Southern Paranormal - Investigations
Thorpe Park Investigation
Saturday 9th February 2008
Attending Investigators:Val Butler, Ken Taylor, Julie Harwood, Steen Spencer, Gary Hayes, Simon Patterson, Louise Williams, Laura Brown, Claire Roake, Emma MacDonald, Mandy Firth, Selina Dean, Alan Hall, Simon Harwood, Simon Steadman, Rachel Steadman, Maria Street, Di Moore.
Guest Investigator:Oliver Holding
Hosts:Alex & Jenny
Introduction
When Alex Ritchie, Thorpe Parks Guests Manager agreed to let Southern Paranormal UK visit, we were very excited. Most of the group had been to Thorpe Park at one time or another how ever very few of us (if any) knew the history behind the site. Would a normally enjoyable & fun place in the day hold secrets in the dead of night?
A Little History of Thorpe Park
Thorpe Park is built on what used to be a quarry owned by Ready Mix Concrete. In the early 1970’s after the quarry had been closed, Ready Mix Concrete decided to fill the site and turn it into a leisure park. It turned out that filling it in would take near on 20 years and locals objected to the dumping on earth on the site. Instead the site was filled with water to make Thorpe Park an island! The Park was opened by Louis Mountbatten in 1979. Since that year the park has grown substantially every year. Thorpe Park is also considered one of the first / oldest theme parks in the UK.
A Little History of the Area – Chertsey
The development of Chertsey was originally due to it's status as an island, surrounded by marsh, the Thames and its tributary systems.
In 666 AD a famous monastery was established - Chertsey Abbey, and despite being pillaged by the Vikings on two occasions, it survived to become the wealthiest religious house in Surrey.
The monks were responsible for the establishment of the town in the 12th century. The town was the home of a 7th century Benedictine Abbey.
The Abbey was founded by Erkenwald on the 'Insula Ceroti', the Island of Cerotus, a name which reminds us that in those days much of England was marshy and undrained. The Abbey's development was hindered by the marauding Norsemen who raided the area in the 9th century, and the well-preserved Viking sword in Chertsey Museum gave historians a real glimpse into the history of the area.
The Abbey had recovered by the time of the Doomsday Book and the records also show that by the Middle Ages the Abbey held over 50,000 acres of lands in Thorpe, Egham, Weybridge and elsewhere. It was frequently visited by the Plantaganet Kings, and in 1471 Henry VI was buried there after his murder during the Wars of the Roses (his funeral cortege is interrupted on its way to Chertsey by Richard III in Shakespeare's play). The Abbey, in common with so many others, was dissolved by Henry VIII and the buildings and lands were gradually whittled away, but its memory remains in the Armorial Bearings of Runnymede Borough Council.
The town was carefully planned, and archaeological excavations have suggested that it was surrounded by a ditch.
The poet, Abraham Cowley, spent the last two years of his life in Chertsey (1665-1667) after an adventurous period serving the exiled Royalists during Cromwell's rule. However, he failed to gain Royal preferment at the Restoration and had to rely on the largesse of the Earl of St Albans and the Duke of Buckingham who found him £300 a year and a place to live at Chertsey. He is buried at Westminster Abbey but his name is remembered locally at Cowley Avenue and the Abraham Cowley Unit, St Peter's hospital. Chertsey was possibly still a damp place in his time because he caught a terrible cold the first night he arrived, and it is alleged that he literally caught his death of cold after locking himself out of his house following a night of revelry. His self-composed Latin epitaph is pithy. It concludes - "He feels not penury's chilling hand / nor slave to indolence and pleasure lies / the snares of wealth he firmly can withstand / and what the world enjoys, he can despise". Cowley's fame as a poet diminished rapidly in the 18th century but he is still celebrated for his Essays which were written during his retirement at Chertsey.
The town itself is situated midway between Weybridge and Egham, and the town centre lies close to the site of the old Abbey.
The town was the centre for trade in the local area, but seems not to have expanded much beyond its medieval limits until the 19th Century.
Its economy was based on agriculture and, also later, market gardening.
Tile and brick making was an important industry in the area from the 13th to 20th centuries.
The Abbots of Chertsey had a residence in London and the capital has continued to be important to the development of the town. In the early 18th Century it became fashionable for the gentry to live away from London, and numbers of fine buildings in Chertsey were built in this period.
In 1848 the railway station was opened, and this was largely responsible for the subsequent expansion of the town.
Although its historic centre has remained largely unchanged the continuing redevelopment scheme for Chertsey is making many changes and improvements.
The Investigation
Baselines
While we would have loved to do baselines on this investigation unfortunately the site was just too large and with many vigil areas outside (or close to being open air) we did not think it was sensible to waste most of our night taking these readings. Instead all groups were instructed to take baseline readings every time they entered a new vigil area and then again when they left. Readings were also requested as usual during the vigils when possible events occurred so that these could be compared to the original readings.
Teams
Team 1
Val Team Leader
Gary
Clare
Emma
Steen
Team 2
Ken Team Leader
Simon P
Laura
Mandy
Maria
Team 3
Louise Team Leader
Alan
Di
Simon S
Team 4
Julie Team Leader
Selina
Simon H
Rachel
Oli
Vigil Area’s within the park
Pirates 4D Theatre - main theatre
X / No Way Out - ride area
Port Atlantis dome
Nemesis / Monks Walk (outside)
Stealth Plaza (outside)
Itinerary
9.30pm Vigil 1
Team 1 – Pirates 4D Theatre
Team 2 – X / No Way Out Ride Area
Team 3 – Port Atlantis Dome
Team 4 – Nemesis
10.15pm Travel to Vigil 2
10.30pm Vigil 2
Team 1 – X / No Way Out Ride Area
Team 2 – Port Atlantis Dome
Team 3 – Stealth Plaza
Team 4 – Pirates 4D Theatre
11.15pm Return to Hub for Break
11.30am Break
12.00am Travel to Vigil 3
12.15am Vigil 3
Teams 1 & 3 – Nemesis
Teams 2 & 4 – Stealth Plaza
1.00am Travel to Vigil 4
1.15am Vigil 4
Team 1 – Stealth Plaza
Team 2 – Pirates 4D Theatre
Team 3 – X / No Way Out Ride Area
Team 4 – Port Atlantis Dome
2.00am Return to Hub for Break
2.15am Break
2.45am Vigil 5
Team 1 – Port Atlantis Dome
Team 2 – Nemesis
Team 3 – Pirates 4D Theatre
Team 4 – X / No Way Out Ride Area
3.30am Make way Back to Hub
3.45am Pack up debriefs & thank hosts
4.15am Depart
Team / Vigil Notes
Team 1 Notes
1st Vigil Pirates 4D
Temp at back 6.8 middle 6.2 front stage 5.2 EMF 0
Team hears hissing sound Val and Emma hear bang from the gallery above Val gets the name of Jim and she feels like drowning in water temp at the back gone up by 2 deg. And a drop in temp by 5 deg at front. Steen hears something drop behind him at the stage but nothing found. Alex felt colder on one side of face 6 deg difference to the other side. Alex temp dropping all the time. Val calls out and the sound like a drip is heard. Steen has the name of Marcus. Gary suddenly startled by seeing a shadow pass across the 1st exit doors to the right of the stage where the flashing light is above. Val calls out again and all hear a seat folding up although no seats were down on entering the area. Temp at back 5.4 Middle 5.8 front stage 5.6
2nd Vigil X No way Out
Temp 5.2 Middle 6.6 Bottom 6.0 EMF 0
Val calls out nothing heard, and then footsteps are heard by all Clare agitated and very frightened in here. Alex feels children playing around and laughing, all feel someone is following us around. Sound of a camera switching on although it was none of ours, All hear bangs and clicking noises but they are coming from all around us. Steen calls out but no response. Clare, Emma and Val feel like leaving none of them like the atmosphere in here. Clare hears music Emma feels very uncomfortable and uneasy. Steen feels someone is circling around us. Alex feels emotional when Steen asks if someone has died in here. We all asked to play playground games and something touched Val’s lips. Again Clare and Val feel someone walking around us. Emma to scared to turn torch of, whimpering cry heard by Alex. Voices are heard by all of us. Sound of singing (feeling hot hot hot) heard by all. Not the music across the park confirmed by Alex.
3rd Vigil Nemesis and Monks walk
Temp reading -4 (Teams 1 and 3)
Sounds from the parks detonator tape is heard by all although confirmation by Alex and Engineers say all is switched off. Jim feels heavy as though something has gone through him Steen and Jim hear as though someone is stamping on a metal tray. Alan’s cam corder starts to run backwards on the time, while standing next to the carriages of nemesis. Val calls out nothing heard.
Monks walk. Val feels as though she is walking across a graveyard and people and herself drowning. Jim picks up on horses. Jim feels surrounded by something but cant explain what. Alan smells the smell of gunfire and feels sick. Few could smell fireworks. Walking back Di and Laura hear footsteps behind them Emma is feeling sick.
4th Vigil Stealth Plaza
Temp – 3.6
Stein and Val both feel as though someone is following them Val’s Emma’s and Gary’s batteries all died at the same time then started to read batteries ok only to die again. Val and Steen calling out but nothing is heard all quiet everywhere. Made our way over to Colossus and detonator. Detonator sound effects were playing and then the sound of colossus carriages being hauled along the cogs and then going round the track. The sound of the bell from the Thorpe Park Bell was clanging quite loudly and then fading and coming back again. Music was heard by all we thought is was music from Fright Night, but it was confirmed that there is no music like that and all electrics to all rides were off in the control and Alex had the master key.
Vigil 5 Dome and Operations room.
Operation room we went into small back office and conducted a Ouija board experiment in here. Session was opened up respectfully with protection offered to all members and given to the location.
