The Ghost Club facts for kids
Quick facts for kids  |
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| Industry | Paranormal investigation and research |
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| Founded | 1862, London |
| Headquarters | London, SW19 |
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Key people
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Alan Murdie Chair Nigel Bundy General Secretary Derek Green Investigations Officer Dr Robert Radakovic Events Officer Rosie O'Carroll Media Officer Mark Ottowell Journal Editor James Tacchi Science & Technical Officer Dr. Paul Foulsham Ghost Club Webmaster & Treasurer Gianna De Salvo Membership Secretary Alex Greenwood Archivist |
| Revenue | Non-profit |
The Ghost Club is a very old group that explores and studies spooky things like ghosts. It started in London way back in 1862. Many people think it's the oldest group of its kind in the world! Even today, they mostly look into stories about ghosts and haunted places.
Contents
History of the Ghost Club
How the Club Started in 1862
The Ghost Club actually began with some friends at Trinity College, Cambridge around 1855. They loved talking about ghosts and strange happenings. The club officially began in London in 1862. Famous writer Charles Dickens was even one of its first members!
One of the club's first big investigations was about the Davenport brothers. These brothers claimed they could talk to the dead using a "spirit cabinet." The Ghost Club challenged their claims, showing it was a trick. The group kept looking into spiritualist events, which were very popular at the time. They would meet to discuss all sorts of ghostly topics.
The Club's Revival in 1882
The Ghost Club got a fresh start on All Saints Day in 1882. This was thanks to a medium named Stainton Moses and Alaric Alfred Watts. Around the same time, another group called the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) was also formed.
While the SPR focused on scientific studies, the Ghost Club was more private. It was for people who already believed in psychic events. Stainton Moses left the SPR in 1886 to focus on the Ghost Club. The club was small, with only 82 members over 54 years. Women were not allowed to join back then. But it attracted some very smart and sometimes controversial people. These included Sir William Crookes, Sir Oliver Lodge, Nandor Fodor, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
The club's old records show that on November 2 each year, they would read out the names of all members, living and dead. They truly believed that even deceased members were still part of the club. Sometimes, they even felt that dead members made their presence known!
Other famous members included the poet W. B. Yeats (who joined in 1911). Also, Frederick Bligh Bond (who joined in 1925) became well-known for his spiritualism studies at Glastonbury. He later moved to America but rejoined the Ghost Club when he returned to Britain in 1935.
In 1919, Arthur Grey, who was in charge of Jesus College, Cambridge, wrote a ghost story. It was about a fictional club called "The Everlasting Club," which was based on the Ghost Club. Many people still believe his story is true!
The Club in the Early 1900s
As the 20th century began, ghost research started moving from séances to science labs. This made the Ghost Club seem a bit old-fashioned. Harry Price, famous for investigating Borley Rectory, joined in 1927. Psychologist Nandor Fodor also joined, showing how research was changing.
Attendance at meetings dropped, and the club closed in 1936 after 485 meetings. The Ghost Club's records were put in the British Museum. They were kept secret until 1962 to protect people's privacy.
Within 18 months, Harry Price brought the Ghost Club back to life. He turned it into a dining club where psychic researchers and mediums gave talks after dinner. Price also decided to let women join the club. He made it clear that it was not a spiritualist church. Instead, it was a group of people, including some who were doubtful, who met to talk about strange topics. Famous members during this time included C. E. M. Joad, Sir Julian Huxley, Algernon Blackwood, and Sir Osbert Sitwell.
After Price passed away in 1948, two committee members, Philip Paul and Peter Underwood, relaunched the club again. Peter Underwood was the president from 1962 onwards. Many of his books share stories about the club's activities.
Tom Perrott joined the club in 1967 and was its chairman from 1971 to 1993.
In 1993, there was some trouble within the club. Peter Underwood left to become the leader of another group he had started called "The Ghost Club Society."
The Club's Recent History
In 1998, Tom Perrott stepped down as chairman, though he stayed involved. A lawyer named Alan Murdie was chosen as the new chairman. Alan Murdie has written several ghost books, like Haunted Brighton. He also writes regularly for Fortean Times magazine.
In 2005, Kathy Gearing became the club's first female chairperson. She announced her resignation in the summer of 2009. As of May 2022, Alan Murdie was again the club chairman.
The Ghost Club still meets every month at a pub in central London. They also carry out several investigations across England each year. Recently, they have also started organizing investigations in Scotland.
Famous Members of the Club
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Notable Investigations by the Club
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See also
In Spanish: The Ghost Club para niños
