. I had also dedicated a piece of coursework to Ghostwatch, so that's where the idea stemmed from. But what really got the notion off the ground was when I did a web search for upcoming screen-writing workshops, and happened upon one due to take place later that month at a media centre called the Watershed, Bristol. Their guest speaker was Stephen Volk, and I immediately recognised the name. So I thought, who better to ask?

It was astounding to me that no-one had yet sought to revisit the show and its legacy, outside of clip shows or sound-bites, so I made the trip down to see him, and we got on very well right from the start. Steve has always been very encouraging in getting the film made, and out there. He put me in touch with Lesley Manning, the director of the original, and often reminded me to keep my chin up whenever it seemed like the idea possibly wasn't going to happen, after all.

It took about five years to lay out an Independent plan to get the thing made. I was adamant I was going to get it done, but it wasn't until Lesley Manning came on board in the role of co-producer, that things really started to get moving. She, too, is a real expert in the realm of film-making, and was an invaluable part of the production. My folks were also very supportive and helped out, a great deal. But for the longest time, I didn't know if it was going to be a film, or a book, or a podcast, or anything."


- Was everyone receptive to being involved? You don't have to name names, and without giving away any spoilers from your documentary, I'm just curious if anyone had any regrets about being a part of the show back in 1992?

"Believe it or not, for the most part, getting the Ghostwatch cast and crew involved was fairly easy, as most still remain particularly proud of having been a part of the show. Until recently, they'd never really gotten the chance to discuss what they had enjoyed making. Plus, I've had the good fortune to work with or around some of the guys over the years, like Craig, so securing commitments was actually far less difficult than I thought it would be. Working to suit people's busy schedules, however, was an entirely different story, and required quite a bit of forward planning. In the end, we were able to interview almost everybody, but sadly, none of the Early Family were available to meet with us. Nevertheless, the offer shall always be there!"


- Well it certainly sounds like it was a labour of love and it certainly shows on screen the passion and pride from everyone involved in Ghostwatch. It comes across as a very positive collective. Personally, how was the experience for you and how has the project been received in general?

"Considering our project's humble beginnings, I couldn't be more proud by what we we've been able to achieve. The doc opened to strong reviews, which are still coming in. Copies of the DVD have been sent out, all over the world. Completing the book was actually a bit of a surprise, as that naturally went on the back burner when Lesley and I teamed up to co-produce, but I'd written so much already, it just felt like it could make for a nice addition, and also a neat way to include any material we weren't able to, in the film itself.

Aside from just wanting to learn more about the show, which has always fascinated me, I did also set out to try and get Ghostwatch some of the recognition it deserved, and ultimately, I think we achieved that. It's been an incredible journey so far, and one I'll never forget. Having developed something of a taste for film-making (and with this project having taken five years to complete), the only problem now is deciding which story to pursue next!"


- I have read that a follow-up show/drama was planned for Ghostwatch at some stage well in the past, from your interviews and research, how close did that come to fruition?

"Yes, Stephen Volk did write a follow-up to Ghostwatch called '31/10', which is actually in the book! I don't want to give too much away, but it concerns a return to the haunted studio, ten years after Mr. Pipes was unleashed from Foxhill Drive... It's creepy as hell, and well worth checking out if you're into horror fiction."


- Ah yes, I was going to ask how the book differed to the DVD, it sounds like a fascinating read! As for the future, perhaps you could make that sequel to Ghostwatch?! Do you think you would stick to so,etching factual, in the realms of the paranormal, something fictional or a combination of?

"Ha, to make a sequel to Ghostwatch would be thrilling, but I'm sure that Lesley and Stephen are the people to approach first, for that! What's interesting is that a lot of people still ask if you could 'do the show again', or remake it, or something. I think that every generation has a Ghostwatch. Most recently, it's been films like Paranormal Activity and REC. Before then, Blair Witch, and earlier still, Alternative 3 and The War Of The Worlds, to name but a few. I'm sure the next take on the genre-defying/reality-smashing experience is already in the pipe(s)line, and I look forward to checking it out. I would actually love to see a continuation of the Ghostwatch universe in some shape or form. I think the characters are wonderful, and there's definitely an appetite to see more, so who knows."


- What advice would you give to aspiring film makers or people with a drive to do something they are passionate about?

"My advice to anyone looking to make a film, or embark upon a project such as this, is two-fold. First, think it through, and second, stick with it. A well thought out concept is always the best way to go ("If it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stage"). Also, don't expect things to happen overnight, or even at all, like you first imagined. Certain aspects of the doc are quite different to what I first envisaged, but that's partly due to some great opportunities that materialised along the way - for instance, working alongside people like Danny, Arfon and Ian who were able to contribute some phenomenal work."


- Well thanks once again for talking to us, we wish you the best of luck with future projects and congratulations on producing such a fantastic addition to the legacy of Ghostwatch! We might have to drag you along to one of our investigations in the future!

"John, it's been a pleasure. I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the doc, and would be delighted to attend one of your ghostly investigations, in the future. Again, we're going to be taking Behind the Curtains to the Earls Court Comic Con in July, and I intend to arrive wearing my very own replica Ghostbusters flight suit, so at the very least, I have an idea as to what I should wear if I can one day tag along..."