Q: are you male?
A: nothing
Q: are you female?
A: nothing
Q: Can you spell your name?
A: LHY
Q: can you spell your name again?
A: J O H N
Q: how many spirits are here?
A: 0
Q: was it you who whispered in Steen’s ear when he was in hear earlier
A: yes
Q: are you a monk
A: yes
Q: were you called Master John
A: yes
Q: did you die of natural causes
A: no
Q: How many astral beings are here with you?
A: 8
Q: what year were you here
A: 1357
Q: Do you move thing around in here
A: yes
Q: can you spell your surname
A: W E S T
Q: how old were you when you died
A: 74
Q: we are going upstairs will you talk to us there
A: No
Close
Dome area
Temp 6.6 EMF 0
We held glass divination in here but nothing came through. Val and Steen calling out but all quiet. Val had the feeling that the cameras high above were going to fall, Steen though that it moved slightly, all felt uneasy in here but can’t say why, feelings of being watched. No other occurrences in here.
Team 2 Notes
Vigil 1 X No Way Out Temp 9.7
EMF 0
Maria gets the name of Tony on walk around corrugated roof rattles but no wind Ken calls out no response Girls take turns in calling out no response, female voices heard ghost like singing Maria calls out no response, temp now 7.5 stone or piece of metal thrown, Maria sitting on the stairs hears someone sniffing to her left, all move to car bay Ken feels very uncomfortable here he calls out and a tap is heard he asks for it to be louder and loud noise is heard from the ride area. Maria asks if the person who designed the ride was here ken asks out and 2 loud beeps were heard Laura called out and loud noise is heard from the ride area, ken calls out another tap is heard he asked spirit if they were happy here and a shuffling sound came from the ride area followed a little later by a metallic sound.
Vigil 2 Port Atlantis
EMF 2. ½ to 5 Temp 22 all around
Ouija board in here Simon did not participate
Q are you male/female
A Male
Can you give the 1st letter of your name
A T
All went quiet
Mandy thought it smelt like a doctors waiting room
Temp on leaving same EMF same
Operations Room
Temp 21 EMF 0
Laura asks how everyone is feeling in this room and all feel fairly calm and comfortable on walking round the room Ken called out but no response all feel warm and friendly place no presence felt at all.
Vigil 3 Stealth Plaza
Teams 2 and 3 together Julie took photo that had whispy pattern on it. All felt calm in this area Ken felt something but could not be exact. Julie and Maria saw a flash of light through the arch Julie calls out to see if anyone there but no activity team move on to Port Atlantis and held a séance in here temp at start 22 deg. 2 shudders felt on the right side of table and lifting on the left side Julie said she felt something on her leg and there was a smell of stale tobacco teams separate
Vigil 4 Pirates 4D
temp 6.7 – 7.1 EMF 0
On entering detonator started talking we felt someone looking at us right hand side of the stage Laura hears a rattling noise like metal Maria gets the name of Tommy all see dim lights on right hand side of stage and small red led light on left hand picture of skull. Ken sees a pair of legs left of picture of skull all hear clicking from left hand speaker, we feel someone watching us from the control room at the back, loud noise heard from the left of the stage and then a crackling from left speaker.
Vigil 5 Nemesis
Temp 0.2 – 0.6 EMF 0
On site no noise was heard only music from detonator then banging coming from behind the ride on the left hand side of site. EMF spiked to 3.08 when asking if spirit was banging and again it spiked into the red. All was quiet until we started to leave then all heard noises which sounded like the cars starting up the track and got louder and louder then we all heard the sounds of animals. Temp on leaving 0.4 - -0.6 EMF 2.20
Team 3 Notes
Vigil 1 Port Atlantis
Temp 23 deg EMF 0
The moment we walked in here Alan heard coughing in the far right hand corner
Alan feels really hot all feel really quiet and nothing is going to happen Louise keeps hearing taps from right side of dome and there is definite talking heard from top end of room and table and chair moving team leave for vigil 2 but all feel as though someone is talking and think it is from another group
Operations Room temp reading 20 deg 5 mins later temp reading 23 deg. Laura feels sick and Alan apprehensive. Although the temp has risen all feel colder Di feels as though she has been hit across the head Simon picks up a sense of a tall thin man late 30’s and old fashioned Alan calls out no response Di calls out she feels as though something is with her Jim hears the words “they took it all” or “they took it away” noise is heard in the other room by Simon and Jim
Vigil 2 Stealth Plaza
Team form a circle Jim feels like he is falling over and swaps places with Alan and Alan gets the same feeling Alan leaves the circle outside of the circle the temp reads 1.3 but inside the circle reads – 4.5 Jim feels he wants to look down at people and Di asks for the feeling to be taken away Simon and Louise hear a car horn over by Pizza Hut the alarm was going off both Alan and Louise saw a shadow of a figure on the walk back the narration from detonator was going and everyone said it was getting louder all got it on cameras and Dictaphone.
Vigil 3 joined with team1 at Nemesis and monks walk
As we walked past detonator the sound track was playing as before Steen Louise and Clare all saw shadows of people running around by the Pirates 4D theatre Di has felt someone leaning on her as she was looking over the fence when she turned to look no one was there. At the top of Nemesis Alan’s camera started to function in backward mode Jim feels a tightness in his chest and describes it like someone running through him Val calls out and we all hear chimes ringing out in the background Val calls out but nothing is heard and all members are feeling fine.
Monks Walk
The lane was very peaceful to look at Louise and Di were fixated however the lane felt different somewhere I didn’t want to be Di felt people were walking behind us down Monks Walk the group could hear footsteps
Vigil 4 X No Way Out
Temp 10.3
Di called out and was answered by taps and clangs on the metal we think we heard caught throughout the vigil and what sounded like footsteps as we started to discard the clangs something sounded like a stone being thrown behind us Alan got some lights moving across the camera one that seemed to hover and was bigger than the rest they were moving as Di was calling out Louise and Jim picked up on an accident where a child was injured Louise got the image of a girl over-reaching out of the ride and picked up they were brother and sister and had a bad injury to the left arm Later picked up the girl died from falling out of the ride a very sad tragic feel which was upsetting. In the room where the cars were we felt that there were a lot of spirits here and movement from all different levels. Louise thought there were only children in the area and a lot of them when we left the temp. was 5 deg lower than when we started
Vigil 5 Pirates 4D Temp 8 deg EMF 0
Di feels a draft across her face as she is sitting in one of the chairs Jim calls out and temp dropped to 0.3 around Alan who is sitting on the stage gush of wind felt Jim taps but no reply there is a thud on the door at the back by the fire exit the sound of the wind is like cars going pass. Di closes her eyes and sees horses in daylight she sees a boy walk through the door into a kitchen he starts to wash and when they wash his face he is a girl he is wearing a white shirt feels she maybe picking up on a twin the wind noise is now coming from the back creating a draft on Di’ face, on the front row where some seating is missing Alan picks up lights coming up from the floor which are caught on camera. Jenny jumps up and hears footsteps behind her by the entrance. Temp has gone up 4 deg throughout then to 9 deg all around. Alan gets some light anomalies on his camera moving across the screen. From the right hand corner at the front it sounds like the wind group hear detonator ride music still playing Alan calls out there is a reply by a tap no one is picking up on personal feelings. Alan is on the stage and facing the auditorium and picks up someone walking The flickering candle Di saw move up and down and swaying from side to side Alan’s camera turns itself off the candle flickers more quickly.
Team 4 Notes
1st vigil Nemesis
temp reading -3 No EMF
Julie thinks she sees someone standing up behind Simon in the queuing area Yelp sound heard by all believed to be part of the recording. Rachel and J hear footsteps behind them, light anomaly on camcorder Selina and Oli up in cabin oppressive feeling temp fluctuates to 0.5 Rachel hears chains jangle from where we stood. Julie gets the name of Mike/Michael and feels he was caretaker/warden. Selina feels that someone has touched her. Oli feels breath on the back of his hand getting colder now -2 deg.
Ride station All hear cellophane rustle but no breeze/draught detected, Julie calls out and gets the name of Ange, feels like someone died here in the queue from natural causes, well not natural but not from being in or waiting for this ride in 2006 aged 32 as Julie is writing year loud crack is heard by all by the ride. Asked for noise again all hear footsteps to our right, Rachel feels like someone is stood opposite us behind the ride Selina and Oli check it out and feel oppressive over there High EMF readings possible electrics and possible light anomaly on camcorder Rachel gets the name of Harold
Vigil 2 Pirates 4D
temp 2.5
Loud knock sound in front of Julie and lots of taps from right of stage behind the fire exit, Julie senses modern day men scruffy builder type looking to the right of stage, Oli has heavy headache feeling, Selina sensed Victorian lady with parasol on the stage, sound of door shutting unsure of where it came from but very loud. All heard something small dropping to the floor, could not decide where it came from. Rachel felt seat next to her vibrate and Julie felt seat shake, sound of something dropping again as before, Simon Julie and Ollie could feel breeze moving from right to left, Selina and I could feel nothing on the right Ollie came over and could not feel the breeze temp-3
Vigil 3 Stealth Plaza
Teams 2 and 3 together Julie took photo that had wispy pattern on it. All felt calm in this area Ken felt something but could not be exact. Julie and Maria saw a flash of light through the arch Julie calls out to see if anyone there but no activity team move on to Port Atlantis and held a séance in here temp at start 22 deg. 2 shudders felt on the right side of table and lifting on the left side Julie said she felt something on her leg and there was a smell of stale tobacco teams separate
Vigil 4 Operation/Port Atlantis
Communicated using Ouija board with young spirit possibly 7 year old Chinese boy named Cursh told us he lived in Essex asked the spirit to communicate using other methods and with no air movement a piece of paper moved rhythmically on the wall in and out.
