This episode’s guests
Find out more about Owen Staton the wonderful Welsh story teller at: https://www.welshstoryteller.com/
Owen’s podcasts are:
- Time Between Times Story Telling: https://podfollow.com/1573244734
- Spectre of the Sea with Bethan Briggs Miller: https://podfollow.com/1638157950
Find out more about Danny Robins here: https://www.dannyrobins.com/
Danny Robins’ many wonderful shows include:
- Uncanny: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0010x7c
- Battersea Poltergeist: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0940193
- Witch Farm: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0d508t8
- Rudy’s Rare Records, the sitcom Danny wrote and mentions in the chat can be listened to here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b00n58x4
Show Notes
Bedford Cineworld articles
From Haunted Rooms:
A report on an investigation where a strange laugh was heard: https://www.bedfordshirelive.co.uk/news/bedfordshire-news/ghost-hunters-hear-strange-laugh-5613011
Priory Park
Here’s some information about Priory Park in Bedford next to Aspects Leisure Complex: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/leisure-parks-and-sport/parks-and-open-spaces/parks-bedford-borough/priory-country-park
Newnham Priory
Here’s some information from the Bedfordshire archives about the history of Newnham Priory: https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/Goldington/Newnham-Priory.aspx
Biggleswade Cinemas
Here’s some information about the Regal Cinema in Biggleswade and photos: https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/43553
History website by Ken Page: https://www.biggleswadehistory.org.uk/Roads/station_road.htm
The Exorcist
History of it’s release and classification in UK: https://www.bbfc.co.uk/education/case-studies/exorcist
Article about the moral panic around the film: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20231005-the-exorcist-and-why-demonic-possession-taps-into-our-darkest-fears
An article that shows it wasn’t just in Biggleswade but in Kent to ambulances were asked to wait outside cinemas after members of the audience fainted: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/a-film-like-this-draws-evil-forces-267492/
Tiswas and the phantom flan flinger
Here’s some information about the children’s TV sensation that was Tiswas: https://www.tiswasonline.com/
Here’s a video of Annie Lennox, then of the Tourists (it was before her Eurythmics days) being flanned in the face by the Phantom on Tis Was:
Doppelgangers
Some information about doppelgangers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppelg%C3%A4nger
An article about meeting your doppelganger: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jun/11/twice-in-a-lifetime-would-you-dare-meet-your-doppelganger-
Information about the Vardøger: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vard%C3%B8ger#:~:text=Vard%C3%B8gr%20is%20a%20Norwegian%20word,mind%22%20or%20%22soul%22.
Drury Lane Theatre
Articles about ghost stories connected with the Drury Lane Theatre in London:
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/oct/29/most-haunted-theatre-ghosts-superstitions-theatre-royal-drury-lane
Vogue: https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/theatre-royal-drury-lane-history-vogue-world-london-2023
Dan Leno
Here’s some information about Dan Leno, who is said to haunt the Drury Lane Theatre, the scent of lavender is said to signal his phantom’s approach: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Leno

| English: Portrait of Dan Leno (1860–1904) as the baroness in Cinderella from The Sketch, Vol. XII, No. 156, January 22, 1896, page 663 |

Dan Leno, hys booke By George Galvin, published 5 November 1899, facing title page. Photograph attributed to the Sims and Ronsham studio

in the cinema episode you mention a person hanging from a tree near Newnham avenue. I think the person was Anthony Pulley, he was born in 1963 or 64. The death occured around 1979, maybe a year or so later. He went to school with me at John Bunyan upper. I am sure there was an article in the local press at the time.
Love the show.
Anne Matthews
LikeLike
Thanks Anne for the information. Whilst researching the episode I found an article about a young man who died on Newnham Avenue after a night out with friends. But there was no mention of suicide nor a tree. Also I thought Newnham Avenue wasn’t quite close enough to the cinema to be classed as in the Prirory Park / Aspects area.
But I’ll go back and have a closer look at the newspapers.
LikeLike