If you have seen Ghostwatch, then you will love "Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains", it is a fascinating documentary and the book sounds like a must-read too!  If you want to purchase the DVD, Book, or to find out more about the project, upcoming events and more, then head on over to www.ghostwatchbtc.com

As Richard mentioned, he will also have a special booth at this years London Film & Comic Con, at Earls Court from Friday 11th July to Sunday 13th July, along with special guests Stephen Volk (creator of Ghostwatch, the ITV series Afterlife and recent horror movie The Awakening) and Lesley Manning (Director of Ghostwatch), commitments permitting.  Go to www.londonfilmandcomiccon.com for tickets and information.

Finally, if you haven't yet seen Ghostwatch, it is available from Amazon and most online DVD retailers, as well as Ebay if you want a bargain copy.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone from the BCPS team!  We hope you all had a pleasant Christmas period and here's hoping 2014 will be a great year.

We have taken a break over the festive period, but we are already making plans for the coming months, with a UFO Skywatch on Cannock Chase on Saturday 1st February, weather permitting of course.  Cannock Chase has had all manner of Paranormal sightings over the years, from Werewolves to UFO's.  Hopefully it should be a clear night and with little light pollution, it will give us a stunning view of the night sky, so who knows what we might see!  You are welcome to join us of course, we will post details closer to the time on the Blog, facebook and Twitter, but if you are interested in coming along, email us at blackcountryparanormalsociety@hotmail.co.uk.  We held a Skywatch on Kinver Edge last year which turned out to be a great night, with popular radio DJ Darren "Cheeky Daz" Yates and his family coming along, along with a few satellites, the space station and a meteor making a surprise appearance!  It is a family friendly event, although anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Torches, warm and waterproof clothing are essential things to have with you, and you are welcome to bring food and drink (non-alcoholic only) if you want, as we like to have a little night time picnic ourselves!

In addition to that, we are also hoping to finalise a big paranormal investigation soon, we will keep you posted of this in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, follow us on facebook and twitter, we love chatting to fellow Paranormal enthusiasts and we welcome your stories, encounters and opinions!  The BCPS are also here to help if you think you may be encountering paranormal activity in your home, workplace or anywhere really.  Just drop us a line.

BCPS team member visits the Blair Street Vaults, Edinburgh

Hello all,

John here from the BCPS team!  We hope you all had a fun Halloween and are looking forward to the festive season?!

I thought I would write up a quick piece about my visit to the infamous Blair Street Vaults in Edinburgh a few weeks ago.  The vaults are one of the most infamous haunted places in the UK and has been a life-long desire for me to go there, so when the opportunity came up, nothing would hold me back!

Because the Vaults are a very busy tourist attraction on a daily basis, my time there was limited but I made the most of it, and encountered a few unusual things along the way.

Owned by Mercat Tours, and according to them, the history of the vaults is that they were uncovered in the 1980's and were excavated to reveal a series of tunnels and rooms/vaults.  The vaults were used after the creation of a bridge in edinburgh, to try and offset some of the cost.  Shops and services were set up down there, but due to the rates, these businesses moved out, and more illegitimate activities moved in.  In fact the vaults were left and almost forgotten, until a few policemen decided to take an impromptu look down there, and what they saw horrified them to the point of them fleeing the vaults, before it was raided and emptied, filled in and forgotten about.

Mercat werent expecting the vaults to be haunted, that came as a surprise as tours started operating down there.  The vaults are known to be a paranormal hot spot, and high on the list of dream places for an investigator, myself included, so it was a dream come true when I finally descended the stairs, leading down underground.  The place is a maze of rooms, all varying in size, shape, height and direction, with no discernable pattern or order to them.  The place is lit only be candles dotted in a few places here and there, plus the occasional, obligatory fire exit sign for safety.

The first thing I noticed was how warm it was down there.  A person could quite comfortably spend a few hours down there without the need of a coat, because you are deep underground by about 3 stories if I remember correctly.  The next thing you notice is the eerie, unexplainable noises.  It is hard to tell if they are in the distance or all around you, as well as what is causing them.  Its like the echoes of the past are still carrying on.  According to my guide, nobody can determine what the noises are or what causes them.  It cannot be street level noise as we were too deep undergound.  This intrigued and excited me from the start, but better stuff was yet to come!

As we moved from one chamber to the next, listening to stories of encounters and possible explanations, I deliberately stayed behind to get the chamber/room to myself, in order to get undisturbed photos.  I always take 2-3 shots, one after the other, of a particular room or composition, so I can compare them afterwards for anomalies and try to rule out rational explanations for anything I might catch.  One photo did intrigue me (see our Flickr album) as the middle of a sequence of two photos, as it turned out very dark with a strange light or moving object passing through the middle, when the previous shot showed the entrance to a chamber.  Nothing was infront of me, nor did I move the camera, so what caused this photo is still a mystery to me.

As stories and accounts were described from room to room, the notorious name of Mr Boots came up, the apparition that seems to be the only one to move about the place, trying to make visitors feel very unwelcome and to leave.  Some accounts were quite vivid and must have been pretty intense at the time.  As the guide was talking about another room, I hung to the back as usual, and waited in the arched doorway.  In addition to the warmth, there is no wind or noticeable draughts down there, but all of a sudden, it felt like someone blew a short puff of air right into my ear, as though they were standing right by me.  My first reaction was to say something, but I bit my lip and didnt do a thing.  Then a few seconds later, the same thing happened again.  This intrigued me, as a draught would be impossible to be so concentrated as to pinpoint the inside area of my ear.  I privately spoke to the guide once she had finished and told her what had happened, she smiled and said that has happened in the past, and in different places.  She said that it was especially interesting as she had to pause from talking around the same time, as she was sure she had heard footsteps from the adjacent empty chamber - the infamous Mr Boots had made his presence felt!

