Ghosts Oncall After Midnight

Who is Oncall Tonight?

Staffordshire has its share of ghosts. The BBC website has some interesting material on hauntings.North Staffordshire NHS Trust's main ghosts consist of children dressed in Victorian clothes running around after midnight. These children are only seen by those oncall after midnight apparently. No one knows the origin of these sightings. Hospitals are spooky places at night, especially for those F1 doctors who have to certify patients dead tonight. Anyway, before you all read the ghostly tales from Staffordshire, Witchdoctor is serving up Pumpkin Soup and Apple Pie on this cold winter's night.

Here are some legends and ghostly tales from Staffordshire, the home of Ward 87.

This is the Legend of Molly Leigh,
The Witch of Stoke on Trent

"In a cemetery at Burslem there lies the tomb of a witch, Molly Leigh - sometimes known as Margaret or Molly Lee.After her burial, the priest returned to her house only to find her sitting in the corner of the room. She was returned to the tomb which was found to be turned around by 90 degrees.The priest had the tomb realigned and buried her again, this time with a blackbird to lay the spirit to rest.The next day the tomb had returned to being 90 degrees mis-aligned, but the body remained in the tomb and so it remains today" Further detail is available here.

Then there is the Legend of Dr Thomas Oliver.

"The young surgeon, Dr Thomas Oliver, cut a pathetic figure as he was led to the gallows at Stafford Gaol in 1797 for shooting dead John Wood of Brownhills.

“It seemed to have been a tragic story of young love and parental protectiveness,” says historian Steve Birks, “A tale of pride and prejudice when a suitor came to call on the father of a prosperous family only to be shown the door with fatal consequences.”

Thomas Oliver was a well-liked Burslem doctor, not as popular for his medical ability as for his sociable aptitude with a gin bottle. And he was over the moon to be walking out with the daughter of a leading potter. But matters took a turn for the worse when her father, John Wood, put a stop to the affair. A depressed Oliver decided to commit suicide in front of the Wood’s at their Brownhills residence but shot and killed Wood instead"

The Ghost of Dr Thomas still haunts the High School.

The there is the Staffordshire University Vampires.

"Vampires seem a more modern phenomenon - dating back to the publication of Dracula in the 19th century perhaps.But Staffordshire University boasts a vampire society and online vampire role-play games give enthusiasts plenty to sink their teeth into while taking a break from the horror films.One site vampire site even features the mysterious "Prince of Staffordshire" whom no one wants to cross (geddit?) on a dark night"

Dr Monica Spitieri Professor at Staffordshire University should feel right at home. Indeed, she would not have to wear a disguise at all.


The Legend of the Mermaid

"The Mermaid Inn near Leek in the Staffordshire Moorlands marks a point in the moors where, at an acidic pool, the repeated sightings of a ghost in the pool has sparked the Mermaid Legend. The legend suggests that on the night of Easter's Eve, a young man on seeing the mermaid will be granted riches for one year. But he will be so infatuated with her beauty, he will be drawn to throw himself into the pool to be with her forever...

Here is a list of the ghosts in Staffordshire . This is a fascinating court case related to the haunted house.

GLADSTONE POTTERY MUSEUM
Uttoxeter Road
Longton
Stoke on Trent
Staffordshire

One of the custodians here told Julian Dunn of BBC Radio 2, in 1978 that up to a few weeks earlier he had dismissed the idea of ghost as `ridiculous`. But one evening, about 5.45, he was checking through the building to make sure no visitors had accidentally been locked in, when he noticed the figure of an old man near one of the benches. 'He was grey-haired with side whiskers and wearing a short brown coat, like a smock. I called out to him, pointing out that we were closed and he faded away. I found it hard to believe what I had seen'. Later, however, the official checked with other members of the staff and learnt that some of them has also seen the phantom. Even a late visitor pointed out that 'there's an old chap still in there'. When he left the building, but nothing was found. The first witness believes that the old gentleman is one of the former pottery craftsmen who originally worked in the early Victorian Potbank in which the museum is housed"by Andrew Green

And on this cold, dark and spooky winter's night, I bid you good night. Those who are oncall tonight, remember not to walk down dark corridors or old wards. Remember to be nice to your patients, because the dead ones often return after dark :).

Person Andrew Green

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