Poems

Appendix

Marc’s Ghost story.

“It was on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 1980. I finished work at the Abbey Tavern at about ten to twelve and rushed home on my bike to change for the party which we had planned to have after work. Because I was in a hurry I did not take my normal route from the Abbey Tavern towards Dalton to avoid the Abbey Ruins, but instead decided to cycle quickly past the abbey.

All was of course very quiet. I could hear only the noise of rubber tyre on the wet road surface. I kept close to the pools of light radiating from the few street  lamps. I stole a furtive glance into the ruins. All was black and only the outline of the upper walls could be seen in sharp relief against the lunar lit clouds. I cycled on very quickly.

I came to the junction. A single lamp cast poor illumination over the area. I pedalled up the tree lined road towards Rating Lane. This was the darkest part of all. I felt as if I was fleeing from my own fear and I kept my eyes determinedly straight ahead, not daring to look aside or behind.

As I reached the broken arch of the West Gate the lights went out.  It was mid-night. A cold wind blew through the arch, a few hailstones flew against my face. A strange felling overcame me. I glanced up. On top of the broken archway I saw what I believe to be the shadow of a cowled monk on horseback. I stared in terrified disbelief. The figure held my total attention.

A car’s headlamps flashed by on Rating Lane and broke my trance. I pedalled hard and fast all the way home. I had had a fright. I’m sure I’d seen a ghost!”

By Marc Walden.

Was this the ghost of Alexander Banke, the abbot who had destroyed Sellergarth?

Fact.

Marc Walden was 16 years old when he saw his ghost. A former GP, he is now a medical consultant in Australia. He is still convinced he saw a ghost 25 years ago.

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