The rest of the tour was entertaining and interesting, but uneventful.  Regardless, it is an incredible place, run and owned by a fantastic company who are respectful of the alleged spirits that haunt the place, which is something I greatly admire.  The last impression I got of the place as I left (the last man out), was that the guide said each night, a member of their staff goes down and blows out each candle, one by one before locking up.  That must be a pretty intense nightly experience!

For more information on Mercat Tours and to make bookings, go to http://www.mercattours.com

Happy Halloween! BCPS on the Radio

Greetings all!

Well, our live radio broadcast on BRAAP with presenter Darren Yates, AKA "Cheeky Daz" was a great success!  We took Darren and his two colleagues/friends to one of our favourite outdoor locations, Gibbett Lane, so they could experience a paranormal investigation without all the bells and whistles of an events company.  We are pleased to report they all thoroughly enjoyed the experience, even though at times they were a bit scared with all that was going on, as the new faces certainly seemed to spark some activity!

Here you can listen to some of the highlights:
https://soundcloud.com/cheekydazza/cheeky-ghost-hunt-black?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook

Towards the end, you can hear BCPS team member John and Darren saying they thought they could hear voices.  Darren kindly sent us this clip which seems to show some kind of noise directly before them saying they thought they heard a voice.  We are currently reviewing this clip, but hear it is anyway to see what you think:
https://www.facebook.com/ajax/messaging/attachment.php?attach_id=3599095b4e93e0ba87966362f2259c39&mid=mid.1381942167979%3Ac969d54fe51989c658&hash=AQAs7cB0KeMyhWyy


Anyway, Halloween is nearly upon us, and from the BCPS, we hope you have lots of scary fun!  Please be safe if you are taking part in an paranormal experiences and investigations, and please be wary of playing around with potentially dangerous things such as Seances and Ouija Boards.  Our previous blog post gives you our little guide to enjoying Halloween safely!

Finally, team member John will be heading up to Edinburgh this weekend to represent the BCPS, where he will be heading down underground into the Blair Street Vaults, allegedly one of the most haunted places in the UK!  John will be taking some equipment with him and we will post photos etc soon!

BCPS Paranormal Investigation on the Radio!

Hello all!

Sorry for the delayed blog posts, lots of things going on the the BCPS, mainly personal lives taking up our time, but we still press on and keep active with lots of things in the pipeline!

Some exciting news, the BCPS will be taking a popular radio DJ (and his co-host) to a secret haunted location this weekend to conduct a paranormal investigation, which they will record to be broadcast close to Halloween across a number of radio stations!  We dont want to reveal details of anything just yet until the DJ is ready to promote the broadcast, but stay tuned to this blog, our website and facebook for further information!  The great part about this is that you will get to experience (even though its just in audio form) one of our paranormal investigations!  The DJ will no doubt post photos and any findings on his site, as will we, so you wil have a visual reference too.

Halloween is coming up, that annual tradition where we celebrate all things scary!  If you are going to take part in the occasion, I recommend you find a local ghost walk, as they are often a family-orientated event and usually great value for money as an informative and entertaining alternative, should you not wish to do anything too intense such as a Ghost Hunt/Paranormal Investigation!

Should you wish to go for something more extreme such as an investigation evening, personal opinions of them aside, please research events companies that you are thinking of choosing, and go with someone with good reviews that are reputable and dont charge the earth for something they may not have much real expertise or experience in.  I also recommend that you take whatever happens with a pinch of salt as I think it is best to take them as an 'experience evening', as their job is to entertain you and provide as many scares and activity they can find.  Also understand that these are not controlled environments, so findings are harder to evaluate as well as their guest mediums who have no doubt been to locations many times before.  Also please be aware of any groups or companies who practice dangerous and unorthodox methods such as ouija boards and use antagonistic methods to try and communicate with whatever spirits/ghosts may be there.  It is a risky thing to do.

Regardless, enjoy whatever you get up to, stay safe and enjoy the evening!  We will be back with more information on the radio show and how you can listen very soon!

As always, this blog a personal viewpoint only and does not reflect the opinions and beliefs of other members of the BCPS team or the team as a whole.  If you would like more information on the BCPS and what we do, just visit our website at www.bcps.moonfruit.com

BCPS UFO Skywatch Open Night!

Greetings!

Lots going on at the BCPS these days!  We have added some photos from our last Skywatch on our gallery, just visit www.bcps.moonfruit.com.  We were also on the Cheekydaz morning show on Spitfire Radio last Saturday and we have lots more upcoming with Cheekydaz himself in the coming months, so keep watching this space and our facebook page for further news - very exciting stuff!

Dont forget everyone, our next UFO Skywatch/Open evening will be held (weather permitting) at the top of Kinver Edge in Kidderminster, on Saturday 10th August! Bring along a deckchair, a torch (as it gets very dark up there), some binoculars if you have some and even perhaps a picnic if you fancy a little midnight feast!

Remember, we can't promise ET will show up for us, but you get some stunning views of the region and the night sky (last time we even saw a Meteor burn up in the atmosphere!). You can meet the BCPS team, share your stories or thoughts on the paranormal and enjoy the evening! Please note, children are welcome (as we had one present last time) but they must be accompanied by and the responsibility of a parent or guardian. We will be there from 9.30pm until around 1am depending on the weather. Its an easy short walk from the car park but you must bring a torch to find your way.

