Tag Archives: Student Parapsychology Society

Cheltenham Ghosts Part One: University of Gloucestershire Ghosts

It just struck me that I have never written about ghosts of Cheltenham, and considering former SPR President Robert H. Thouless wrote that one of our famous apparitions was among “the best attested in the annals of haunting” I thought I should. It’s tempting to start there, with the famous Cheltenham Ghost, as I have done a lot of original research on the case over the years, but I’m pushed for time today so instead I will write briefly about some other Cheltenham spooks. It seems fitting, as I first came to Cheltenham to attend the university (then the College of St. Paul and St. Mary) to begin there Continue reading

Posted in Paranormal, Reviews and Past Events, Uninteresting to others whitterings about my life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Fresher’s Week in Cheltenham: Six Things I Wish I Had Known

Another year, another Fresher’s Week about to start here in Cheltenham. A friend from the University of Gloucestershire told me the new students arrived today, but it was only when I met some friendly types who started a conversation in a … Continue reading

Posted in Dreadful attempts at humour, Reviews and Past Events, Social commentary desecrated, Uninteresting to others whitterings about my life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Dunwich, Anno Domini 1988!

…Then I thought of Dunwich. Dunwich is still remembered in the titles of the local diocese, and in the 13th century was a major town, prospering at a time when Ipswich was in recession. The Great Storm of 1287 silted up the harbour, and the town went in to a terminal decline. Then as the years passed, the coastal defences were not maintained, and the town was lost to the sea as the cliffs eroded.

There is practically nothing left of the old town of Dunwich today, just a gravestone from the last Church to vanish. The village of Dunwich still exists a little inland as I recall, and I took the Student Parapsychology Society to the site of Dunwich a few years back, but there is really little to see.

However, as well inspiring the name of Lovecraft’s fictional Dunwich, Massachusetts (which gives the name an eerie and gothic tone immediately) Dunwich has become home to all kinds of legends and stories. While marine archaeologists and historians deny it was ever the great city with fifty churches one reads about in romantic Victorian books, it certainly was a major town, and if it had not been for the gret storm of 1287 would today be a major East Anglian port and cathedral city.

In my World of Darkness, that is exactly what happened. I have set about recreating Dunwich for the game, but Dunwich as it might have been, in 1987! I am not sure what use a fictional history of a lost town is anyone, but iif anyone wants to join in by creating more places, personalities, or lift some of it for a game they are running feel free. The yuppie-era Vampire game exploring Thatcherism from the bloodsuckers perspective may happen yet – and this might amuse anyone who has ever tried to create a fictional town! Continue reading

Posted in Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

CJ is scared of a ghost – in his dreams

How odd, I actually woke up last night in the middle of the night, startled awake by a nightmare. And I was startled awake by the one thing I would never expect to scare me at all – a dream … Continue reading

Posted in Paranormal, Uninteresting to others whitterings about my life | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

CJ on uni life…

account of my time at the University of Gloucestershire as is – perhaps more similar to a Dennis Wheatley novel filmed by Andy Warhol with a Velvet Underground and Jefferson Airplance soundtrack than the official version promoted by the Prospectus Continue reading

Posted in Social commentary desecrated | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment