Halloween In Chester

frankp57By
Oct-28-2017
Chester Today, Culture, Just A Bit Of Fun
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I’m sure you’ve been asked this many times before. But if not, then I’ll ask it, do you believe in ghosts? As 31st October is nearly upon us, a lot of people’s attentions will turn to a variety of ghoulish, spooktacular events. Over the years Halloween in Chester has sort of blown hot and cold really. It seems to be increasing in popularity in recent years though. But what exactly is Halloween and why do we celebrate it?

What Is Halloween?

We probably refer to the 31st October occasion as Halloween. However, it is also referred to as Hallowe’en, or a combination of All Hallows’ Evening – Allhalloween, All Hallows’ Eve, or All Saints’ Eve. Traditionally it is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October. This date is the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead. Not only the dead though. Also included are Saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.

Well that’s the official definition of Halloween. But do we really get involved in the ‘who’s’, the ‘whys’ and the ‘wherefores’? Probably not. Those that celebrate it see it as a night to get dressed up and basically, party.

Do I Believe In Ghosts?

Good question. I have an open mind really. On the one hand it is hard to believe in something you’ve never seen. But on the other hand, it’s difficult to dispute something on the basis you yourself have not witnessed it. I’ve never seen or met a jackpot lottery winner but there’s enough evidence to suggest that they do exist. Like I say, I’ve never witnessed ghosts (or have I?), but there are plenty of people who say they have. So, who am I to dispute them?

Have I Had A Spiritual Encounter?

Again, the short answer is I don’t know. However, there was an occasion back in the early 90’s that was a bit strange to say the least. Back in those days I was working for a company in Saltney. We had recently moved into a new, purpose built building on the banks of the River Dee. So far so good. Nothing sinister in that. Or was there?

As it happened as I was the Finance Manager looking after about 8 or 9 accounts staff. A great bunch one and all. A great company to work for as well, with the best boss I’ve ever worked for. Anyway, I digress. One of our accounts staff was a lady by the name of Emily (name changed to protect the innocent!!). Emily was our Purchase Ledger member (Creditors) and was a meticulous, loyal member of staff. She did not however have a great deal of confidence. This lack of confidence transpired sometimes when we were a bit under pressure.

Annie’s (name changed to protect the innocent and to throw you more off the scent if you thought her name really was Emily!!), voice would change into a quivering, wavering, ghostly whisper.

Under the old regime everyone stuck to their own tasks and that was that. But, in an effort to promote more of a team spirit, it was decided that all the team should help a colleague wherever possible. So, for instance if Emily’s phone rang and she wasn’t at her desk then Samantha (name changed to….you get the drift!!), who was our Sales Ledger (Debtors) lady should answer it and take a message. Other side of the desk and other side of the Balance Sheet, but still part of the same team.

Teamwork In Practice

Everything was going smoothly under the new directive of helping a colleague when required. Well that was until the day when I walked into the main accounts, open plan office to hear Samantha’s phone ringing and she wasn’t at her desk. One look at Emily and she was trotting over to answer Samantha’s phone. As mentioned Emily was Purchase Ledger and Samantha was Sales Ledger. So, I wouldn’t expect Emily to sort out a phone query but certainly capable of taking a message. Well, that’s what I thought!!

Cue Emily answering Samantha’s phone. Her initial, quivering, “Hellllloooo” was only to be met with a tirade of stick from an angry customer. If the roles were reversed then Samantha would have dealt with it in a calm manner. But, as previously mentioned, Emily was lacking in confidence and a bit nervy to say the least. With the customer getting even more irate, Emily’s first contribution since the initial, spookily delivered “Hellllooo” was a not very helpful:

“Oo…..oo….oo, sorry I can’t help you. I’m from the other side!!” Priceless!!

Ghostly Experience?

Emily’s eerily delivered response wasn’t the ghostly experience though. Although she was involved in some way. As previously mentioned, we had recently moved into a new, purpose built building on the banks of the River Dee. During one of our accounts team talk I might have just let it slip that the locals weren’t happy. Why was that? Well, apparently the building was built on the site of an old cemetery. A little porkie but taken seriously by some.

“So, watch out, you’re being watched”

It was several months later when we required our year end accounts to be audited. As time was of the essence, we agreed that Donald from our auditors would come in on a Sunday to meet me so that we could get as much of the audit done as we could.

Anyway, as it happened we had a successful day and as we were about to wrap up, Donald said to me while we were standing in my office,

“What about the stories about this building being haunted”

“Is it”, I replied completely forgetting my announcement in one of our team talks.

“Yes apparently it is. According to Emily, the building is built on the site of an old cemetery”

“Ah”, I said, now recalling my previous statement.

“No, it’s not true. I mentioned that in passing as a joke. Sorry, no mileage in that Donald”, I assured him.

Here’s The Spooky Bit

Now as we were the only two people in the building and were both standing in my office, the building noises were down to a minimum. As I stood behind my desk looking at Donald, I was aware of a familiar sounding, “click…….click……click……”. It sounded like the initial slow click of my small desk fan that I had on my window sill behind my desk. Once the blades sped up the clicking got louder and more rapid.

“How did you do that?” I asked Donald.

“How did I do what?”

“Turn the fan on from there!!”

At that point I turned around to see if indeed it was the fan. And yes, it was. Not only that. I got a bit of a chill down my spine when I happened to notice that not only the fan seemed to turn itself on, it was also switched off at the wall!!

Needless to say, we both decided to call it a day and get out of there as quick as we could. Donald was more freaked than me though. “Sorry about the smell”, he apologised.

Was it a ghostly experience? Did I encounter an early episode of Halloween in Chester? Who knows. I do know that what happened was really weird and, at the time, freaked us both.

So, in a nutshell, it is one of the reasons I have an open mind about ghostly episodes.

One good thing to come out of it all though. I managed to get Emily to say that although she works on the Purchase Ledger, she could take a message and Samantha will call them back.

What is happening this Halloween in Chester?