If you need directions or for more information, just contact us at blackcountryparanormalsociety@hotmail.co.uk and we hope to see you there!

The Radio DJ and the Aliens.

Hi all,

                Things are certainly picking up in the Black Country Paranormal Society. First of all, Spitfire Radio's one and only Darren Yates (Cheekydaz.) contacted the B.C.P.S asking if we'd like to co-ordinate a ghost hunt with him for one of his radio shows. And we accepted his kind offer. So we will be appearing on radio alongside Darren and the cheeky team. So watch this space!!!!!

             On Saturday 13th July, we at the Black Country Paranormal Society, undertook a Skywatch at Kinver edge, by the Toposcope. http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM6KW9_Kinver_Edge_Toposcope

                 Present were the usual B.C.P.S team and joining us was Darren Yates from Spitfire Radio. A good night was had by all. The weather was great and the view from Kinver edge was clear. Sadly E.T nor their ships chose to make a appearance. Although at 12 midnight exactly, shortly after Darren and his family had left, a bright light was seen to appear high up in the atmosphere for a few seconds and then faded away.

                The B.C.P.S intend to hold a further skywatch at Kinver Edge on Saturday 10th August for anyone who would care to join us. Feel free to do so. And if you should care to join us and unsure where the Toposcope is. Drop us a line via our email address, blackcountryparanormalsociety@hotmail.co.uk or call us on 07816284845. You could also visit our Website at http://bcps.moonfruit.com/  or our forum at http://blackcounpara.freeforums.net/

Until next time, happy hunting!!!!

         

             

Churning away in the background...

Lots of things are happening at BCPS HQ, First off, we have now added a gallery on Flickr which can be accessed by clicking the 'Gallery' button on our Website menu (www.bcps.moonfruit.com).  This gallery contains some of our favourite photographs from various investigations over the years, and we hope to continue to expand on this in the coming months!

In addition to our recent Youtube channel, we now have a Twitter account (www.twitter.com/BCPS_Paranormal) feel free to follow us or join us on our new Myspace account (www.myspace.com/bcps_paranormal) if you prefer Myspace to Facebook!

We also have some other big announcements to make in the coming weeks, with one in the final stages of preparation for all to enjoy!

Don't forget that we will be hosting two sky-watch evening's for all you UFO enthusiasts, on Saturday 13th July and Saturday 10th August, weather permitting, at a great location in the West Midlands.  This will be a chance for you to come along, free of charge to meet the BCPS team, bring along some food and drink (strictly non-alcoholic only) for a bit of a night time picnic too!  This area is known for UFO sightings and provides a great view, so who knows what we might glimpse in the night sky!  Join our facebook page and register your interest, or email us (blackcountryparanormalsociety@hotmail.co.uk) to let us know if you are interested and we will post more details next week!

A few interesting articles...

Good afternoon everyone, sorry for the lack of updates lately but we are busy at the BCPS working on some new projects and plans to involve you all, more to follow soon.  In the meantime, we have announced on our facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/305441396231415/) that we will be hosting two sky-watch evening's for all you UFO enthusiasts, on Saturday 13th July and Saturday 10th August, weather permitting, at a great location in the West Midlands.  This will be a chance for you to come along, free of charge to meet the BCPS team, bring along some food and drink (strictly non-alcoholic only) for a bit of a night time picnic too!  This area is known for UFO sightings and provides a great view, so who knows what we might glimpse in the night sky!  Join our facebook page and register your interest, or email us (blackcountryparanormalsociety@hotmail.co.uk) to let us know if you are interested and we will post more details soon!

In the meantime, here are a few very interesting articles from the BBC News website.  The first one kind of relates to UFO reports, as quite often people think they see a UFO which can be easily confused for many things, such as strange shaped clouds, hovering aircraft, balloons, even satellites and the orbiting space station.  Have a read anyway and see what you think:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22686500

The second article follows a similar theme but pertains more to ghost hunting, in particular Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP).  This is a bit of a talking point at the BCPS, as a few of us take the view that compelling EVP evidence is not found by tinkering and playing around with recorded sound and distorted to the point of becoming almost artificial, which leads the brain into thinking what it wants to hear.  Clear EVP sounds that can be understood and listened to by the naked ear are far more convincing and harder to discount as something else.  Once again, read the article and we would love to hear your opinions on the fascinating subject:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21922834

As always, this blog a personal viewpoint only and does not reflect the opinions and beliefs of other members of the BCPS team or the team as a whole.  If you would like more information on the BCPS and what we do, just visit our website at www.bcps.moonfruit.com

The Team.

Hi All,

         We've been about for fourteen years now and have investigated some interesting places, The Station Hotel ( before Most Haunted and for free.) The Manor House. ( Before Most Haunted  and for free again. ) The Ancient Ram Inn, and many more. We do paranormal investigation for ourselves and to help people, although we cannot get rid of your Ghost. There are five team members that make up the B.C.P.S, so with that allow me to introduce them.


Heidi Pickrell.  Co Founder.

                                                     

Georgina Bennett. 


                                             

John Wright.

                                    

Mark Pickrell.


                                       

Wayne Pickrell.


                                   

              Well that's the group. We're all good friends who investigate paranormal phenomena. From Ghosts to UFO's. And we're always available to help anyone who may be experiencing strange phenomena. If you wish to contact us. There are a number of ways. So feel free to click the link that follow. http://bcps.moonfruit.com/  or our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/305441396231415/?bookmark_t=group

              So I hope to see you there and thank you again for visiting!!!