Vigil 5 X No Way Out
temp 4 deg
Lots of creaks and bangs put down to structure movement corner nearest queue area held particular interest with no reason. High dust in room, scuffing sound heard no member moving at time. Members felt light and relaxed atmosphere. Upon arrival Julie felt heart attack without explanation.
Personal Reports
Val Butler
Every year since Thorpe Park has opened I have made a visit, had fun days out, sun, crowds, a really enjoyable time, but this was going to be different as it was a cold winter night and deserted. My team was number 1 with Gary, Emma, Alex our host, Clare and Steen. We had a tour around the park with Alex and Jenny before our vigils and I felt totally disorientated.
Vigil 1 Pirates 4D
This is a theatre that I have never liked before and hoped it would be different, but no chance. All team members hear hissing sounds, bangs, something being dropped and I had the name of Jim, and felt as though I was drowning, really being pulled under water. I had called out and everyone heard the sound of a seat folding ups although walking round beforehand all seats were up. Gary was startled by a shadow by the exit door and was quite adamant that he had seen it. Alex then said that one side of his face was very cold to the other side, there was a 6-deg. difference. Steen got the name of Marcus. This theatre to me is still a very eerie place.
Vigil 2 X No Way Out
The feeling I had in here was terror. It was cold, spooky and very atmospheric, I felt as though I was being watched the whole time, people encircling us. We felt children were around and I asked if they would like to play games when immediately I was touched on my lips, it made me jump but I was not frightened, I did not feel threatened, in any way. This is a place that I wouldn’t like to return to.
Vigil 3 Nemesis
I could hear the sound track recording of detonator playing as we made our way to Nemesis. Alex and the engineers confirmed all circuits throughout the park were off, very spooky goings on. We climbed the step to the start of Nemesis and to see the carriage and seats, so still and empty was eerie. Although I had called out to spirit here nothing was heard.
Monks Walk
This was an awesome place to walk down in the dark, and all I could think of was that I was walking through a graveyard, and the dreadful feeling of drowning came back to me again I wanted to gasp for air. Di and Laura heard footsteps behind them and Emma was feeling sick. I was glad to return to the main park again
Vigil 4 Stealth Plaza
On walking round to Stealth, Steen and I thought we were being followed. Seeing Stealth towering up into a clear starlit night was again awesome. As I was taking some photos (with new batteries in my camera) my screen flashed battery empty and just as I was going to say that it was empty Gary and Emma said their batteries had died. We stood together to compare our camera’s. They showed up that they were full again, only to die a minute afterwards. All was very quiet in this area so decided to make our way to detonator.
Detonator was playing a recorded message and music but right by the side stood Colossus. To my amazement we could hear the sound of the cogs that pull the ride up working and also the carriages going round the track. Although again Alex confirmed that all was switched off and he had the master key. Even Alex could not give an explanation for these happenings. The sound of the bell was ringing out quite loudly and then fading then loudly again. Wow what was going on?
Vigil 5 Operations Room
In the Pa’s office we held a Ouija séance and came across a spirit whose name was John West, a monk in the year1357, who died at the age of 74. The main office area I felt was quite oppressive and had a very heavy feeling, but nothing unusual happened in here.
Port Atlantis
We all held glass divination in here. We sat at a table and for some reason I felt uncomfortable and glanced upwards. Attached to the ceiling right above us was a lighting rig and I felt as though someone was waiting for us to start and then drop the rig down on to us. So we moved to another table but still this rig worried me. Nothing came through in the séance, but I had the feeling that we were not alone in here. Steen thought the lighting rig was swaying slightly.
I would very much like to thank our hosts Alex and Jenny for giving up their night to be with us. To Alex a big thank you for arranging and allowing Southern Paranormal UK to hold an investigation at Thorpe Park, you were both a special part of our team that night.
THANK YOU.
Ken Taylor
I was nervous on this night for two reasons, 1/ It was Middlesex and Surrey’s first full investigation and 2/ I was investigating the famous THORPE PARK!
WHAT AN HONOUR FOR SOUTHERN PARANORMAL UK.
All members were greeted by Alex and Jenny our hosts for the night and they soon made us feel really welcome.
First of all we had a guided tour around the park and what a difference it was by night. As we were walking around Nemesis seemed to be playing its sound track and Detonators as well, then Colossus seemed to be working with the sound of it climbing up and I waited and watched as I thought it would make its way round its track. We were all assured by Alex and the engineers that there was no explanation for this as all power to the rides were definitely on OFF. Then back at the warm hub we divided into our teams mine was team 2 with Maria, Laura, Simon P and Mandy.
1st Vigil X No Way Out
I was not very comfortable in here; we heard the corrugated roof rattle although there was no wind. I called out but heard nothing then I got the name of Michael, I went over and sat where the ride cars were and felt even more uncomfortable. I called out to spirit and heard a tap sound then I asked for the tap to be louder, and heard a loud noise from the ride area. I asked again if spirit was happy here and we heard a shuffling and something like a metallic sound.
2nd Vigil Port Atlantis
I decided to hold a Ouija in here. I Asked if male or female. Answer male, asked for a name and the 1st letter of the name answer T but no other information came through. We decided to try table tipping but again no activity. Mandy thought it smelt like a doctor’s waiting room.
Operations Room
Laura asked how everyone was feeling in here and I felt quite calm and comfortable. I walked around this large office and through the darker small offices. I was calling out but no occurrences. Still I felt calm in here.
3rd Vigil Stealth Plaza
We joined up with team 4 here, all members seem to be calm in this area, then I began to feel different but in what way I cannot describe uncomfortable perhaps. Julie and Maria saw a flash of light through the arch and Julie called out to spirit but there was no response. The teams decided to go back to Port Atlantis and hold a séance. During the séance I felt 2 shudders on the right of the table and felt like it was lifting on the left side. I felt a little uneasy here.
4th Vigil Pirates 4D
On entering the theatre I could hear Detonators recorded message start although I knew everything in the park was switched off. Inside the theatre I felt as though someone was looking at us from the right hand side of the stage. Laura heard a rattling sound of metal. Maria said she had the name of Tommy. I felt I was being watched from the control room at the back. There was an atmosphere in here of what I cannot say, this was an eerie place to be but somehow I was not really scared.
5th Vigil Nemesis
When I arrived at Nemesis there was no noise or music playing as there had been on the walk around earlier, but then Detonator started its PA recording again. At the top of the ride I heard a banging coming from behind us when we asked if that was spirit the EMF spiked into the red. I called out but there was no response. All was very quiet so decided to leave the area and as we did it sounded as though nemesis cars were starting up the track and was getting louder as it did so. We all heard sounds like animals but from where we could not say.
Thorpe Park to me was one of the best investigations I have been on, so many happenings that cannot be accounted for. I have been to Thorpe Park many times during the past summers and will go again but with different views in my mind. Perhaps looking out for spirits that I didn’t see on the night but could feel.
To Alex and Jenny - I say a big thank you to both of you, you were excellent guides.
And your hospitality was second to none.
Clare Roake
Vigil 1 Pirates 4d
We enter the room and we start taking the emf and temperature readings.
Val calls out and the team hears a hissing noise, we then hear a bang from the gallery above where we entered.
Val calling out and the team got drawn to the corner where the parrot and skull is.
Val started getting the name Jim.
Moved to the back of the room very cold feeling.
Val calling out and heard a bang in far corner at the back of the room by the fire exit.
We then heard a drip like noise when Val was calling out.
Gary saw a shadow over in the corner where the parrot and skull go across the fire exit.
Vigil 2 X no way out
As soon as the lights went out whole team had a funny feeling as like someone was watching us and what we were doing.
We started off in the 1st bit as you walk in and heard little bangs throughout as if someone was tapping the ride. It was all around not just in one place as if someone was playing a game.
Val called out and we heard a bleeping noise we heard it about 3 times as we were in there. Team decided to move to the other area and we still felt like we were being watched and the tapping was still going on.
The team started to take some photos and got quite a lot of light anomalies.
Val started to call out and we heard music. Like a girl singing or a whimper of a girl.
We also heard voices up above.
I didn’t like it in there at all as felt like someone was standing behind me.
Val called out and got touched on the lips asked if could do it again or to someone else no response.
The tapping noise still going on.
We decided to make our way back out, and turned the lights back on and all the tapping stopped.
Felt as if their was children playing running around on the tracks, more than one child.
Vigil 3 Nemesis and Monks walk
Nemesis
Val starts calling out and Alan's camcorder time starts running backwards in the ride start area.
Val calls out no response.
Still feel as if someone was following us, around the park.
Monks walk
We start walking down the path and we stop at the lake.
Val feels a lot of dead around her where people have died.
Jim picks up on horses coming down the monk’s walk.
We start walking back and Louise and Di were at the back they ask everyone to stop as they hear footsteps behind them. Alan decides to walk behind them.
Vigil 4 Stealth Plaza
Walked over to Stealth Plaza from Nemesis and the team felt as if we were being followed. When we got there we took some photos and we got some light anomaly just on the corner.
We were all standing together and were taking photos and Val, Emma and Garys batteries all went at the same time in their camera.
A couple of mins later they all had full batteries and started to take photos then again they all went at the same time.
We decided to go back to the hub and when we were walking back again we felt as if someone was following us.
Vigil 5 Dome/Operations room
Operations room
We all sat around the table and got the Ouija board out. First of all we didn’t get any response.
Val asked if any one was here and it moved.
Val asked for a name and it spelt LHY asked a little later and got the name JOHN.
Val started to ask questions-
Q-How many spirits?
A-0
Steen asked
Q-was it you that whispered in my ear?
A-Yes
Val then started asking-
Q-How many astral beings are with us?
