The Ghost of ‘BOO’cock’s Country Store!
Alan, Bev and the staff of
Boocock’s Garage and Country Store would be grateful for any
information you could give them on their ‘ghostly’
situation. They quite seriously believe that something has
happened in an earlier life that has resulted in an apparition
being seen, heard and felt in the fish tank department of their
country store.
About four years ago, after the car showroom had been turned into
a store, staff began to have strange feelings as they entered the
gable end area that faces St Peters Church – it was as if
there was a presence of some kind. An icy coldness would suddenly
make itself felt. The hairs on the back of their necks would seem
to stand on end for no apparent reason. There were noises that
couldn’t be explained. There was an unexplainable eerie
feeling in that part of the building.
Over the next two years, rather than go away, the
‘happenings’ became stronger and it was realised
something strange was going on. Things came to a head on the day
that Mark was working at the back of the store – as he
glanced up, a dark, ghostly shape floated past him and then
disappeared through the wall. Badly shaken, and ‘white as a
ghost’, Mark ran into the garage area – he just
couldn’t believe what he had witnessed. The ghost had made
its presence felt, been heard and had now been seen – a
frightening situation for anyone to continue to work in.
John also remembers feeling its presence on many occasions. He
recalls, “One day I was working at the back of the store and
heard sounds, just like people moving around. Thinking they were
customers I came forward to serve them but there was no-one
there! Another time, while I was shifting the bags of meal, my
shoulders and neck suddenly became icy cold and a shiver of fear
went through me. It’s very scary when it happens to
you.”
The most recent sighting was in January of this year. Bev was
sitting at her desk, working in the office which is situated at
the far end of the store. All was quiet until she heard
footsteps. Bev went to investigate and as she looked up, she had
to quickly step aside as the dark, eerie shape floated past her
and once again disappeared through the walls. After a sharp
intake of breath, her heart pounding, she rang the direct phone
line to the garage area. With a trembling voice she said,
“I’ve just had a visitation!” Margaret was at the
other end of the line and admitted she didn’t recognise
Bev’s voice, it sounded so strange. Wouldn’t yours if
you’d just seen a ghost!
Alan has most certainly felt its presence on many occasions but,
as yet, has never witnessed it. He and his staff are 100% sure of
their ‘friendly ghost’. They are normal, hard-working
people who don’t normally believe in such things –
apart, that is, from their own!
Does anyone remember any story that could explain these strange
occurrences? Perhaps you know something from when the site was
that of a Methodist Chapel and we are also led to believe that
there was a Quaker burial ground quite nearby.
Or maybe you have experienced a visitation of some kind – if
so, write in and let us know . . .