Mel Tomkins

Having spent my formative years in a house that appeared to be haunted, I suppose I've had some good early training for my current work with the SPSG! Witnessing strange activity at first-hand certainly piqued my interest in the paranormal, and I've maintained this ever since. Over the years, Matt and I have often remarked on how North Staffordshire seemed to have a range of interesting paranormal stories and haunted locations, but that no-one really seemed to be looking in-depth at this fantastic evidence. I was pleased when we had the good fortune of meeting Terri and Sean, as it presented the opportunity to start a group that could make a real difference. I am excited by the range of techniques the group employs, and I am looking forward to getting stuck into the range of different paranormal phenomena we will undoutably encounter.

One element I am particularly interested in is the recurring myths and legends of the area. The Kidsgrove Boggart, for example, is an old and well-known myth in these parts. I am no stranger to library and archive research and in the near future I will be delving further into this and other mysteries to see if new light can be shed upon them. I have also had a number of strange and unexplainable experiences that may be termed psychic. At Woodchester Mansion I had a particularly interesting, although at the time disturbing, experience and I am intrigued to find out the truth behind apparent psychic phenomena. Can we ascribe it a rational explanation within the boundary of current scientific knowledge, or is something at work that may force us to reconsider how we think about human perception? This is certainly no short-term task, but I'm eager to make a valid contribution to this area of study.