A-8
Q-What year were you here?
A-1357
Q-Ask for surname?
A-WEST
Q-How old when died?
A-74
Q-Do you move things around?
A-Yes
Dome
We went into the dome and sat around a table to do glass tipping.
Val started calling out had no response.
The team got drawn to the hanging thing in the middle of the ceiling.
Heard 2 rings like a phone when sitting around the table. Heard by all of the team.
Heard like a scrapping noise like chairs being dragged on the floor by the whole team.
Jim Arnold
Vigil 1
Main Office, we all felt something when we entered here, and were drawn towards the corner office, where we felt colder, Alan told us it was in fact about 3 degrees higher than main part of the room.
Val said it seemed very quiet. We entered one of the offices, and sat down, I said I felt there was a male spirit present, and Alan said he felt a female, he said he knew her name, and even where she sat, (Karen)
Di, felt drawn to the corner of this office, and asked questions, at this point there was nothing. Alan then got his rods out, and told us that if the rods moved he took it as a yes. Di asked some questions.
She asked if there were any spirit persons in the room, and the rods moved, I said I felt sad and a loss, like they had taken something away. Di asked if this was a female, again the rods moved. I asked if she had last something, and nothing, Alan suggested that he felt as Di had been successful, that this Spirit did not like men. Louise said every time I asked something she felt sick.
Alan said he felt pains in his stomach.
Di asked if she had lost a child, the rods again moved.
Di asked if she did not like men, again the rods moved.
Di asked how did she loose the child, did she miscarry, nothing, Alan suggest that it may have gone another way.
Di asked did you have an abortion, the rods moved.
Di asked if it was her Father the reason she had an abortion, nothing, was it your Mother, nothing, and then she asked if it was her employer, the rods moved.
Alan saw a shadow, moving around the room, Di asked if this was her, nothing, Alan said he felt the presence of a man standing beside him.
Simon now tried the rods.
Di asked the spirit to move the rods to point in the direction of where they were, this pointed to Alan. We then moved to the outer office, and tried again.
There wasn’t much more, and we moved to the dome.
Port Atlantis Dome
Again we all felt things there, but nothing really to show anything, we all heard a sound like a phone, or radio. We didn’t see any phones, and I later checked with Alex and there radio communications is voice only.
Vigil 2
Stealth Plaza (outside)
Again on our way here we heard the sound of a bell, and music coming from one of the rides, we had all heard this earlier. Alex said he had checked and it was impossible for one of the rides to have the announcements and music playing, he double checked and confirmed the ride was shut down. Alex said if one was working, then they would all be on.
We had all heard this on the walk round earlier, then I along with Mandy, and Emma, heard a gruff voice, it was not clear, and seemed to only start as we turned to walk away. Later on as the team passed we heard it very clear coming from two of the speakers.
We looked out near where the metal fence was at the end. Di said she felt as if there were two fences, and she felt funny as she looked at it. Di also said she heard something like a stone being thrown.
We looked around the ride, and decided to form a circle. Simon suggested we done within the light of the red light coming from one of the signs, as this was a way it had been done in the past.
I stood facing the light, after a couple of minutes, I felt I was being pushed, Alan suggested it may have been due to the fact I was now standing still, but I asked to change places, and Alan swapped with me. After a couple of minutes the same thing happened to him.
Again we swapped this time Alan changed places with Louise, who like the rest of stood still, then again Alan was affected, and left the circle.
I then began to feel a presence, Di noticed I was on tip toe, and I said I felt very tall, I felt as if I was pushing my chest out.
Louise asked if I felt noble, I said yes. I felt I was looking down on my subjects, I felt that I was very smart with a wax covered moustache twisted up each end; I also felt I was walking with a stick. Not because I needed, just it made me look and feel more important. I felt like a man of power, and very wealthy.
Simon said he pictured the man from the Monopoly game.
I felt that he was beginning to over power me, and I told him to step back. Which he didn’t, we stopped the circle, but as I walked away he stayed with me, and I felt that I had began walking as he would have. I felt he was almost in control, I asked my guides to deal with this spirit person, and after sometime they did.
Alan said he heard the name Charles, I think.
On the way back to the hub, I believed I saw something, and asked the others to look but no one saw anything, I believed that I saw some soldiers dressed in red, and walking towards us, two by two.
Vigil 3
Nemesis / Detonator (outside)
We joined up with Val’s team for this. We all went up to the platform, but nothing much happened.
This was one of the rides that had the music playing, with the sound of a train bell ringing, heard by all. Alan found the speaker it was coming from, it was very clear, but what was not clear was why, or how it was working when it was all turned off.
Monks Walk Alan said he could smell gun powder as we walked along this dirt track, I said I felt I wanted to go further down the road.
Di or Val, said she felt that there was a group of people with us, and most of us agreed, it felt like we were being surrounded.
We decided it was time to make our way back when Di called out that she felt she was being followed, and could hear footsteps. This time a number of us could smell something, which someone said it smelt like fireworks.
Vigil 4
X/No way Out Ride Area
We all felt the atmosphere as we entered. Alex turned off the lights, and Di called out. We heard a number of little noises, which could not be explained. Di asked for a response via the number of knocks, but they seemed to be coming form all around.
At one we all heard what we believed to be a stone thrown towards us, and landing somewhere behind, Alan and I looked, and was unable to find anything.
We also heard whistling, and what we believed to be someone coughing, again this was heard by all.
We moved over to the far side of the dome, Louise, and I felt children around us, I then felt a Boy, and then a young girl.
I described the boy as having sever right arm injures, and the girl head injures, Louise and I felt very sad, for a place that should be happy, this was the opposite, I felt this girl wanted to get out, and kept going round and round looking for the way.
Alex our guild confirmed that a girl had died on the ride, and she had hit her head killing her instantly, her bother had serious injuries, and to his right arm, but glad to say he did not die.
Vigil 5
Pirates 4D Theatre
We arrived here, and Alan told us the temperature was up and down, at on stage, it was minus 3 on stage.
We all thought we heard something, but we put this down to the water pump.
Alan asked if we had heard some footsteps, which he said he heard very clearly.
I felt drawn to one of the balcony’s on the right on the stage, Di also had feelings about this, and said that she saw the lantern move, we all looked and agreed that the lantern was moving.
Apart from that nothing else happened.
It was a great night, and I think enjoyed by all.
Louise Williams
When we arrived Alex and Jenny gave us a tour around the park so that we could get to know our way around.
Vigil 1 Ops room and Dome
When we walked into the ops room I felt very sick in my stomach and was sitting at the table in the far office I felt very sad in this room and when the rest of the team were calling out I felt I was taking on the replies personally. I felt very awkward and uncomfortable in this office and still very sick.
We then moved on into the bigger office room which I didn’t pick up anything on I felt completely calm in here and all the feelings I had in the previous office had left me.
Next we moved onto the dome. I walked around in here and couldn’t pick up on much I heard a phone ring once this was witnessed by the rest of the team. We all heard what sounded like singing coming from the outside doors that face onto the park we went outside I thought it could have been coming from the party but sounded to close.
Vigil 2 Stealth Plaza
On our way to our next vigil as we were walking past detonator a noise was getting louder and louder it sounded like the track that is played as you are queuing. All my team witnessed this. There were bells ringing which at that point we thought was part of the sound track which we later got told by Alex was not possible. On our way round to stealth vigil we all saw shadows on the shops wall black figures of people running past they were the clearest thing I have ever seen on an investigation. An alarm was going off as we got closer by the water rapid rides on the wall. By the vending machines on the floor Alan spotted a cross on the floor where we were walking made from bamboo sticks at that point we thought maybe one of the other team had left it there as a trigger object?
When we were at stealth I could here a car alarm going off which I thought was strange as stealth ride is set out as a racing car track and the actual ride you sit in is a car very spooky.
Vigil 3 Nemesis and Monks walk – Joined by Val’s team
At nemesis I personally didn’t pick up on anything.
Monks walk I was very much drawn to the lake I was fixated on it and felt much at ease where as the monks walk was creepy and I felt like people were following us as we walked back to the park. Myself and DI both heard footsteps behind us.
Vigil 4 X No Way Out
This was a very strange vigil as soon as I arrived here I felt very odd. The ride sounded like it was starting you could hear the pistons on the ride starting. I got the feeling that there were lots of children in here very young children. I cloud see them everywhere.
I and Jim picked up on a terrible accident in there which involved a brother and sister who had fell of the ride I Kept getting the image of a small child leaning out of the ride trying to catch something. We thought that the girl had died when she came off the ride and that her brother had survived Alex later on confirmed what we had said and that what we picked up on was spot on. I couldn’t wait to leave this vigil as what I felt for these two children can only be described as a tragic accident.
Vigil 5 4D Pirates
In here it felt very different to when I first walked around at the start of the evening. By this point I think I was getting tired and couldn’t sense anything. I could hear what sounded like the wind hauling through the theatre at regular intervals.
Maria Street
Wow! Who would ever have thought we would be investigating this fantastic theme park all through the night, and how exciting to be behind the scenes! This was truly my first Scooby Doo moment with Southern Paranormal.
We all arrived at 7pm and met in the VIP car park, where we were to meet Alec and Jenny, our hosts for the night. After setting up in the staff canteen, we set off for a tour of the vigil areas. I felt slightly sick on entering X no way out, but put this down to a heavy smell of aviation fuel, which was hanging in the air. Di also mentioned that she felt sick also. I got the name of Tony in here, but kept it to myself. We carried on round and got the biggest surprise of the night. The soundtrack for Nemesis was playing! After checking for technical faults, our hosts could find no explanation for this, saying that it had never happened before. A quick call to the sound engineer baffled us even more. Apparently the park was wired so that ALL rides would be heard, or that FOUR of them running off the same circuit would all go at the same time. It seemed it was impossible for one to be going all by itself. The mystery was deepening! Even better was that the cogs started whirring as the machinery started up! Alec was stunned as he had personally locked all the rides down and could not explain how it was all starting up. I also got the name Terry here, but once again, kept it to myself.
