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Bob
Meredith is the author of The Haunted Cotswolds - tales of the supernatural
in Gloucestershire - and is a local expert on ghosts.
He
definitely believes in ghosts though he has never seen one himself.
Bob
says: "I believe that people experience phenomena which they
can't satisfactorily explain away by talking about draughts or dimmed
lighting or so on. So I do believe in them.
There are dozens, even hundreds of different types of phenomena
and I really don't think you can explain them all away by saying
it is a draught or subdued lighting or a dark room, that's just
foolish |
| Bob
Meredith |
What
does he think of scientists who say there is a rational explanation
for so-called ghostly activity?
"I
have to say they are taking a very narrow view. They talk about
explaining things away by draughts when people feel cold they sometimes
think it is a ghost but phenomena don't all fit into that pattern.
"There
are dozens, even hundreds of different types of phenomena and I
really don't think you can explain them all away by saying it is
a draught or subdued lighting or a dark room, that's just foolish.
So
what ARE ghosts, the souls of the dead?
Bob
says: "I think there is a supernatural dimension around us,
though us, in us, and I think that some people do tune it to that
a bit like a radio.
"I
can't see or understand what brings the programmes into my radio
but I know they are there and I think the supernatural is a bit
like that.
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| The
Elizabethan manor of Chavenage is Bob's favourite haunted house
in Gloucestershire |
"Some
people tune into it and know it's there - we can't see it but it's
there nonetheless.
"I
think if we deny that that is a very dangerous road to go down."
Bob
maintains his belief despite never having seen a ghost himself -
though he has interviewed dozens of people who believe they have
for his books on local haunting.
"Some
people do, some people never do. I guess I am one of the ones who
never do," he says.
And
his favourite haunted place in the county? "Chavenage Manor,
just outside Tetbury is brilliant.
"I
have visited there many times and it has some glorious stories attached
to it."
>>More
about the ghosts of Chavenage and elsewhere in Gloucestershire
The
Haunted Cotswolds by Bob Meredith (Reardon Publishing) is available
from Gloucester Tourist Information and other county bookshops.
<<Back
to ghost guide index
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