F.A.Q.
This F.A.Q has been compiled from a series of questions that have been posed on various forum boards and often asked in emails & letters. Although it is not complete or definitive, we hope that it will answer some of the queries that the more curious reader may be pondering.
In a word, without any qualification, the answer is a capital ‘NO’.
Because ‘Hammer Horror type vampires’ – i.e. that sleep in their coffins by day and arise by night to feast on human blood; that can be repelled by the sign of the crucifix or holy water, and which can be destroyed by a stake through the heart – simply do not exist.
This is not to say there may not exist other psychic phenomenon which may take on ‘vampire-like’ characteristics (visiting sleeping humans by night, for example), but that
is an entirely different matter.
If the ‘Tooth Fairy’ really existed, then I would have to admit that vampires could exist; problem is, I don’t believe in the ‘Tooth Fairy’ either!
No. I certainly did NOT! There was some other nutcase who claimed to have “staked it” then later to have “staked” one of its “disciples” after she had changed into a “giant spider”, but this was not myself. You should remember there were all kinds of cranks trying to “cash in” on the story at that time, and this particular person was just one of them.
The name came mainly because at the time (1969 onwards), I was investigating reports of a ghost seen in Highgate (Highgate Cemetery, in fact), and the Press dubbed it “The Highgate Vampire” because these same people kept making claims that the frequently witnessed ghost was really a “vampire”.
As I have already said, the answer to that is an unequivocal ‘no’!
That never really happened. It is true that after seeing a television programme featuring myself in March 1970 about the Highgate host, several hundred people converged on Highgate Cemetery on night hoping to “see the vampire”, but this was only due to the antics of another person who appeared on the programme and told viewers that “David Farrant” would be “returning to Highgate Cemetery to stake the vampire there”!
I never in fact stated this but people really went to Highgate Cemetery hoping to see myself “in action”!
Look. It simply did NOT exist. The house in Crouch End existed true. And true, I was arrested at that house in 1973 while conducting a series of magical rituals there. But this ‘vampire’ (from Highgate Cemetery) was added to the newspaper reports covering my arrest at the house, and he conveniently chose this location to ‘fit in’ with a fictional story he wrote about the Highgate ghost and had self-published in 1985. (I was acquitted in that ‘magical rituals’ case, by the way.)
We are still not certain as to the nature of the actual psychic entity seen in and reported around Highgate Cemetery (and which is apparently still active). One thing is for certain though, it is NOT nor ever was a ‘vampire’. The only reality this ‘vampire’ had, was in the imagination of the person telling this wild story.
Many psychic phenomena cannot really be “contained” in the way that you suggest, as some adhere to laws that are not understood by science; certainly not remotely understood by by the usual limitations of human nature.
Yes. That particular phenomenon is still active. It was witnessed by two independent people in March and July 2005 respectively.
Yes. For almost three years in 1974.
That is a truly ‘loaded question’! The simple answer is, I didn’t do anything. I was wrongfully convicted for two offences of desecration in Highgate Cemetery during the course of our investigation into the unexplained phenomenon there.
It is also true that I sent two ‘voodoo effigies’ to two police detectives in 1973 for which I received an additional prison term of two years. I never denied sending these two effigies (indeed I signed two accompanying notes sent with them and sent these by recorded delivery) but they were sent to protect somebody who the police had physically abused.
As the name suggests, it is an old Church Act (somewhere around 1860, I believe).
It is true that I was charged under this Act in 1972, when I (and one other person) attempted to hold a seance in a deserted Barnet churchyard one night in 1972. We were arrested at midnight on Halloween 1972 by the small grave where a spirit (or ghost) had been regularly reported by locals. Police interrupted this ‘magical seance’ and we were charged with ‘indecency’ under this Act (that is, ‘indecent behaviour’ likely to offend the Church). We were later taken to Barnet Magistrates Court and fined £10. But there was no nudity involved (although I did have bare feet!) The police also made an issue of the fact that we had not first obtained permission for this seance.
Indecency in the context of that Act, referred to indecency likely to offend the Church. When that Act was draughted way back in the 19th century when far more people attended Church, it was considered “indecent” to whistle up the pathway on the way to Church or to throw sweet papers to the ground.
Quite apart from this, if you look at the police photographs taken just preceding our arrest you can see that we were both fully clothed. (Sorry to disappoint you!)
No, I didn’t. Except in the pages of sensational Sunday newspapers many years ago. There was all sorts of speculation about this and ‘naked black magic orgies’, it is true, but most of this resulted from fictional stories being sent to the Press about myself.
It basically originated with the same person who tried to turn the Highgate entity (or ‘ghost’) into a ‘vampire’. Needless to say, this made a ‘good story’ for his publicity seeking escapades.
You haven’t “got” me at all! Look, if you are suggesting that all meat eaters in the country must be guilty of animal sacrifice just because they eat meat, then that would make me just one of millions!
No. And I have always condemned their activities. Many of my articles and writings from the past can confirm this fact.
Yes. Well, I used to be. I guess in one respect, I still am. Its rather like a priest in any Church. Just because he (or she) retires does not mean they are no longer an ordained Priest.
They are as far apart as heaven could be seen to be from hell.
Well, please forget Highgate Cemetery, because no crime or crimes on my part ever took place there. But if you mean this in general terms, then I suppose my ‘biggest crime’ was just trusting the wrong people!
Probably because he knows this “looks bad” on paper. Ironically “though he always forgets to mention this” this same person bought out a pulp fiction book on the Highgate vampire case back in 1985, and in this publication he clearly states that he does not personally believe I committed those two offences of vandalism at Highgate Cemetery. This is all on public record.
No!
You mean the cat that Long John Baldry admitted in court, had come home unharmed?
No, I didn’t kill the cat that was never dead in the first place and eventually died of natural causes many years later.
No, again! But you know it really wouldn’t surprise me if that’s the next thing I’m accused of doing!
Sorry ladies, yes I am, very much so.
Because I respect my wife’s wishes not to have her wedding photos electronically stolen by ‘you know who’, her face photoshopped green and 666 branded on her forehead! Additionally although I talk about my wife from time to time she is not a ‘media person’ per se, and prefers to stay out of the limelight.
No! I had a couple of glasses of champagne and some lobster about 3 years ago and certain Trotsky-esque types seem obsessed with it. They should try it! It would make a change from Bachelors Supernoodles!
Eight major ones but I contributed to many others and have written many articles on occult-related subjects.
I never do things that I do not like. And this also applies to my interest in psychic investigations.
I would say that anybody who really thinks that their neighbour is a vampire, are more in need of help than any vampire would be!
I think the same sort of answer applies. But I don’t wish to upset anyone, so I’ll say no more!