After a quick break, we set off for our first vigils. I was in Team 2 with Ken, Laura, Simon P, Clare and Mandy. We set off for ‘X no way out’, which was an undercover roller coaster that operated in the dark. We all settled down, and, because I was taking notes, I sat on the steps away from where the others were stood. Simon stood next to me with the video camera. There were lots of taps and bangs which were consistent with the sort of building we were in, although, there were a couple of very loud bangs which we couldn’t explain. I felt the presence of a female and Ken felt the presence of a male, which led us to believe there, may be more than one spirit on this particular vigil. They were either very shy, or they were playing cat and mouse with us, as they always seemed to be just out of reach. A couple of impressive bits of phenomena occurred when, first of all, I heard a very audible sniff to the left of me. I assumed that Simon was still stood there, but he had gone to join the others! The second thing that happened was a small piece of metal which seemingly thrown at us. We have no idea how this could have happened. It was also interesting to note that throughout this vigil we could hear beeping, but nobody had any idea where it was coming from, including our host, Jenny. Just before we finished I also realised that I had the song ‘Valerie’ in my head and it had been there the whole time. It was therefore, very funny to step outside and hear music coming from a distant party being held in the park. The song playing was ‘Valerie’!
Our next vigil was in the very warm dome, where the EMF meter spiked for no reason by the entrance and over the table by the entrance. This prompted us to try a Ouija experiment here, but the planchette moved to T and then to 7 but did not move any further, so we moved off to the operations room, but all was very quiet here.
After a welcome cup of tea we moved on to the Pirates 4D theatre which Julie had warned me was very cold. She was not wrong. It was absolutely freezing in here and I was glad of my hat, scarf and gloves! This was another relatively quiet vigil although we did hear the sound of the outer door opening and closing. We waited patiently for somebody to appear and nobody did.
We joined up with Team 4 for our next vigil, which was to be outside at the Stealth Plaza. We didn’t really experience anything here apart from feeling really good vibes, probably residual from the crowds that wait here in anticipation, getting ready for this awesome ride. I did, however see a flash of light come from the area of the Sunken Gardens and we are not sure where this came from. It was, by now, far too cold to stay outside any longer, so we all headed into the dome to try a séance. This proved more successful than our previous Ouija experiment, when the table moved quite forcefully a few times.
Our final vigil of the night was at Nemesis. The music for this had stopped, but Detonator had now started! We made our way to the Car Bay of Nemesis and called out and a few taps were heard, but nothing concrete. We came back outside and on our way past Detonator, we heard a now familiar sound, the cogs were whirring!
This was a fantastic night and the experience will stay with me for a very long time. How privileged were we! I would like to thank our hosts, Alec and Jenny for escorting us around the park and accompanying us on vigils. You are very nice people!
Mandy Firth
We went on the walk round and bout 7.55pm I heard bells at the time they sounded like church bells, I was not the only person that heard them, we asked and got told that there was a church the before.
We walked round to Nemesis and found that the background music was on, we got told by jenny that it was not suppose to be on and that from the control centre everything was showing off, I also heard a Child’s cry twice. It was in a different pitch to the background music that was playing.
Ken and me also heard gushing water from inside the jungle area yet when people shined there torches over it stopped, when we were walking away from the ride Emma, Jim and me heard a male distorted voice but we couldn’t make out what they were saying.
Vigil 1 – No way out
Base temp at start-9.7
Throughout the vigil we heard a beeping sound like a walkie-talkie or an answer machine.
I heard lots of little creaks that were coming from all corners of the building, I heard something, it sounded like a stone being thrown and bouncing of a metal pillar, but we couldn’t find what it could be.
When I took the temp it kept fluctuating by a degree, quite fast.
I heard what sounded like female mumbling voices, which went on for about a min then stopped.
We went into the car area, from there we heard a shuffle noise and a loud tap from where we had just come from in the main area.
I felt uneasy in this area, felt a little sad.
Vigil 2- Ops Room and Dome area
OPS ROOM
Base temp in ops room-21 Emf reading- ok
I felt at peace, very relaxed in this area
Even when we called out, nothing happened.
DOME AREA
Base temp-22
Emf reading- went up to orange by front main entrance and to red by the set of 3 tables by the entrance.
We heard what sounded like a phone ringing
The video recorders battery drained even though it was a long charge battery, we got the Ouija board out and asked if there was anyone there and it moved a little bit, but after a few questions it went very quite.
Temp when left-21.5
Emf reading when left- on orange all round the table area still.
Vigil 3- Stealth
Temp at start- -2.0
I felt peaceful here and would comfortably stay there on my own
No activity so we moved to the dome.
Temp start at dome-22
There was team 2 and team 4, we decided to do a séance around the table that we had the good emf readings, we smelt stale tobacco, and when we called out the table I was on shuddered twice during the séance, also the other end table lifted up very slowly and slightly, we also heard what sounded like a phone ringing.
Vigil 4- pirates 4D
When arriving at the area detonator started up with the safety warnings and height restrictions.
Emf reading at start- ok
I heard the speaker crackle once.
We all heard a couple of banging noises coming from the stage area and also I heard a banging noise from behind me towards the back of the theatre.
I felt a little uneasy in this area and didn’t like it to much.
Temp at end-6.9, but seems a lot colder than that.
When walking out of the pirate 4D we heard the nemesis ride going also heard the chiming again and saw a red stripe light on the detonator.
Vigil 5- Nemesis
It was quite when we arrived, we had a couple of bangs, most of the communicating was from the Emf reader, we were asking questions like are you the only person here, are you angry that we are here, and they answered though the reader. The video camera turned itself off while I was recording.
We then walked back to the hub past detonator, which as soon as we turned the camera off started its sequence of the man talking, all the ride sounds started and it sounded like the cogs were starting up, I put my bigger torch on and found that it didn’t work and my other one was draining, but as soon as we got back to the hub both my torches worked.
Simon Patterson
Whilst on the group tour, as we all got nearer towards Nemesis some of us heard instructions and noises coming from the ride, but we were told that everything was switched off by engineers and no way it could come on.
Vigil 1 X No Way Out
As we walked in I felt fine but as soon as the lights went out I felt uncomfortable. I was using the camcorder, which made me even more nervous in case I saw something. A loud bang was heard by all and a voice and interference was on my Dictaphone when listened to the playback But I found it very good
Vigil 2 Operations Room
It was nice and warm in here comfortable; we decided to hold a séance. I didn’t have any strange feelings at all in here.
Vigil 3 Stealth Plaza
We met with another team here, it was very cold and dark but I felt fine. After about 20 minutes we made our way to Port Atlantis. We held a séance in here question were asked and a table was slightly pushed twice. My Dictaphone for some reason only recorded for 1 minute there is no explanation for this to happen. I never felt anything else in here.
Vigil 4 Pirates 4D
I found it to be very very cold in here and at the time of entering Nemesis and Detonator came on again we were told that the management and engineers had no explanation for these happenings. Also I could hear a bell going off. Inside the theatre we sat down on the seats again I never felt anything unusual in here.
Vigil 5 Nemesis Very strange felt as though I was being watched on every step and corner I went round. I wasn’t really happy here and 70% of me wanted to leave and go back to the hub, but I managed to stay. Val was asking for a sign that spirit was there and I got heavy breathing on the Dictaphone play back also the reading on the EMF was raised at the same time. Whisper sounds like “what the hell is that” and “Oh and when we said we were leaving a whisper came across and says “that’s it”.
Overall experience was very good I would do it all again perhaps in the summer when it is warmer.
Di Moore
Walk Round - The walk round was kind of spooky. I have never been to this theme park before so didn’t know what to expect, but this night was like a film set. X / No Way Out made me fill sick to the stomach and when we were going to the Pirates 4D Theatre both Gary and I heard church bells.
I was in Team 3 with Louise (Team Leader) Alan, Simon S and Jim.
Vigil 1 - Admin. Office & Port Atlantis Dome.
In the Admin office we walked around and settled in. I was drawn to the Board Room and on entering this room I felt as if it was dead, no noise complete silence. Then to the office next door, Louise and Jim joined me and we sat round a large table. Alan and Simon came in and we called out. I felt spirit and kept looking at a desk in the corner which I moved to and sat at, we called out and got the spirit of a girl age early 20's who was sad as she had had an abortion (she was made have this by her Mother) Louise felt sad and was feeling sick. We believe the girl was the same age as Louise, there was also a Male spirit there but I got nothing of this spirit. Alan had his Rods and we asked it questions which it crossed to the answer yes, I could not see it moving from were I was sitting. Now to the Dome, this was large, I walked around to see if I could pick up anything, apart from cold spots nothing for me. We did heard some movement of chairs and I got like the sound of a walkie talkie bleeping but no one had a walkie talkie with them !!!
Vigil 2 - Stealth Plaza
This was eerie. This large structure against a clear sky (no clouds, no wind but stars a new moon and frosty) was something to remember. There was a wire fence round and both Louise and I felt as if there were two fences one about a foot from each other, but there was only one. We did a séance holding hands in a circle. Jim started to sway and changed places with Alan. Alan also started swaying so he left the circle and leaned against a building to steady himself for fear of falling over. Jim picked up on a man with a monocle. This made him feel tall and what I could see he was on tiptoes standing tall. This stayed with him after breaking off the circle for some time.
Vigil 3 Monks Walk & Nemesis
We joined Team 1 on this Vigil, Val (Team Leader) Gary, Clare, Emma, Steen and Alex/Jenny our Hosts.
