The Magazine of the Society for Psychical Research 17 (2025)
Welcome to the latest issue of The Magazine. This issue seems strangely personal for me and as I look at the contents I can see why. Darren W Ritson's article on 20 years of the South Shields poltergeist recounts events that took place a mere 10 miles from where I was brought up as a child. Then Peter A McCue's article on paranormal activity looks at events that have taken place in my adopted home, a mere mile away from me. I know the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre well and I have had many enjoyable visits there, but alas I have never experienced the Vortex or any of the other events discussed. One day perhaps? Have any readers of The Magazine experienced anything?
Another personal connection this issue is of course the report on the most recent SPR conference, the 48th. I was there, and like the team who have provided the review, I thoroughly enjoyed the event. I have organised similar events in the past and I know the amount of work involved so a big thank you to Cal Cooper and all of the organising committee, SPR Secretary Peter Johnson (and this issue contains what I am reliably informed is the first ever picture of Peter in The Magazine or its predecessor The Paranormal Review) and all of those who helped and contributed to the conference – Gwen Bagni, Ashley Knibb, Marta Mellifuous, Karen Patel and Melvyn Willin. And of course the speakers and chairs all of whom shared their knowledge and love of their research. As you read this issue you will already be aware of the date and location of the 49th conference, the conference is to be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bridgefoot, Stratford-Upon-Avon, CV37 6YR, from Saturday the 28th to Sunday the 29th of November, 2026. Arrival and a welcome dinner will be on Friday the 27th of November. Full details and booking forms will appear on the SPR website in due course. If you have never been then perhaps this could be the year to come along? It has not escaped my notice that 2026 will mark the 49th conference and as such 2027 will mark the 50th. I am already making plans for marking that particular milestone in The Magazine.
I have had some questions asked about the dating on the cover. As part of membership of the SPR there are four issues per year of The Magazine. For historical reasons there has been a slippage in the publication dates which means that some issues are being published with a date from the previous year on the cover. The cover year shows when that issue was supposed to come out, however on the inside cover there is the copyright date, this represents the actual year of publication. Had the cover date matched the copyright date it would look as if a years' worth of issues had gone missing. I am hoping to catch up with where we should be as soon as possible.ψ
Gordon Rutter [email protected].
Editor