Hello all,
Just to let you all know that my Talk at Margate on Saturday 26th of this month went well. Unfortunately, we were curtailed a little because of time on the way there, and with having to catch the last train back. The host, Karl Serveld, had very kindly booked us a double room for the night but we had to get back early for a BPOS meeting on the Sunday. However, Karl’s generousity was much appreciated.
I think the Talk went well (then again I would say that wouldn’t I!). But it was reassuring to see that the audience were listening attentively and a little later on were asking questions. Most of the conference attendees seemed to be from the Kent and London area, and it was good to meet some new people and forge some fresh networks. I am very much hoping that they will invite us back again next year, as we would very much like to make a complete day of it. I understand the other speakers’ Talks were also well received, and the atmosphere over all was very warm and friendly. I feel Karl’s annual conference has a lot of potential. The one we attended was the second, and in the downstairs area of a large hotel. It had been prepared carefully with camera equipment, stalls for attendees’ publications and aprojector screen for presentations (and of course an open bar!) so altogether a very professional endeavour which I am proud to be associated with.
What else? Well in other news I am pleased to announce that finally the film “Tulpa” is due for imminent release. The film tells the story of the true facts underlying the now legendary Highgate ‘vampire’ case which gripped north London with fear in the early 1970s. Tracing the early life of David Farrant (myself!), whose name has become synonymous with the case, the film explores the background of a man who, in his own words, ‘became a kind of story which people could read in bed on a Sunday morning’.
Several years of painstaking research and interviews have culminated in ‘Tulpa’ – a film which captures the zeitgeist of 1960s and 1970s London, and reveals the man behind the myth. So do keep an eye out for the trailer which will be released on YouTube any day now.
So, another tiring week, but as you may all have gathered by now, Della’s new website https://hidden-highgate.org is finished and went live on Friday. She has put a lot of work into it and I admire her determination not to allow the negativity of Highgate ‘vampire’ fixated plaigiarists and hangers on to detract from her original research. After all the project was developed for people with a genuine interest in Highgate’s paranormal past and not politics and back stabbing – and it seems to be very popular with its target audience, generating an average of 150 visits and 500 pageloads a day. So all in all a success! And if one multiplies these figures over the coming weeks and months, the sky will literally be the limit.
Poor Della is used to the usual round of interviews and appearances which I am asked to give each Hallowe’en, but this year she has had her own to manage as well. Somehow on top of a full week at work, caring for her brother, and staying up all night on two hours sleep working on the website she has managed to give four interviews and a photoshoot and participate in a live phone in, as well as accompanying me to Margate. But it has all been worth it, and we have finally managed to relax this evening with a nice meal and some wine – before it all commences again on Thursday night!
So keep an eye on this blog for updates about “Tulpa” , and enjoy the build up to Hallowe’en – now we have snatched 5 minutes to ourselves we certainly are!
Yours for the moment,
David