At Nemesis we could hear the ride speaker playing. Alex/ Jenny had contacted the Control Room but they said everything was off and this should not be playing. Val got a good photo of something we could not explain so I walked over to some fencing and with a torch peered over. At this point someone leaned against me as I thought to look over as well, I turned to see who it was but nobody was there, the group had split. I was ALONE! Louise and Clare were across the path. I shouted to them to wait and ran to catch them up. We then went to the top of the Nemesis ride area, what a climb but nothing for me there. From here we came down and walked to Monks Walk this was very dark and muddy. Val felt Monks and Drowning. Alex said there was a Lake up the path so we walked to it, this took about 5 mins. The Lake was beautiful even in the dark. It was cold and the stars and moon were flickering on the Lake. Val got Vikings. On the way back Louise, Clare and I were chatting but I had a feeling and could hear someone or something walking to the left of me. I asked Louise and Clare if they could hear this. Louise could. We carried on and I shouted to the rest of the group to stop. On turning round there was nothing we were the last one's. Nobody behind us, the group walked back but these sounds had gone.
Vigil 4 X / No Way Out Ride
I didn’t like this on the walk round and by no means did I like it on the vigil. Alex turned the lights off, this was spooky with tall black poles, wires, rails etc. We walked though to the middle and stood still. Then I called out. I stood with my back to a pole, which made me feel safer. We got some tapping sounds to questions, we think there was more then two spirits there. This also could have been the cold night creaking the metal. Jim and Louise picked up on a child / children and an accident but not much for me.
Vigil 5 - The Pirates 4D Theatre
Walking to this Theatre the sound of the ride was still playing yet we know this was turned off. We investigated it walking round and found the loud speaker in the ground (Nr Dominator) and yes the Church Bells were coming from this, well now we know about where the Church Bells came from! In the Pirates Theatre on the walk round I had a feeling someone was at the back of Theatre but now nothing. I walked round and settle into a seat. We called out and Alan could hear footsteps and Jenny (one of our hosts) she almost jumped out of her seat. Not much for me, think I’m getting tired now, back to the hub to pack up and go home.
In all this was a very good night. Things we could not explain and things on investigating made sense. Thank you to our hosts Alex and Jenny for giving up there time to show us around and thank you Val & the Middlesex and Surrey Team for letting us be part of this investigation.
Alan Hall
Selina and I arrived at this wonderful location with great expectations. After teaming up with the rest of the group and having a walk round, we split into our teams. I was with Louise, Jim, Di and Simon S.
We started our vigil in the Ops room, where immediately I picked up on a lady presence and was given the name of Karen. Di tried calling out to the lady as I was using the divining rods. Although the rods were moving in answer to her questions, I didn’t feel much was happening and it may have been because I was cold, that the rods were moving. We moved into the Port Atlantis dome, we all heard a few taps and knocks but nothing much else happened.
Vigil 2 was outside at the Stealth Plaza. We all formed a circle where Jim felt he was falling over, so we swapped positions and it happened to me in the same spot. I left the circle, as I felt uncomfortable. Whilst being sat on my own away from the circle, I felt I was someone regal and got the name of Charles. When returning to the circle Jim had exactly the same feelings of importance but without the name. Nothing much else happened and we made a move to the Dominator ride where we heard noises. When we got there, the tanoy system was in full flow despite the assurances of the staff telling us they were switched off.
Vigil 3 saw us at the Monks walk. We decided to walk down the path to the lake where both Jim and myself had a nasty feeling. I could smell gun fire and had the feeling we were being followed. Nothing else happened.
Vigil 4 was inside at the “X no way out” ride. This building made a lot of noises, so we were unsure as to whether they were responses to our calling out or the building being affected by the cold. After a while in there, a noise came from the automatic breaking system, like steam being let off. Again we were assured the ride was switched off. Something was thrown in the building, which was heard by all the team, but we could not find anything on the floor which resembled the noise!!!!
Our final vigil was in the theatre, where nothing at all happened. All in all it was a wonderful location and I would like to return again at a later date to see if the spirits are more willing.
Gary Hayes
My First Investigation and at a place I've visited quite a bit since I was a young boy.
I'd never would have put Thorpe Park down as a site with Paranormal Activity however after the investigation, it raised more questions than answers.
On the Walk round, conducted by Alex and Jenny, the Park seemed to take on a different atmosphere and I couldn't be sure if it was the Park itself or me feeling apprehensive. We were shown the areas we would be holding our vigils, X: No Way Out, Operations Offices & Dome, Pirates 4D Theatre, Stealth Plaza, Nemesis / Monks Walk. It was on the walk round and we were heading toward Monks Walk, when Di, Emma, Mandy and I all stated we could hear bells in the distance. Knowing the area, I put it down to the Church in Chertsey which is close by. After heading down Monks Way, we proceeded back towards our hub which was located at the Dome, when the entire group heard the music to Nemesis playing as well as the music from Fright Night, which included Bells ringing in the music. Alex and Jenny both investigated and found that the control panel was showing off and no power. Strange. Due to maintenance work in the Sunken Gardens, and the incident on Nemesis, we changed the Sunken Gardens vigil for a vigil at Nemesis.
Vigil one for my team was the Pirates 4D Theatre. An interesting place where throughout the vigil, we heard various bangs and hisses with Val also feeling as though she was drowning. The interesting parts for me were the temperature fluctuations on Alex's Face, one side being six degrees colder than the other side. Although the room was cold, its difficult to explain how one side was colder than the other as we were in the middle of the room with no breeze coming in. The part that had me scratching my head is the shadow I saw on the opposite side of the room against a Fire Exit door. It was a human shape and passed from right to left, as though it was heading toward the stage. I was positioned on the opposite side, with everyone else further up in the theatre. I was stood still and not moving. My only logical thought is that it may have been a shade from one of the others who may have moved in front of one of the fire exit signs (that were on due to H&S) and could have cast a shadow however we weren't able to duplicate it. A very interesting place.
Vigil two and its X: No way out. We informed by Alex that there was a history of the Ride starting on its own and I’m sure everyone in the group including myself hoped that wouldn't happen... especially in pitch-black darkness. On entering the room, I felt as though we were being watched, a kind of stalking feeling which was also felt by most of the group. We also kept hearing banging coming from all around us. We proceeded to another part of the ride, closer to where the banging was heard first time round. We asked a few questions when Alex said he felt as though it was children playing. During this, Val said her lips were touched. Steen asked a question about dying, at which point, Alex said he felt emotional. Emma and Claire felt scared with Emma too scared to switch her torch off. Val and Claire also said they heard footsteps. Logical thinking, some of this experience could be explained. The Building that the Ride is situated in is made of metal which in cold conditions ( like that night, around -1'c) could cause the metal to contract causing the bangs we were hearing. Also, this ride had live wires and equipment that was, to my knowledge, still switched on. There is a theory amongst some Paranormal Investigators that a area with high EMF could cause people to have the feeling of a presence / atmosphere. The only objective to this theory in X: No Way out was that on the baseline test for EMF, carried out by me, the EMF meter registered nil throughout.
Vigil three and its the Monks Walk, Nemesis and Stealth Plaza. For Monks walk and Nemesis, we were joined by Team 3. We arrived at Nemesis to find the music was no longer playing but music playing from Detonator, another ride located nearby. Jenny contacted another member of staff who knew more about the music and found that if the music was playing on one, it should be playing for Nemesis, Detonator and Stealth, however both Nemesis and Stealth were silent. On entering Nemesis, Val and others took some photos which showed a "smoke like" shape in it. This was later proven to be other people’s breath being caught on camera. In Nemesis, Alan (from Team 3) who was videoing on a camcorder noticed his video recorder timer was going backwards instead of forward. After spending a small amount of time in Nemesis, we proceeded to Monks Walk. We took quite a few pictures, where we caught pictures with Light Anomalies in them. We headed towards the lake at which point Jim felt their was a presence of a "group of people" whilst Di and Val both felt drawn towards the lake. Alan also felt sick and had the sensation that a "shooting" incident may have taken place there at some point.
For Stealth Plaza, the two teams split up. On heading towards Stealth plaza, Claire, Val and Steen all had the sensation that the groups were being followed. On arriving at Stealth plaza, Emma, Val and I proceeded to take some pictures when, at the same time, all three of our camera batteries went dead. We grouped together to discuss and show when Steen took a photo of us, which showed a large light anomaly directly above us. My Battery was showing 3 bars, meaning I had 30mins remaining. Val's Camera batteries were completely changed before this vigil and had being showing at Full power. We proceeded to turn our cameras off then back on, Val's and Emma's showed full battery and mine showed 3 bars again. We continued to take more pictures however, less than a couple of minutes later, all three of our batteries went dead again. When switching back on, Val and Emma’s had gained full batteries. My battery was completely dead. Later, back at the Hub, my battery showed 3 bars again. The only logical explanation I can offer for that was that all three camera batteries had some sort of fault or the camera misread the total battery life remaining, however, it is difficult to explain all three batteries to go flat at the same time, not once but twice.
We moved onto Vigil four, and this time we are in the Operations Office. Alex, on the walk round, informed us that the PA to one of the managers always felt a presence in a certain office. We decided to hold a Ouija Board in this office. This was my first Ouija Board experience and to be honest, I was excited but apprehensive about what might happen. I was also expecting that nothing would happen or if it did, someone in the group would be moving the pointer. When the pointer started to move, I was quite surprised and kept looking at each person’s finger to see if they were moving the pointer, no one was from what I could see. We communicated with a male called Father John West who lived in the Abbey around 1357.He also stated he died of natural causes at the age of 73. During this, both Emma and I heard the sound of a Printer/ Fax Machine switch on/off. Steen felt, during the séance, that he was touched on his neck. After this séance, we proceeded to the Dome where we tried glass divination and table tipping. Unfortunately, nothing happened. The only notable things that happened was that both Steen and myself were drawn to the restaurant area by a noise and both felt that someone was over there. Emma and I both heard a beeping noise which could have been from a till or telephone located on a counter near the doors, however both appeared to be switched off. There was a lighting gantry above the stage that we were all felt uncomfortable sitting underneath.
