"Cromer Pier is considered to be one of the most haunted spots in Cromer. Back in the autumn of 2003, plans to renovate the pier’s theatre were disturbed by tales of odd noises and unexplained shadows. Uneasy presences were felt in the auditorium and on the pier itself, and bottles and glasses were even said to be mysteriously smashed.
A group of paranormal experts from the Bassetlaw Research Group came to investigate. Member of the group David Wharmby reported that, “The atmosphere inside was very different to the outside and when I speak of this, I’m referring to something not quite right. My team members concurred that we were being watched by someone that day.”
They discovered a lady from the 1920s and a tall gentleman from the Victorian period in the main seating area, and at the rear of the stage was established an actress with a peculiar singing voice. No wonder the pier was the subject of an episode of ‘Most Haunted’ in 2009.
Elizabeth is one of the most famous ghosts of Cromer Pier. An actress who was supposedly killed on stage, she has been reported to have been spotted on numerous occasions - No amount of proof will satisfy the non-believer!
I've been in the Pier theatre numerous times and particularly in the 1970s when I worked in Cromer on the local paper. I never had the feeling as described above. In fact I don't think I've ever had a paranormal experience.
I do remember camping out overnight in Norwich's Maddermarket Theatre with a group of youth footballers on a sponsored spook night. Of course we all expected to see the famous theatre ghost but equally of course didn't. All I got was a completely sleepless night but at least we raised some funds for the club.
I know many people believe in ghosts and I knew somebody who would never sit with their back to an outside door due to a spooky occurrence in a pub when he claims a spectre came through the door and wrapped their cold self around him. He was probably sickening for a cold or something.
And that reminds me that tomorrow is Hallowe'en. I'm not sure what I think about Hallowe'en. We always have bags of sweets available for any youngsters who knock on the door. Being a very tight knit community it's usually youngsters with their parents from either ours or the surrounding roads.
We usually have a carved pumpkin with T-lights outside but haven't got round to doing that this year. Our daughter-in-law loves Hallowe'en and drapes her lounge with cobwebs, skeletons and spiders. Then when Hallowe'en is over she becomes equally enthusiastic about Christmas and the elves Rudy and Ruby arrive and create mayhem like wrapping the television in toilet paper and changing the furniture around.
Many years ago we went to the USA at Hallowe'en and they do it big over there. We were in Pennsylvania, staying with a family with young children. We went to what they termed the Boo House which was an old warehouse full of frightening stuff including big guys bound up in chains who leapt out at you. It was rather offputting being jumped at by somebody carrying an axe, particularly in America.
The youngsters screamed and screamed and then burst into tears. I was glad to be out and thought they would be too and we would have to pacify them. But no their first words to us were "can we go round again."
The following day we went to another hallowe'en house but this one was funny. It had a graveyard for famous people. Don't remember who was in there apart from Dolly Parton. Let's just say it featured a part of her anatomy that over the years has made her as famous as her songs. These parts of her anatomy were poking up out of the ground. I'm pretty sure you now have an image of what I'm talking about.
There was an article in the local Media about all the ghostly apparitions that have appeared in Norfolk. These include a ghostly black dog called Black Shuck which inhabits many different parts of Norfolk and Suffolk and particularly the Waveney Valley. In fact if you come from Bungay in Suffolk you will be referred to as a Black Dog and the local football team is known as The Black Dogs.
When I worked in the police press office I was often asked about a large cat that prowles around the county. There have been so many sightings that it is almost certainly something in this. It could be a Lynx or something similar. Strangely nobody has been able to capture this beast.
Hethersett was featured in the article because of The Faines. These may be new to you but apparently they are animals, the size of calves with saucer eyes. These animals frequented the village and appeared at dusk. Of course I don't know anyone who has seen one.
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There was an interesting comment on Bargain Hunt on television. I won't bore you with telling you what Bargain Hunt is about other than people buy goods at a sale and then try to make a profit with them at auction.
An auctioneer said "we used to sell antiques, now we sell a look."
That made a lot of sense. If I buy something old I buy it for its history, but obviously that's a minority view. I have noticed on the programme that genuine antiques often go for less than you would pay for a modern day equivalent.
That means you can often buy things with a lengthy history for very reasonable prices and to me it's all about the history and not the look.
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Finally happy birthday to cousin Belinda who today hits a milestone - she doesn't look bad for 90!