ghost happens
Welcome.
UPDATE: In the near future I hope to be interviewing local, well known Medium Anita Gordon to get an insight into life as a medium
HIgh Street, Kingston Upon Hull.
High Street is one of my most favourite areas in Hull and this experience is without doubt my most memorable because, as you will read, it has a very personal connection to me and my family.
The street is situated within the area known locally as 'Old Town' and is said to be the oldest street in the city. As you walk along the street you can still see the cobbled road and some very old, protected buildings. Unfortunately though, like many things nothing lasts for ever and many of the original buildings are no longer there due to bombings during the war and to time itself where decay set in and buildings simply became to unsteady and dangerous beyond repair.
I have heard and read many stories from people who have had experiences in this area, it seems to be quite a hot spot for paranormal activity - there seems to be an energy here and quite noticable if you look for it.
My first experience in this area was around 1993 when I was 18 years old (now almost 40). At this time I lived alone after splitting up with a girlfriend and due to the break up I became quite unsettled and had difficulty sleeping. It may sound strange to you but I hated being in the house on my own especially at night - no one to talk to and not even decent TV to watch so I would often get dressed again and go out to walk. It was not unusual for me to go out at all hours of the night and walk anywhere for hours at a time in an attempt to tire myself out enough to sleep. Sometimes it worked and other times not - either way it kept me occupied for a few hours until the rest of the world woke up anyway.
At this time I was living in the famous Hessle Road area of the city where everyone knew each other and generally it was a great community. To be more accurate I lived in a terraced house down Myrtle Grove (which is no longer there and redeveloped) and like many late nights I decided to go for a walk and I aimed for Hessle Road itself. I walked the length of Hessle Road and into the city centre which at this time of night was completely desserted, unusually peaceful for what is normally very busy.
For someone who does not like to be alone for a long time I found this peacefulness to be quite calming and relaxing, it was strange to see the city centre so void of life and activity. I was enjoying this time and my walk continued, lost in my thoughts I actually felt happy for a change. I walked on through the main area of the town looking at all the closed shops, enjoying the amazing architechture that some of the older buildings have and eventually found myself on High Street itself.
As I walked along the street I saw a figure in the distance. Seeing this shocked me for a moment and I was a little surprised to see somone else out so late. I was more shocked to see as the figure got closer that it was an old man! As we got closer to each other he looked up at me, he however, did not seem as shocked as I was to see him and it was at this point the man became clearer to me. He was small in size, slim, wearing a flat cap, white shirt and jacket. His face was wrinkled with age and had a white moustache but he seemed nice and not threatening in anyway.
He smiled as he looked at me and then spoke:
"Eyup lad, what you doing out so late?"
I didn't mind, he seemed nice so I replied:
"Just walking, trouble sleeping again."
He looked as if he was thinking about this for a moment and while I waited for him to reply I noticed a smell of pipe tobacco, it was quite nice really. The chap continued....
"I know the feeling lad, happens to me all the time. I'm always out walking like this. Bit nippy tonight though, I best be off before I catch cold. Look after youself lad, might see you again."
I said Goodnight to him and continued walking. A minute or less later I looked back to look at the man and he was gone, I kind of felt that he couldnt of gone so far that I couldn't see him but all the same he was not there. He couldn't of gone into a building as they are now mostly businesses that were closed at that time of night so feeling a little confused I headed for home myself.
This man stuck in my mind for ages afterwards and I went out again many times after to see if I could see him again, I just felt like I wanted to talk to him again but unfortunately I never saw him again.
A few weeks later I went to my Nana's house and began to tell her about this old man I'd seen, the conversation and even the smell of pipe tobacco. She seemed quite amused by it all and had a small smile on her face. My Nana pulled a photo album out of the cupboard and as she was getting the album she was telling me how she was born and grew up down High Street. She flicked to a page in the album and showed me a photograph......of this very same old man who was her father! I could not believe what I was seeing. I said to my Nana that it couldn't be him, she only smiled and said "It could be".
My Nana later told me about her Dad, she explained that he and I were very much alike and that he would have loved me if we had ever known each other properly. I think my Nana believed he and I had met that night - I believe I met my Great Grandfather down High Street if only for a short moment.
I cannot prove this to anyone, and I am sure people will think its made up - I wish I could provide evidence and more so, I wish I could meet him again.