For a first Investigation, I couldn't have asked for a better one. I especially enjoyed my time in Pirates 4D and enjoyed investigating possible explanations for the events that occurred to both the team and myself. I thought Val and Ken did a fantastic job organising this investigation and really can't wait to go on the next one. I would like to thank Thorpe Park for allowing us to investigate and especially to our guides, Alex and Jenny who were fantastic throughout the night.
Laura Brown
Team 2 – X / No Way out Ride Area
As soon as I entered this area I felt quite disorientated. We started our base test of temperature and emf them moved into the centre area of the room and all sat down quietly on the floor. I sat in the middle with my back towards the back of the room where the carts and lights were. I felt quite uneasy. Ken began to call out and there was a lot of clanging and a few beeping noises.
At this point I felt as if there was a presence behind me by the cart area, it was the presence of a man and it was not a nice vibe I was getting.
The temperature dropped to around 7.2 degrees. I keep going cold and then have a cold shiver every now and again.
I called out and the clanging noise occurred again. I could hear a little girl’s voice as if she was crying but more of a painful whining sound. This noise I heard on several occasions in this area.
We heard a noise as if a stone or some object was thrown hard and bounced off one of the poles in the area.
We moved to the cart area, I felt very uncomfortable and claustrophobic here. It became clearer that the presence here was not very nice. Ken called out and there were loud clangs from behind us. Ken asked if the presence designed the ride here and there was beep sounds and small clangs. I then called out and asked if it was male, the clanging sounds occurred again followed by a loud bang. We moved back to the centre of the room and I felt as if there was more than one spirit present as if they was running or moving quickly from all areas of the room. I did not feel settled at this moment.
Team 2 – Port Atlantis Dome
The temperature was quite warm in this vigil area, averaging of around 22 degrees. I felt very comfortable in this room. The emf reading was high around the table so I took part in the Ouija board. We got a small amount of activity present but it was very light activity. The letter ‘T’ was given. I did not feel anything in this room, and I felt very calm throughout the whole vigil.
We then moved to the ops room around 11.00pm. The was no reading on the Emf and the all around temperature was around 21 degrees. I felt very calm and happy in this room. It felt like a lovely environment to work in. I asked everyone how they felt, and everyone agreed that they felt the same.
Teams 2 & 4 – Stealth Plaza outside
We linked with another team to do this vigil. I felt again very tranquil in this area of the park. I felt as if it was a very neutral, happy area. The average temperature was around 1 degree. There was no activity I felt in this area.
We then moved back to the dome with Julie’s team as we had some spare time and it was extremely cold outside. We all took part in a séance in this area and I felt a little bit more uncomfortable than last time as if there was a presence in the room that had more strength than the last vigil our team took part in. I do not feel as if it was the same presence that was in the room with us last time though. When Julie called out the table that me and Julie were sitting by tilted. Ken’s table was tilting up and down.. I felt slightly sick in my stomach at this point as if I was not feeling very well, even though I still felt very warm in this room.
Team 2 – Pirates 4D Theatre
We were all drawn to the skull area in this vigil. It was very cold in this room.
To the left of me by the walkway I could hear a shuffle noise and also noise of metal keys clanging. I heard this several times throughout the vigil.
I also felt as if the skulls mouth was moving and it looked very distorted. However I still felt calm in this room, but overall I could not pick up on a lot of activity in this room. As we walked out of the area the detonator ride music and instructions were playing. This area of the park made me feel a bit uneasy.
Team 2 - Nemesis
I did not feel at ease walking up to the main ride area, It felt very creepy and eerie.
I did not pick up on a lot in this area but as soon as we walked in to the main area on the left there was a loud noise. Throughout this vigil the emf was fluctuating a lot and I believe that there was something present with us. There were several noises, which made me feel like there was a presence with us and I did start to feel very uncomfortable in this part of the park. I did feel as if there could be a few presence’s in this area, but it may have been only the one that was coming through to our team.
All in all there was activity in this room and the whole team could hear the noises and felt as if there was a presence with us. I felt a bit on edge in this area.
Overall I thought this was a fantastic place for our first Middlesex & Surrey investigation and had a great evening and a really lovely team to work with!
Steen Spencer
Overview
This was a fun investigation with lots of activity and experiences. It had been a good 15/20 years since I’d been to Thorpe Park, so it was strange to see how much it had changed since I’d been there.
Pirates 4D
There was a very strong presents in here!! To the right of the stage what sounded like a stone dropped behind me, upon investigation all we found was a piece of wire. We moved to the back of the theatre where we felt that someone was watching us. When we were up there one of the sprung loaded chairs banged shut. The name Marcus popped in my head and a picture of an old mad (60’ish) with what looked like oil/grease/dirt and sweat running down his face.
X:\No Way Out
This was a very eerie place!! It felt like something was stalking us; circling around us like lions stalk their prey. There was lots of noise (bangs and knocks) that seemed to circle us, which stopped when the lights were turned on.
Nemesis
When we had the first walk-around, all the speakers were on and playing various animal sounds. The speakers also started playing church bells (Alex informed us this was the ‘Fright Night’ soundtrack). When we came back for the vigil the soundtrack had stopped and the ‘Detonators’ had started. I didn’t feel anything in the vigil area.
Monk’s Walk
The walk up to the lake was fine, but I felt very anxious and angry on the way back. Half way down the path I could here something in the bushes following us. There was definitely something there!!
Stealth Walking from ‘Monks Walk’ it felt like were still being followed. Very strange feeling like we were being watched and that we shouldn’t be there!!
Detonator
The soundtrack kept changing from its own to the ‘Fright Nights’ and it sounded like the volume was increasing all the time we were there. It felt like something was trying to scare us off!!
Office
After the walk-around, Ken and I were trying to set the wireless camera up. We had problems setting it up and had to keep going backwards and forwards from the hub. When altering the camera cabling in the office I hear a woman whisper “What does that do?” I couldn’t believe what I’d heard!! Later on the vigil with the group, we used the Ouija board and spoke to a ‘John West’ said he was a monk from the abbey. He wasn’t forthcoming with much information, especially about his death; I believe he didn’t realise he was dead!!
Dome
Our final vigil of the lively evening. Didn’t get much here; a few noises, but not much. We found a table and started to do a glass divination when Val suddenly looked up and saw we were sitting under a lighting rig which had started to sway!! So we all agreed to move (WITH HASTE!!). Nothing else really happened.
Simon Steadman
On the initial walk around to this investigation was to be one of the hi-lights as the nemesis ride was playing the audio which (according to our guide Alex) was supposed to be off. The engineers at the park also confirmed it.
Vigil 1 - offices
Very quiet start to this investigation.
After the initial stills photos and baseline tests we all settled down in the conference room. Alan tried the dousing rods with a little success I also tried them but as everyone on the team knows I’m not sensitive at all so only got very small responses from them.
Alan felt a female presence in the room.
Shortly after Jim and Di felt a male presence in the room and Louise felt a sick. She described it like a pregnancy. On asking out Alan’s rods seemed to confirm this and from what we could find out the female spirit in the room had died during pregnancy or had been forced to terminate it on the orders of the male presence. It will be interesting if this information could be verified.
Vigil 2 - the dome
On entering this room a couple of noises were heard and there was also a faint talking noise heard. I went to check the perimeter and found no-one there but with a party in full swing in another area of the park that could be seen from outside this could provide a satisfactory explanation for the noises in this room. On checking the stills camera footage there were a couple of interesting light anomalies caught
Vigil 3 - stealth ride outside vigil.
When we got to the area both Jim and Alan felt uneasy. After the baselines we decided to try a séance under the red glow of the entrance (the red glow was decided on due to the Victorian practise of using red bulbs to encourage spirit to interact). During this Alan felt very unsteady on his feet we rotated so as to see if the light was affecting his equilibrium he still felt uneasy so he stood out of the circle. We continued and Jim had feelings of a tall aristocratic manacled man very near to him (the closest description he could find to this spirit was the face of the monopoly character). During this the team heard a bell tolling and Louise heard talking. On investigation we found that the noises were from the detonator ride. We captured the audible on dictaphone and camcorder just in case and returned to the stealth area where we heard noises like train wheels and a car horn the only explanation for these noises was possibly the party noises travelling to where we were.
Vigil 4 - with team 1 nemesis ride/the lakes/monks walk
Outside the nemesis ride was quiet. Val did catch something odd on stills camera but we couldn’t be sure what it was.
We decided to walk to the lakes as a couple of the team members could sense a death.
On the way back from the lakes both Di and Val felt they were being followed and Jim had the feeling of soldiers there.
We returned to the nemesis ride via the monk’s walk and while Val asked out Alan’s camera timer began to go backwards but still record
A very quiet vigil for me.
Vigils 5 - x- no way out ride
During this vigil we got strong audio but a lot of them I believe to be the building cooling down as its all metal. Although during the vigil we split into two mini teams with Alex the guide Alan and Jim on the balcony area and Di Louise and myself on the ground.
We heard what sounded like a hydraulic brake steaming. Alex confirmed that the ride was off and he had the only key to start it and shortly after we had something like a stone thrown toward us.
We tried on a number of occasions calling out but with no definite response we left for the next area.
Vigil 6 - pirates 4d cinema.
