Investigation Report for BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
23rd April 2003
Brief History of the building
The site of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire was once the location of Heffers printers and once was the home of the Black Bear Press. What stood on the site prior to the 1900 is still unknown and is currently being researched by the C.P.S (we would be pleased to hear from anyone, with any knowledge of what was on the site prior to the printing press)
Folklore
Reported accounts of Haunting in the Building
Sue Marchant - Nightime Presenter
"I was a little late one morning for the Dawn breaker show. I was getting a little hyperactive as I went into Studio IA to change the trail sheets and had to do a double-take. There sitting in the chair was a figure of a man. A friendly gent sitting very calmly, dressed in beige with grey hair - he was so calm he just gave me the message "hey calm down". Maybe he was the one who helped the morning I managed to lock myself out - luckily for the first time ever the early morning news reader was here before 5am - I say cheers......"Ray Clark - Afternoon Show Presenter
"I was presenting the overnight show and was the only person in the building. It was 4.10am, a record had just finished playing, I was talking and 'being a disc jockey' when I suddenly looked up and saw ' an apparition' in the corner of the studio. There were no details or features to see, but it was the shape and size of an old lady. So ..... I was talking about this as the breakfast team were coming into work ... and what I'd seen was an exact description of what had been seen before .... and I'd never heard about previous 'visits'.Nick Young - Film Editor
"The ghost SPOKE to me the other day, in the car park behind the studios.... I was walking along the corridor towards the back car park, fumbling for my door fob, searching in my pockets, when a voice behind says something like "Hang on, wait for me." Then I felt someone behind me, and I could tell they were laden down with books or tapes or something. I was facing the door - I hadn't turned around - I was still going on about how I couldn't find the key and still fumbling about. When I turned round to see who I was talking to, there was no one thereAbove quotes taken from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire website : http://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/features/halloween/studio_ghosts/studio_ghosts.shtmlInvestigating Team
C.P.S primary team members
- Martin
- Paul
- Dave
- Elaine
- Angela
- Medium Ron Moulding
- Gill Moulding
Details of Investigation by Cambridge Paranormal Society
This was an interesting investigation for the team of the C.P.S, with live radio broadcasts performed by the team throughout the day and night, a live studio situation, and viewers watching us on the web cam as we carried out our research in the ' Haunted studio'. Would we find the elusive evidence that the studio was indeed haunted.
We arrived at 9.15pm. Just in the nick of time for a quick interview on the air to explain to the listeners what we would be doing during the night. Sue Marchant (Night time presenter)arrived in the reception area at 9.45pm and immediately said she could feel something where she was standing. The team then set about taking down the base readings for the night. The areas that we had decided previously to concentrate on were studios 1a, the corridor and the stairs up to the first floor landing. Base readings for Air temperature, humidity, air pressure and EMF where recorded at 10.40pm
Our medium for the night, Ron Moulding told us he was aware of a presence in studio 1a but was unable to confirm any other details at that stage. Walking towards the end of the corridor he was aware of a cold spot and said he had the feeling that someone was hanged in this area at some point back in the past prior to the present building. (Early on during the night team member Elaine had thought she had seen one of the other team members at the end of the corridor, beyond the fire door, and went along to see what they where doing, but on arrival no one was there).
The lights where turned off in studio 1a and we placed CCTV cameras with infra red illuminators in the room while some of the team monitored the activity from the next room. The monitor clearly showed small bright lights occasionally darting across the room, possible orbs although we are unable to conclusively rule out natural airborne particles at this stage. There was, at ceiling level air conditioning units that we where unfortunately unable to turn off, so we are unable to rule out any form of particles being blown from the units. Although it was noticed that the ' orbs' often flew in the opposite direction of the air flow. Moving orbs of light where also picked up on night vision video equipment
Through out the night most of the team became aware of cold spots, particularly in studio 1a although we where unable to record any noticeable variations with the temperature with digital thermometers. With no anemometer on hand to test the direction of the draughts in the studio. We decided to set up a makeshift draft detector in studio 1a. It was noticed that although the air conditioning units where blowing out a constant rate of air flow. The draft detector was sometimes erratic in its movement trough out the night. It is most probable that the air circulating in the room may have been the cause. It was also noted that when the medium felt that a presence was trying to make itself known the draft detector increased its movement.
One of our new team members, Julie was at home closely examining the web camera all night and emailed the studio with two reports of unexplainable images caught on web cam. The photo A shows a strange square object/ light on the table area in front and below of the camera. As soon as we received the email the area was checked, nothing was there and we are positive that nothing was placed there at all during the night. This web cam photo remains unexplainable. Photo B shows what appears to be a face to the left of the frame and also to the top right.
EVP recordings where taken in the studio during the night with digital recording equipment and external microphones. Question were asked of any possible presence that may have been in the studio. No obvious response was noticed with the exception that when the question was asked by Angela ' did you have any connection with the near by Botanical Gardens.Listening back to the tape after the session it sounds like the recorder or microphone was moved although the three of us present at the time can confirm that the recorder was not moved by us in any way. During the night the tape was left running on various occasions with out any specific questions being asked. We noticed that during play back of one particular session that there appears to be the unexplained sound of what we can only describe as touch typing that lasted for 15 seconds.
The medium Ron Moulding, whilst viewing the monitor from the other studio became aware of a face on the screen that he described as a mans face with dark glasses on. Ron also commented that the spirit in the studio was a friendly soul and liked women. Whist doing the EVP tests Angela asked ' what is your name' and Ron heard the name Charles. The word or name Mill house also came to the medium.
On the stairs area EMF recordings where very erratic as we had expected with the large amount of electric emissions associated with a TV and Radio studio. What was strange that was at the top of the stairs, first floor landing the EMF meter was picking up something in the air in the middle of the landing space approx. 2ft wide by 6ft high. A cold spot was also noticeable in this area by several of the team but again nothing was recordable with the thermometers. Angela had the sensation of pains in her side and Dave at one point felt sick and tingling sensations from the top of his head and down his back. When leaving this area these feelings also went away.
Conclusions of investigation
- Recorded levels of temperature, Humidity, Air pressure, remained consistent and as would be expected under natural conditions.
- EMF levels did give some unusual results. But with the nature of the building we are unable to confirm at this stage that this would rule in any paranormal activity and further research is underway by the C.P.S to substantiate the results
- Video and CCTV did record anomalous lights but again further research is being undertaken by the C.P.S to eliminate any natural sources from further investigation.
- The noticeable cold spots, draughts could be the result of the air conditioning in the building
- Medium and sensitive awareness of surroundings came up with some interesting results, and there was some interesting parallels drawn with known history of the building. Although further research is required to substantiate any claims made. A caller on the night did ring in to say that there had been a hanging in the location as the medium had indicated but we need to confirm the information. If any one has any further information on this claim we would be grateful if you could contact us.
So are the Studios of Radio Cambridgeshire really haunted? To be honest the team got more information than we anticipated on the night. From a scientific basis the evidence that we gained that night is inconclusive and further research will be required to confirm if there is any ghostly presence in the building.
Our Quest for the Truth Continues
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