The Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Charity Event, Eastbourne 27/03/10

Members: 12

Guests: 4

Weather: Cold, Dry

Duration: 22-00 - 04.30

We were really pleased to return to the theatre. This time it was an invite on behalf of our friend Brian who through the BPA and guest medium for the night James Griffiths had organised a night for a well known AIDS charity. Also on hand to welcome us back was our friend and newest member Dave who has always been on hand during our visits to Eastbourne's theatres. On the night James's team who go with him to vigils had set up their own equipment and were filming the event through multiple cameras. Highlights from the night should be available on DVD soon, so keep an eye for that. So with all the camera equipment set up it was nice to have a night off in regards to that. Before we got underway James and Dave gave a brief to tour to some of the first time visitors. We then gathered in the theatre for a quick briefing with James who told us some of his experiences with the paranormal. At this time I (Clint D) was on the stage with Dave and Craig, when we all heard what sounded like voices coming from a room backstage, and then some bangs . Dave went off to investigate.  On his return, he confirmed there wasn't anyone backstage and all doors were shut. It was a definite noise of a male and female voice in deep conversation. Interestingly enough, after James had gave us his briefing about his charity and the paranormal. Angie told us that before we all looked at one another she noticed a shape that looked female and then moved behind us on the stage. Looks like we were in for a good night! Lights out, lets go!

For the first vigil I took a team up to the fly tower, Angie's group took the dress circle and balcony area and Lorraine S's group took the rehearsal room and corridor area, notoriously know for being a hotspot. We experienced an odd noise and bang or two in the fly tower but it felt quite calm. The office however adjacent to the fly tower was quite interesting. Many employees and guests have reported odd goings on in this room. A more common occurrence is a toy suspended from the ceiling that is seen to frantically swing to and fro. Whilst standing in the room a novelty toy was standing freely on a coffee table in the middle of the room, this then spooked one or two of us as it toppled over of its own accord. We were trying to debunk what could have done this. But were a bit stumped! We then moved out into the corridor, where Lorraine N heard the noise of what sounded like a man clearing his throat, again this was heard by more people second time around. Again this couldn't be explained. Angie's group on the dress circle had quite a fright, they heard several indications of movement and a feeling of being closely watched then April saw what seemed to be a figure emerge from a dark doorway that lead to the grand circle upstairs, and then dart behind Angie, Angie also saw this before April mentioned it. Always good to have these experiences backed up! A few noises were heard by the group in the rehearsal room and the same feeling of being very closely followed, I can say we have been here three times now and that same area in the rehearsal room seems to feel creepier each time, you just cant get used to it.

After a quick drink and snack it was on with vigil two. Angie's group went to fly tower area again not a lot was experienced by them up there, but they did have similar noises and uneasy feelings in the corridor area near the small office up there. Lorraine S and her group were investigating the stage area, again like earlier some noises were heard backstage and from underneath. Lorraine S then felt the presence of a female on the stage, who seemed to be lost and very sad. my group were on the balcony up in the dress circle and like Angie and her group in vigil 1 we experienced an event that left us a wee bit jittery. We were leaning on the balcony over looking the stage at the back of the dress circle, when Helen became a bit spooked and moved into the middle of our line as she didn't want to be on the end...understandable. This made me feel a little uncomfortable. But I then moved to accommodate what I thought was someone else moving in our line, so I turned round and looked and in the dark I was at least a foot away from what I thought was one of my group, I could make out the whiteness of a face, broad shoulders and prominent hair, I soon realised this wasn't someone in our group and when I asked if anyone had moved, and they hadn't, it all seemed a bit too real! I wasn't spooked at first as I genuinely thought it was one of the group looking at me, I can honestly say there WAS somebody in front me. This spooked us a bit, and then we moved a little further down, and drew a bit closer together. Then Adel thought Emma had moved in front of her, it turned out she hadn't. So Adel had now seen someone move that she thought was one of us. I then saw what April must of seen a figure or dark mass come through the door that lead upstairs and dart into the darkness, I want to say it was my eyes playing tricks. But it all seemed to happening up here! Bare in mind we never discuss our findings until the end of the night, so to find out that similar events happened to Angie and April in vigil 1 was great to hear, and also nice that these findings can be backed up and clarified by more than one person. Just before the end Lorraine S and her team came and found us to ask what the commotion was about, when we told her she instantly began to feel that a male form resided up there and a name Phillip was connected to this person. After an eventful hour or so, time for a well earned break.

After an extended break and interesting transfiguration session with James and Brian, James asked if he could end the night with a mass séance up in the rehearsal room. He had some useful ways and means of how to conduct the séance and how to fully relax and open up. He made everyone come up with the first name that would pop into our heads, or an image, object etc...

Things got a little strange when he thought that my face was changing, I felt fine in myself and felt no different. But sometimes a trained an experienced medium can interact with spirit via a person to convey a message almost like transfiguration. Angie has done this on a few occasions. Even stranger Clint S doesn't experience much, but he could also see my face changing rapidly, all he could explain was it was like a flipbook of horror characters. At one stage this seemed to unsettle James who couldn't even look at me! Great! Time to seemed to fly in this séance and before we knew it we were into the wee hours and it was time to call it a day.

Well all in all a different night for SPRG but we seem to experience something different each time we come which is great. Thanks to Brian for organising the night and for having us as his guests, and to James for sharing your experiences with us. Finally thanks to Dave, for being so hospitable, welcome aboard! Until next time.

SPRG 2010