All fall down! Part Seven : Poltergeists(i)

” ‘Poltergeist’ phenomena constitute good and well-authenticated evidence that mind can interact with matter in quite powerful and dramatic ways, but as they are always unconscious….it is difficult to investigate them scientifically.”

Stuart Holroyd

Definition of a poltergeist: Stuart Holroyd points out that poltergeist phenomena used to be attributed to ‘boisterous spirits’ . But modern parapsychologists prefer to speak of ‘recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis’ (RSPK) (4) , psychokinesis being ‘the movement of objects supposedly by mental effort without the action of physical forces.’ (5)

When poltergeists are active, Holroyd points out, there is usually an adolescent in the vicinity. The modern conclusion is that RSPK ‘is an unconscious expression of repressed hostility, frustration or sexuality……often too energetic or bizarre to be easily dismissed as trickery.’(6)

College of Commerce, Dundee, Scotland, Halloween, 1974

The River Tay

In the summer of 1974, ever restless, I gave up a full time post as a college lecturer in scenic Wiltshire to “be a writer”, returning to my native island to do so. However, living with my parents, a mutually unsatisfactory arrangement, was followed by my moving to a small town in Fife that autumn to live with a poet friend who had a creative writing fellowship at Dundee University for session 1974-5. Sharing her house, I hoped, would provide an appropriate creative stimulus. It certainly provided more than a few hangovers!

With my usual facility for obtaining employment in those days, I soon had several part-time teaching jobs including a few hours a week teaching drama, having acquired drama teaching experience “on the hoof” in my last full-time job, officially teaching English to A level students. The new drama teacher had failed to turn up at the beginning of term, and my head of department assigned me the job thus:

“You seem the dramatic type, Anne. I’m sure you’d love a weekly Drama class….”

Thirty years ago, education was a much more laid back and less regulated pursuit than it is now!

Hallowe’en of 1974 thus found me teaching a Thursday twilight drama class from 4.30 to 6.00 pm in Dundee College of Commerce, a fairly new brick and glass building situated on a hill with stunning views across the Tay estuary. The drama studio was a great space to work in: a clear light empty area with polished wood floors and a couple of heavy, six or seven foot high wooden stage sets free standing at the back wall.

I was sitting in a circle on the floor on the opposite side of the studio, with a class of lively young women in their late teens – working with them was exhilarating and fun. Through the huge picture window we could see the city of Dundee spread out below us, the ‘silvery Tay’ catching late glimmers of waning light. Outside was a clear night with a hint of autumnal frost. Inside, the studio was quiet, warm and low lit.

Hallowe'en !

It being Hallowe’en, I decided to set aside our usual programme, asking them if they would like to tell spooky stories instead. They enthusiastically agreed. I no longer recall what order we worked in, nor what the stories were. Most of the girls had a strange tale to tell, then it was over to me.

“Go on, Miss, tell us one of yours !”

I can no longer remember whether I told them one of the chilling stories  handed down by my mother from her side of the family, or whether it was one of my own experiences. But I do recall with vivid clarity what occurred next. At the climax of my creepy tale, both the stage sets fell forward, clattering onto the bare floor of the studio with a deafening crash…..

After we recovered somewhat from our shock and fright, the students and I went over and examined the stage sets. With some difficulty, since they were heavy and hard to manoeuvre, we restored them to upright positions. They were perfectly stable. There was absolutely no reason why they should have fallen over, none at all. There had been no vibrations, or wind. It was not possible for someone to have come into the studio without our noticing. Had anyone been hidden in the studio and pushed them over, they could not have got out without being seen.

I would be willing to bet that none of those present with me that Hallowe’en have ever forgotten it !

References:

(4) Stuart Holroyd, p 163, ‘The Arkana Dictionary of New Perspectives’ 1989

( 5) p1165, The Oxford English Reference Dictionary, Oxford University Press 1996

(6) Stuart Holroyd, pp 163-4, ‘The Arkana Dictionary of New Perspectives’ 1989

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(note: there are three more episodes in the Poltergeist section which will be appearing in the full memoir in due course)

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TO BE CONTINUED……next chapter is Part Eight: Prediction

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800 words copyright Anne Whitaker 2010
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