May News Update

Hello all!

Sorry for the lack of blog posts lately, we at the BCPS have been very busy developing new things for fellow enthusiasts, such as our new Youtube channel which you can find here: http://www.youtube.com/user/BCPSParanormalTV

Feel free to comment on the videos as we love to hear other people's opinions!  We are also working on collating photos of possible paranormal activity from some of our previous investigations so we can update and expand the Gallery page on our website.  We also hope to transfer some old audio and video footage and add those to the Youtube channel too!

As well as developing these things to share with you all, we are busy trying to arrange some brand new investigations in some prominent locations.  If we are able to share the information, we will keep you up to date.  In addition to investigating business premises and other establishments such as pubs, hotels, retail premises etc, we also have investigated people's homes in the past.  When we do receive such a request, we ensure to keep all information confidential to protect the people involved.  We ensure to tread carefully with these situations when an alleged haunting is in someone's home, and we take things a step at a time to reassure family members. 

Please note that we do NOT practice such unorthodox and dangerous things as Ouija boards or Seances, nor do we claim to be able to rid the house of a possible ghost - to try and do so is risking making the situation worse.  We can inform the residents on our findings and advise on the best possible course of action from here, whether it be to liaise with a local Church or otherwise.  Please see our testimonials page (http://www.bcps.moonfruit.com/#/testimonials/4573463768) for a new quote from a member of the public we were able to help with not too long ago.

if you are experiencing unusual activity in your home, work place or public location that you think may be paranormal, we would love to hear from you! Remember we investigate all areas of the paranormal, from ghosts, to UFO's to Cryptozoology (unusual creatures) and more.  Just call us on 07816 284 845 or email blackcountryparanormalsociety@hotmail.co.uk - we treat all claims seriously and we don't bite! :)

Have a great weekend and we will update with more news soon as it happens.

The BCPS Team.

Cryptozoology - Just a Matter of Time Now?

I came across this article today on the BBC New Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22263874

Very interesting article I thought, especially with the apparent increase in sightings of big cats spotted around the UK.  This has been going on for decades (the above article link is a prime example of that), but what are these big cat creatures?  I don't think a zoo would cover up the fact they had an escaped animal capable of killing people so I would personally rule out that theory.  Some say they are Puma's and other large cats that have previously been kept as exotic animals and either escaped or let loose into the wild.  I can see the logic in this as exotic animals and specimens of this nature were very fashionable and desirable in the Victorian era and long before that.  Without knowing how to care for these animals, it is possible that a few could have been let loose over time and somehow managed to reproduce, hence the sightings to the present day.  All you have to do is google this subject and you will be bombarded with a surprising number of reports, so its clear that something is out there in various parts of the country.  The UK used to have wolves, so why not dangerous cats such as pumas, lynx or something similar that has adapted to the climate and surroundings and has learnt to survive.

Cryptozoology always interests me, as with technology progressing in leaps and bounds year by year, the gadgets we own and carry with us on a daily basis can do what you would have need a film crew and a broadcasting station to do a few decades ago.  The increase of sightings has led to a huge increase in more compelling photo and video evidence of these creatures.  The only downside is that with this technology and computer software, it is also just as easy to fake.  Thankfully, our own intuition and methods of deduction allow to to seperate the majority of hoaxes, but there is always that tiny possibility that the evidence could have been faked, we just dont know.  That's why unless someone captures one of these creatures alive for all to see, I dont think we can ever be 100% convinced.  That said, there are some incredible pieces of footage that are very compelling.  Search on Youtube for recent Bigfoot sightings and there are one or two that I find fantastic.  There are a few other creature sightings that also unnerve as well as intrigue.  here are just a few that I find interesting, I'll let you decide for yourselves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFL7Hp351lw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpGJ2h16myQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGil3aLKTjg

http://www.naturalplane.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/photo-unknown-entity-gas-plant-kennedy.html

http://www.naturalplane.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/connection-nightcrawler-vs-kenedy-texas.html

http://naturalplane.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/another-unknown-creature-in-pennsylvania.html

http://naturalplane.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/update-unknown-hominid-trail-cam-image.html


One thing I really am convinced of though, is that with this modern technology and evolved investigation and tracking methods, I really do think it is just a matter of time when one of these creatures will be proven to exist.

As always, this blog a personal viewpoint only and does not reflect the opinions and beliefs of other members of the BCPS team or the team as a whole.  If you would like more information on the BCPS and what we do, just visit our website at www.bcps.moonfruit.com

Ghostwatch

Last night a few of the BCPS team decided on the spur of the moment to watch the infamous "Ghostwatch" - the mock-reality/live show, that was broadcast on Halloween 1992 on BBC1.  Wow, watching it after all these years, and the impact of the show can still be felt.  I remember the immediate controversy the days and weeks after the show, the countless complaints to the BBC (the fake phone line received over 30,000 calls during the shows broadcast), the claims that the show caused trauma and stress to young children despite the show starting after the 9pm watershed and even an apparent link to a suicide. This all led to a decade long ban to repeat the programme on BBC television, but it has since been shown overseas and it has been available to buy on DVD (or rent via Lovefilm for all you subscribers to that service).

