When Grampian Television's producers in Aberdeen,
who had read the column, suggested that I host a serious debate
called We the Jury I was delighted to at last be able to put forward
some serious ideas. The theme we chose was 'Is there life after
death?'. I would put forward my argument then a well known journalist
put a contrary viewpoint.
For my witnesses I called doctors (who spoke
about out of body experiences), Spiritualists, Swedenbourg followers,
the Society of Psychical Research and representatives of different
faiths. I had planned the debate well and the usual sceptics,
psychologists and magicians in the opposing camp were soon demolished.
The telephone poll, that was to decide who had won the argument,
was overwhelmingly in my favour. In fact, the presenter said that
it was the biggest majority the programme had ever seen.
Perhaps programme makers should note that the
public are really very interested in the philosophical implications
of clairvoyance and mediumship.
Soon afterwards we were both whisked off to Scotland
to be the main guests on Scottish Television's popular programme
titled Scottish Women. I demonstrated mediumship to the audience
and gave some convincing proof. Jane gave private consultations
to some members of the audience selected by the producers. Again
without telling us, the same person was also given a 'tarot' reading
by a psychologist posing as a clairvoyant.
Afterwards the people who had been given the
readings were asked for their opinions. They had no idea that
the other reader was a psychologist. Everyone agreed that Jane's
reading was spot on but that the psychologist had said things
that were so general that it could apply to anyone. When my mediumistic
demonstration was picked apart it was found that everything I
had said was perfectly correct.
Once again Jane and I had confounded the sceptics.
I can understand why so many psychics and mediums
find that their powers aren't there when they try and demonstrate
on TV. Producers are sneaky. They tell you that they are making
a sympathetic programme then confront you with psychologists,
sceptics and debunkers. You never know what to expect and consequently
most psychics are understandably unnerved when this type of thing
happens to them on a show. Fortunately, Jane and I have now done
so much television that it now takes quite a lot to make us fail.
Most of the time we know what to expect.
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Another debate that I
enjoyed was filmed in Birmingham for Central Tonight. They packed
me off to a location that a local psychic had said that a murder had
taken place. I was supposed to find the body. I felt nothing and as
far as I was concerned the local medium had got it wrong. I met the
mother of the murdered girl and I remember telling her that a place
by the name of Cromwell was important. The name meant nothing but
a few years later dead bodies were discovered at Cromwell Road in
nearby Gloucester. They were the victims of the serial killers Fred
and Rosemary West. However I've had no direct confirmation that the
young girl was one of their serial victims.
Central Tonight was a lively debate which I co-hosted
with the excellent medium Stephen O'Brian and argued our case against
the unlikely bedfellows of Susan Blackmore, a psychologist from
Bristol University and a vicar. Susan Blackwell put forward her
usual arguments about hallucinations caused by the temporal lobes
and the vicar told everyone what an evil lot we are.
This was not the first occasion we've had been
asked to use our psychic powers in conjunction with a murder. Winnie
Johnson who lost her son to the serial killers Ian Bradey
and Maura Hindley contacted us through the Big Breakfast
to see if we could help her find her son Keith's body that had been
hidden on the moors since the 1960's. Winnie spoke to Jane who was
able to tell her a few things about her son over the phone that
had never been revealed such as the fact that he was on his way
to the opticians on the day he was abducted.
Jane was able to relay a few of her feelings about
the whereabouts of the body but Saddleworth Moors is a huge, bleak
place and Keith's body is still unfound. It's a heartbreaking fact
that poor Winnie Johnson has scoured the moors every weekend since
she lost her son in 1964. She said to Jane "If I could just
hug my little boy's bones I would be at peace"
Keith's mum told how she is still haunted by the
screams of little Leslie Ann begging for life and crying for her
mother that she heard from recordings made by Brady and Hindley.
They tortured and sexually abused the tied up children. In the background
of the tape could be heard Christmas carols and the barking commands
of Brady for the child to pose in sexually explicit positions. For
Winnie Johnson the nightmare will never end. Some say that Maura
Hindley should now be released from prison. I think not.
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