A very quiet vigil for me. Some light anomalies were caught here.
On the whole Thorpe Park was one of the most unique places I could wish to visit, the whole place takes on a different feel when somewhere this size is dark and empty.
Even though it was a quiet investigation this has to be one of the creepiest locations I have ever been to. You do feel like the Scooby doo gang in a place like this as its still got a fun element to it. I would like to thank the guides as they were both very helpful and gave their time up for us. A great investigation, and all I can say is when can we go back??
Julie Harwood
To say I was excited to be investigating Thorpe Park, would be an understatement. I arrived with Simon & Rachel and was eager to get going. We met with Alex & Jenny our hosts and started the evening off with a tour of this large site. It was a cold night and as we all wandered around the park in our hats, scarves and gloves we stopped by the Nemesis ride and thoughts of the cold were temporarily forgotten when we realised we could hear the sound track to this ride playing. Alex checked this out and informed us that the control panel to the rides was saying that the ride sound effects were turned off. He contacted the sound engineers in charge who I believe advised him that the sounds should not be playing if the control panel said they were off. It was a mystery but it excited the team as it was still so early in the night.
My team consisted of Rachel, Selina, Simon H, Oliver and myself. My teams first vigil was the Nemesis ride area and while you would think the sound track would put us all off, it in fact had the opposite effect and actually seemed to heighten our senses, making the vigil quite creepy with the sounds playing in the background while we were calling out. We were also capturing light anomalies on camcorder and these seemed to be erratic in their movement. We did investigate as the area was fairly well lit and we wondered if it could in fact be bugs we were capturing but we could not see anything even with our torches giving off extra light. I remained undecided and in two minds about these light anomalies. Rachel & I also heard a couple of footsteps behind us when we were stood still in this area. We decided to walk up further towards the ride platform and as we moved we felt a distinct cold spot. Oliver could feel a cold breeze on his arm but even though it was a cold night it was very still with little if any wind. About half way up the walk way I imagined a man with us. It felt like he was a park warden and it seemed very recent that he would have been there. Rachel & I also heard a jangling of what we thought was keys. It was at this time that I got the name Mike / Michael pop into my head. We headed to the top of the ride area and stood on the boarding platform. In here I felt there was a woman that had died of a heart attack while she was stood in the queue for the ride. I got the name Ange and the number 32. While I was writing this down, in my head I said “is this your age?” and there was aloud bang / crack sound behind me that we all could not help but hear. Was that some kind of answer to my question? Oliver & Simon feel the area has an oppressive feeling and so go to where Rachel is looking to see if they can get anything as she feels there is someone stood there looking at us from the corner of the area. It was here that Rachel got the name Harold and the boys got a fairly high emf reading however we did decide this was likely to be due to the large amount of electrics in the area.
Our second vigil was in the Pirates 4D Theatre. We all spaced ourselves out around the theatre including Jenny who was accompanying us on this vigil. I was sat in one row and Simon was in the row in front of me. We were just discussing who was going to call out when there was a loud knock from between Simon & I. We could see each other clearly and so we know it did not come from either of us. When we called out there also seemed to be noises coming from the right of the stage area by the fire exit. In my mind I could see a scruffy man stood by the fire exit. He was dressed in dirty dungarees and reminded me of a grubby un shaven builder. We all tried to call out to him but as i could see him in my mind, he did not react just stood staring at us. After more calling out we all heard the sound of a heavy door shutting but could not figure out where it came from as all the doors to the theatre were shut. It was then that Selina, Rachel & I (who were all sat on the same row but spaced out) felt our row of seats vibrate as if someone was wobbling them. We called out and we all felt it happen again. I then felt the builder man had moved from the corner up towards our row and Oliver offered to go and take an emf reading from the area I thought he was. By the time Oliver had got to the place I wanted him to stand I felt the man had gone but I believe Oliver did feel a cold spot in the place before I had told him where to stop.
Our 3rd vigil was with Kens team in Stealth Plaza. We were all very cold but we tried our best to concentrate and see what we could pick up. Ken called out and Maria and I did see a shadow move across behind the gates but after this we did not seem to get anything although Ken was sure something was with us, he just did not know what. We decided to finish our vigil in the dome and both teams sat down to try a séance. It did seem that the table moved where Simon P and Ken were sat. Throughout the séance I was sat next to Maria and I thought my leg was touching hers as the outside of my left leg felt really hot but when I actually looked our legs were no where near each other. This was very strange as the rest of my body was ice cold. Towards the end of our joint vigil some of us could also smell stale tobacco.
Our 4th vigil was in the operations rooms / offices. We headed to the board room and decided to try a Ouija board experiment. We apparently made a connection to a 7 year old Chinese boy named Cursh who had lived with his family in Essex before he died. We asked him to do something else in the room like moving something on the wall and to our amazement a piece of paper on the wall started to move. We were no where near it at the time and when we asked him to stop it did and when we asked it to start again it did. We measured air flow and temp around the paper and could not detect a breeze or temperature fluctuation of any sort. It was amazing, the paper was literally moving on our command. It was moving in and out from the wall like air was being blown under it!
Our 5th and final vigil was in the X No way our ride area. This felt extremely creepy on the walk around and when Alex turned the lights off it was eerily pitch black! It was then that I felt a sharp pain in my chest and imagined someone falling to the floor in front of me. Simon was unusually fascinated with one particular corner and on one occasion we could all hear a shuffling sound. Apart from that the group all felt relaxed and quite light hearted in here but I could not agree. It was a place that worried me and I felt very sad at times but for a reason or reasons I don’t know.
In conclusion this was a night to remember. It is amazing how different a place can look at night and this was never as apparent as at Thorpe Park. I think it made everyone, however familiar they were with the park, disorientated. If we ever get the chance to go back I would be first to sign up as I would love to see what else we can get and I would also like to see if we can apparently start up the Nemesis soundtrack again!
Thank you to Alex and Jenny who made our night possible. I really hope we can work with you both again sometime, it was a real pleasure!
Rachel Steadman
I was really looking forward to this investigation due to the unusual location. Thousands of people a year visit Thorpe park and spend the day there with there hearts racing, screaming and laughing with the excitement of the rides. Our hearts were a racing but for the exact opposite reasons.
Team- Julie, selina, Oliver, Simon.
Vigil 1 - Nemesis
The Nemesis took on a whole new look as we approached it in the dark, as the skeletal outline of the rails loomed above us, it didn’t help that for some reason the soundtrack to the ride was playing ( which it shouldn’t have been). We all stood in the queue area at the bottom of the ride, we took photos. I personally caught nothing unusual, but some odd light anomalies were caught on the video camera. Simon and Oliver wandered farther up the queue area while the 3 girls stayed at the bottom, this is when Julie and I heard what sounded like footsteps from behind us, there were only a couple but they very definite. We followed the boys up to the ride platform, Julie felt as though there was a man with us, a park warden type of feel about him, she also felt the name Michael , shortly after this a loud bang was heard by all of us, we split up and walked around the platform area and I sat on the ride for a while, I thought of the name Harold (which is unlike me as I never get names or dates) and got an uneasy feeling from one corner of the platform. Oliver did get a high EMF reading in that area but there were a lot of electrics there as it was close to the control booth.
Vigil 2 -Pirates 4D
We decided to spread out as it was a large theatre, and not long after getting settled a noise was heard from by the stage. Julie felt as though there was a man on the right hand side. The feeling she got was of a builder due to the way he seemed to be dressed, although as Oliver went over to try an EMF reading the man disappeared, we all heard the sound of a heavy door shutting, but none were open and we didn’t see any doors move. We all sat quietly taking it in turns to call out, at one point Selina Julie and I all felt our seats vibrate ( as we all sat on the same row but at opposite ends) a few moments later we felt it again. We could also hear the speakers in the seats hissing, although everything was switched off.
Vigil -3 Stealth Plaza (with Kens team)
As we all stood around some people had some odd feelings and a couple of people thought they saw a shadow moving. Although while sat on a wall I just felt like we were a group of naughty teenagers who had broken in, and got the feeling security were just about to run round the corner and throw us all out,
We moved to the dome to try a séance, little happened although a couple thought they felt the table move.
Vigil - 4 Operations room
After a quick look around we headed into the conference room to try a ouija board, after asking various questions it seemed we had contacted a young Chinese boy, I only know how to say “Happy new year” in Chinese but as it was only a few days after Chinese new year this seemed appropriate and the Planchette did move quite rapidly, it also moved to the letter S and then straight to the number 6 when we asked were did you live S6 could this be a young boys way of trying to say Essex? We also got the word Cursh ( a name?) we asked if it could do something else, at which point a wall chart started to sway as if there was a breeze, we checked around but found no breeze and no source for one the chart seemed to start and stop moving on command.
Vigil- 5 X - No way out
This was the creepiest vigil of the night for me. Once Alex had switched off the lights, we made our way into the centre of the area, Simon seemed drawn to one particular part and hung around there for most of the vigil, the rest of us wandered around taking photos, Julie felt sad and depressed at times, she also had the feeling of chest pains, the rest of the team felt fine in this area.
During the night all the teams heard the soundtracks to some of the rides, and other noises, that sounded like the rides brakes hissing and squealing. Alex told us that if one rides music is playing they all should as they are all on the same system, he also pointed out that the only time you should hear brakes is if the rides are on, as we visited out of seasons they were all off at the master switch. Alex investigated this on the night and everything was showing to be off and he could not stop the soundtracks, which baffled him a little.
It was a really good night and it did feel a little Scooby Doo at times running around a deserted theme park in the dark looking for ghosts!! But I would love to go back, things happened that I found to be really interesting. I would like to say a big thank you to Alex and Jenny for giving up a Saturday night to sit in the freezing dark with us.