Watching the show last night, the format and idea for the show clearly shows how it has influenced paranormal-based entertainment since that time - apparently it was a heavy influence for the makers of "The Blair Witch Project" and the format of the show very closely matches that of the "Most Haunted Live" shows.  For a drama it was very well done in my eyes, despite some iffy acting from the two children involved at times, and the far-fetched last act.  Some elements were downright creepy, especially the opening CCTV footage from the girl's bedroom and how the suspense played out with some jumpy moments when you least expect it.  The more I have watched the show, the more I tend to pick up, things I missed before and very clever, subliminal stuff with the ghost character.

I must admit though, the plagiarism of the famous Enfield Poltergeist case has become extremely obvious, to the extent of even (what seems like) replicated photos taken from the case investigated by Guy Lyon Playfair (published in his book about the case "This House is Haunted").  I'm told that he won a legal case over the show and had his name in a credit on the re-released cut of the show as a consultant.  The way this was done did trouble me to an extent, as I can't believe they would go ahead and make the show without the consent of the original family involved in the Enfield case.  It was also a very bold move of the BBC to create the ghost character (one of two possibilities provided during the show) as a possible cross-dressing paedophile, and given the show's focus around the characters of the two young girls.  I'm amazed the BBC went ahead with a 9pm broadcast of the show on Halloween, especially when so many kids want to get in the spirit of things  and parents probably thinking that it was okay for kids to watch given the involvement of the popular children's TV presenter Sarah Greene as the on-location co-host of the show.

To be honest, it is a huge talking point that could be discussed for hours on end.  Now I fondly watch it for how unique it was, how it executed commonly witnessed paranormal phenomena effectively, and for some cool scares combined with a nostalgia factor.  You can read more about it online at various sites, including Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostwatch

Today I found out that a retrospective feature-length documentary has recently been released called "Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains" and by jove am I going to get a copy!  The reviews have been great, it features interviews with the cast and looks to be very insightful indeed!  For more information on that (or to buy a copy), visit http://www.ghostwatchbtc.com/

As always, this blog a personal viewpoint only and does not reflect the opinions and beliefs of other members of the BCPS team or the team as a whole.  If you would like more information on the BCPS and what we do, just visit our website at www.bcps.moonfruit.com

Quick Update

Just a short blog this week ladies and gents, trolls and ghouls. As advertised on our Website contact page, we regularly read the 'Phantoms & Monsters' blog over at http://www.naturalplane.blogspot.co.uk/  Its a news-based site that collates all the latest reports of paranormal activity from around the world, mixing in some infamous cases here and there along with reader submissions.  Its a very honest blog that keeps a neutral point of view to allow the reader to enjoy the stories, view the evidence and make their own conclusions from there.  You can also register to receive notifications on new updates and it is a great way to spend a coffee break each day to get your daily paranormal fix!

Well thankfully we have now entered Spring, and putting those clocks forward an hour makes such a difference on an evening!  This is the exciting period as we look towards more pleasant weather in which to conduct investigations (outdoor ones in particular) and that is where we will be shifting our team focus.  As always, we are open to investigate your home or business premises if you believe something of a paranormal sense is going on.  Please do not feel embarrassed to approach us as we are open to listen and advise (on a case by case basis) on what is the best possible way to handle things in a calm and logical manner.  So don't worry, we wont be barging through your door as soon as your email lands in our inbox! 

For more information, visit our website www.bcps.moonfruit.com or email us at blackcountryparanormalsociety@hotmail.co.uk

Alien Abduction Movies

There's a new movie coming out in the UK on the 5th of April called Dark Skies - not to be confused with the UFO period drama TV series from the early 90's (which was unfortunately cut short in its prime). Not much is revealed about the plot, but it looks to be a very sinister and suspenseful take on Alien Abduction and it is high on my 'must see' list! View the trailer etc here: http://darkskiesfilm.com/

This got me thinking into past movies on this kind of theme and how effective they were. Close Encounters was obviously the first major movie to tackle this subject, and while it is considered to be a classic I was feeling a bit underwhelmed by it, I think Speilberg watered it down and made it a bit too fantastical which let it down. I loved the opening part and it had a lot of potential ...perhaps a remake is possibility in the future?

Fire in the Sky was released in 1993 (possibly on the back of The X-Files beginning to hit its stride and dominate the entertainment world), I think it went straight to video at the time in the UK. Based on the infamous Travis Walton abduction case in the 70's, this is a fairly far-fetched dramatisation of those events. An episode of Paranormal Witness in recent years covered the same story and interviewed the witnesses and abductee himself, and along with their dramatisation it results in a very different account of things. The movie is well told, taken seriously, and is quite effective in places. What I like about it is how the story mainly focuses on the witnesses and how it affects their lives in their community and dealings with the law over the missing person. its worth a watch.

Next up (working chronologically) is The X-Files: Fight The Future, the 1998 movie for the (initially wonderful) and iconic TV show. It was a partly abduction-based plot interwoven with the ongoing Alien conspiracy/colonisation storyline. This kind of reflects upon the TV series as well actually as the show started so strongly for the first handful of seasons (in my opinion leading up to this movie), but seemed to be flogging a dead horse after that by milking and mutating the ongoing storyline thread into something a bit ludicrous and very obviously improvised with its own sense of logic as each season went on. Such a shame really as it was a world dominating show that would be looked upon with awe and reverance if the powers that be had decised to condense the quality of storytelling into 5 seasons and capping it off with the movie. Something that happens repeatedly with promising tv shows.

Signs is one of my all time favourite paranormal-themed movies and a movie that seems to divide people. While the abduction theme is not really there, it kind of ties in with the ultimate purposes of the Alien foe. What I love about this movie is its small, contained story (no Will Smith and exploding cities in this one) and its effect on a troubled family. Its sub-plots tied in with this family trying to heal and rediscover their own faiths is what truly makes the story so effective. Its extremely clever, and when the Aliens appear, we view it almost as though its happening in the real world (harkening back to the days of the infamous War of the World radio broadcast). Watch it if you haven't seen it ...and if you have, give it another try.

The Fourth Kind was released in 2009 to a small amount of fanfare, and it was immediately tarnished by mild controversy over the fact it tried to claim it was based on real events using real footage. Once again I think its a like it or loather it movie. Personally,i think this movie does for Alien Abduction what Paranormal Activity did for ghosts and hauntings. I find it especially scary in places, giving you a real sense of helplessness and the terrifying nature of what people claim to experience. The 'real footage' played in tandem with the 'dramatised' version adds to the experience, and while it goes over the top on the religious claims, there are some existing theories and beliefs backing this up. This is not a pleasant film, but it the subject matter interests you, give it a go with the sound turned up and the lights turned off. Then try to sleep!

I have no doubt missed out many others, but those are the most notable ones to my mind. Feel free to comment, add your own favourites and discuss etc. As always, this blog a personal viewpoint only and does not reflect the opinions and beliefs of other members of the BCPS team or the team as a whole. If you would like more information on the BCPS and what we do, just visit our website at www.bcps.moonfruit.com

The Sceptics

In the field of the Paranormal, you always come up against your fair share of sceptics, whether it be in person or online.  As soon as you mention the subject you instantly get an indication of where people lie with their viewpoint.  The way the BCPS operates is one of tolerance and an open mind, as we respect everyone's point of view.  Each team member has his or her belief system, thoughts and opinions on various subjects within and related to the field and we are respectful of every one.  After all, who is qualified to categorically say if someone is 100% right or wrong with this stuff?

Where things get tricky is when someone is determined to prove you wrong, to immediately ridicule what you think or say without being open to suggestion.  The first one being 'there is no such thing as ghosts' or 'its all a load of rubbish' or 'where is the proof?' or words to that effect.  The first thing I do is not to argue, which is sometimes hard to do depending on what has been said, as sometimes it can feel insulting.  If I argue, then the situation will deteriorate quickly and no good will come of it.  Instead, what I try to do is passively neutralise the argument by respecting the person's wishes, which sometimes takes them by surprise as the occasional sceptic will be doing it to try to intentionally get an angry response in order to make them look like they have the upper hand.  This usually works as they cannot argue this response. 

Then, I ask them to explain their reasoning why they have this viewpoint.  Over the years I now think it tends to be because of a few main hidden reasons; they are scientifically minded, they are the type of people in technology or engineering orientated jobs, logically minded, usually not a very creative person and they are just programmed that way.  These are the type of people who will only accept something is if it is physically in front of them, fully explainable and rational.  The other type of person I usually find are wary of unknown things, they are wary of new things and experiences, sometimes superstitious and cover their fears and concerns by denial.  I'm sure there are many other types and shades and levels in between, but I suppose what I'm trying to get across is that there is a reason for their scepticisms.

Anyway, back to my example.  Once I have cooled the conversation, I explain my background, thoughts and beliefs. not in any great detail as I'm not trying to plead my case, that is a futile exercise.  You cannot forcefully convert someone into a belief system, history has shown us that! I tend to sum things up by saying that I'm not out to prove sceptics wrong by finding scientific proof that ghosts, UFO's, Werewolves etc exist, this is something that may never be proven.  I just investigate because of my own personal fascination of things that are unexplained.  Regardless of what you think of the infamous Derek Acorah, I do remember a brilliant quote from him that rings very true: “To the believer, no proof is necessary. To the non-believer, no proof is possible.” 

Sometimes it is refreshing to have a conversation with someone who is sceptical of the paranormal, it keeps me objective in my approach to investigating.  Being on the fence (but leaning more towards being a believer - otherwise I wouldn't have a passion for what I do with the BCPS) helps eliminate possible explanations and causes of what people think is a paranormal phenomena.

So to sum up this blog post, what I am trying to convey is if you are a believer and encounter a hardened sceptic, pause for a moment and try to diffuse the situation before offering a response and carrying on the discussion.  Try to be respectful of their beliefs and if the other party isn't respectful of yours, I would advise ending the conversation on the subject.  I've seen many a mature conversation about the paranormal on forums quickly deteriorate into a verbal slanging match that ends very badly.

I hope you have enjoyed this blog post.  As always, this blog a personal viewpoint only and does not reflect the opinions and beliefs of other members of the BCPS team or the team as a whole.  If you would like more information on the BCPS and what we do, just visit our website at www.bcps.moonfruit.com

The Aftermath of the Paranormal TV Craze

So, as the BCPS gears up for the year ahead, looking into possible locations and potential investigations, I find myself perusing documentary/factual paranormal tv entertainment for inspiration.

The other day I came across that old chestnut 'Most Haunted' with what started out as promising concept in the early 2000's that quickly became an embarrassment to watch, not only from the rank-amateur approach to investigations, but also a unique BCPS personal insight as to how ethical and professional they were. Sure, over the years they caught the odd bit of interesting phenomena, but on the whole it was a cringe-worthy hour of people screaming in the dark, practicing methods and 'rituals' that they had no knowledge or experience of, along with the usual suspects becoming all macho and being aggressive at every possibility in the hope of getting some kind of response from whatever alleged spirit was said to haunt the place. One live investigation left me aghast as I watched Yvette show everyone Blue peter-style, how to supposedly summon up a demon, drawing symbols and reciting incantations ...I wonder if I could get a blue peter badge for doing that successfully? The strange and suspicious circumstances over the sudden departures of mediums, cast and crew members over the years has sparked lots of rumours, along with youtube video clips supposedly showing them faking stuff on camera.

Even the demise of the show was surrounded in controversy. The worst effect this had by far though, was the way it soon turned the paranormal into a national theme park, with events companies popping up left right and center offering people looking for a 'Most haunted' style thrill ride the chance to take part in an evening of ghost hunting ...for a handsome fee too of course. I have attended one of these things personally and in my own opinion it is a complete farce, a waste of someone's time and hard-earned money, as no real investigating can be done. The end result of all this has wizened locations known to be haunted (such as hotels, public houses, historical sites etc) to cash-in on the craze and makes things exceptionally hard and unbelievably expensive for a true, passionate investigation group to gain access to these places. Its a real shame really, as groups just like the BCPS (who were here long before the days of Yvette, Carl and Co.) find it incredibly hard to offer their expertise, helpful advice and information to business-owned premises who would rather make a quick buck by opening the doors to anyone willing to pay the hefty price tag. Not to say we aren't more than happy to make a contribution to utilities used during the investigation or even a charitable donation etc.

The above show seemed to inspire numerous shows from all corners of the globe, and soon certain TV channels became almost devoted to the theme of the paranormal. Perhaps most notably is 'Ghost Hunters', following the adventures of plumbers-turned ghost hunters TAPS, as they investigated hauntings across the USA, even trespassing on UK territory occasionally, which spawned their spin-off 'Ghost Hunters International' and their (I assume) short-lived 'Ghost Hunters Academy' ...I shudder thinking about that one! As with Most haunted, Ghost Hunters seemed to practice iffy techniques and rationale, often being more self-important and hierarchical rather than focusing on the job at hand. That said, they are far less irritating on screen and they thankfully keep a level head. Whats more, they have produced some truly fascinating evidence over the years, stuff that stays in your head long after the show ends.

Another promising show was the New Zealand-set 'Ghost Hunt'. Lasting only one series sadly, it was ten episodes of fairly interesting stuff (and had a great theme tune), and kept things quite intimate and honest with a 3 person investigation team, approaching things from an objective, fresh point of view. Evidence produced ranged from the suspect, to pretty interesting. Worth a watch if you can catch it.
On the poorer side of things is 'Ghost Adventures' - another US produced show that ignores the level-headedness of the TAPS team and goes for all out macho warfare on alleged ghosts. The host utterly irritates me (I dare you to last an episode without wanting to shouting at the TV for him to shut up) and opts to prove how big his biceps are and challenge, aggravate and stomp about like some ghost-busting Rambo with a death wish. Irritating on every level, I implore you to avoid this.

For a more different approach, the show 'Paranormal Witness' is a great watch, and refreshingly includes other areas of the paranormal including UFOs - which seem to be 'out of fashion' these days. There are some chilling and thought-provoking stories here and often the interspersed interviews with the actual people making the claims come off very well, believable and compelling, with some very polished and effective reconstructions. Another similar factual, interview-based show is the UK made 'Great British Ghosts' hosted by Michaela Strachan. Honest in its approach, the show is a great way to spend half an hour and often surprises, with some fascinating locations hidden in remote corners of the UK.

So, I hope this part rant-part review of TV based entertainment has offered you some ideas on something to watch on a rainy day. Following my earlier thoughts on locations, if you do think your premises is haunted and would like a genuine team to investigate, just drop us a line via the email address at the top of the blog, or visit www.bcps.moonfruit.com for more information on us.

Please note: this blog offers only personal opinions and views, and in no way reflects the views and thoughts of every BCPS team member and the BCPS as a whole.

Mothman.

Hi All,

           I've just finished reading the book the Mothman Prophecies by John Keel (1930-2009.). What a great book. I've read it that many times, I don't need the book anymore, I just read it from memory, yes and pigs can fly.

         Anyway it got me to thinking, what do others think about this phenomena. Does the Mothman appear prior to a disaster, like it is claimed. Which I don't remember being so prior to the film of the same name with Richard Gere.

           So does Mothman appear prior to disasters or has yet again fiction been assimilated into alleged fact. Which is notorious within the paranormal field. When less unscrupulous researchers just grab any old rubbish and put it out there without any real evidence. I'd be interested in hearing other people's views. please feel free to comment.

         Please allow me to add, we at the B.C.P.S are happy to chat about anything paranormal. Anyway that's it for now.

Regards.

Wayne.

       

           

Hello All,

                  Sorry we have been absent for while now. The Black Country Paranormal Society is still up and running and investigating all sorts of paranormal phenomena. We are putting a web site together and we have a Facebook page where you can come and chat to us also! http://www.facebook.com/groups/305441396231415/?bookmark_t=group

             Please feel free to join us there and come tell us your paranormal experiences or just come along and have a chat to like minded folk. When the Web site is up and running you will also be able to contact us there also.

               Anyway sorry again for the absence, but we will be doing regular updates from now on.

Regards from the BCPS team.