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LOVE, LIGHT AND UNICORN FARTS…

To be honest the editorial bit on this page of the magazine can do one this issue. At the beginning of 2020 the paranormal world mourned the loss of Derek Acorah, including us here at Haunted Magazine. No one else has ever been in the mag as much as Derek, he was in the first ever issue and did two big interviews in 2011 and 2017 and despite what a few people thought of him, to us he was the very embodiment of the paranormal encompassing the spiritual, the drama and the entertainment parts of it too. There was no one quite like Derek and there never will be.

This issue of the magazine is dedicated to Derek, it’s full of paranormal stuff, it has the odd dramatic / controversial moment, it’s packed full of paranormal stuff and we know that he’s up there looking down thinking “those cheeky Haunted chappies, I am tickled pink for them doing this, god bless them”

AND you know what, Mary may very well love Dick, BUT here at Haunted Magazine, we love Derek, always have, always will. We hope you enjoy the magazine.

#DontBeNormal BE PARANORMAL!! Paul Derek Acorah, RIP 1950-2020

04 IN MEMORIAM … DEREK ACORAH: King of the Paranormal (1950-2020)

06 BARK AT T’MOON … Mike Covell, A ‘reight’ champion that lad, writes about t’ghost dogs of Yorkshire

HELP! THIS FEATURE IS HAUNTED … As season 2 ends, we take a look back at what HMHIH brought To Paranormal TV

A GRAVE ERROR … Does a Leicestershire Graveyard Hold A Grisly Secret?

17 DESTINATION DAKOTA … Laden with all the information you need about Destination Fear

20 INTO THE WISE WOODS … The Most Haunted Woods on Dartmoor?

24 A TALE OF TWO CURSES … Nicky Alan and a spook have a bit of a swear off!

26 THE WIZARDESS OF OZ … Sarah Chumacero is definitely NOT in Kansas anymore

28 SINK OR SWIM, WHAT’S AT STAKE … Does Witchcraft have a place in modern Ghost Hunting?

DR Q … The second concluding part of the epic ‘Last Orders on Lovecraft Lane’

37 SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION … Paranormal chat with award winner Ben Canham

40 MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL … Jane Rowley reflects on her journey through the looking glass

NOT SO ‘ORRIBLE HISTORIES … Silent but deadly, the rushing Russian Frighter pilots

SPOOK WHEN YOU’RE SPOKANE TO … Amanda Paulson steps up to the plate

THE YOUNG ONES - Shouldn’t be afraid … We catch up with 12-year old Ghost Hunter Madison Smith (Ahem, sorry Paranormal Investigator)

BEANS, SCREAMS, BEERS, SCARES, ALES and WALES … Spook-Eats samples the foodie delights & spooky frights of the UK

POLITICAL PARANORMAL PARTY … Spooky shadows haunting a Conservative Club?

57 STEP BY ESTEP GUIDE … That Haunted Hospitals Guy visits wait for it… A Haunted Hospital!

ANGELS … Do they offer you protection, a lot of love and affection?

64 FEELING HOT, HOT, HOT … Morgan Knudsen heats up the Paranormal

Derekwas and ever will be the cheeky scouser who wore his heart on his sleeve and loved everybody. It didn›t matter who you were or where you came from, he treated all the same. As many will know his first love was football and he began a career as a professional with Liverpool Football Club under the great Bill Shankly but sadly it was not meant for him and in his late twenties he had to retire as a professional footballer and fulfil his destiny in working for Spirit just as his grandmother had predicted.

Derekfirst came to the public eye on local radio but soon progressed in to working in television in the late 90s and he didn›t look back. Dereknever professed to be the best medium in the world - he had no ego in that direction. As he always used to say.... he got lucky! He was in the right place at the right time. He came into Spiritualism and the Paranormal when it was new and fresh. Yes, there had been mediums on tv before him but not constantly as he was. They were featured more as a curiosity. Paranormal groups were working before Most Haunted came along (in spite of claims that I have heard) but it was Most Haunted that catapulted ghost investigation in to the popularity that it enjoys today, largely because of that cheeky Scouser who led the team as their medium. Many things have been written aboutDerekin this regard and one day I will commit pen to paper and tell Derek’s story which isn’t the rubbish that was put around about him by some.

Derekwas passionate about what he did. He loved his work and nothing more than helping people who were dealing with grief in some cases and the just curious in other cases. He also loved going on investigations. He adored tuning in to the atmosphere to see what he could pick up in the various locations that he visited, He was never a historian and was sometimes amazed at some of the information he came across.... asking me ‘Is that so?’ He had a huge following because he was ‘justDerek’. He got on with everybody and more importantly people related to him because he was so complicated. He was a lovely man and I’ve no doubt whatsoeverthat he’s equally loved ‘up there’. I will miss his physical presence in my life enormously but know that in time he will continue to walk by my side. He would have been so honoured and pleased that Haunted Magazine have chosen to pay tribute to him in such a way. To use one of his expressions - he would be ‘’tickled pink”! I would like to thank Paul, Andy and everyone associated with Haunted Magazine for doing this forDerek... my husband, the legend and the King of the Paranormal!”

I’ve known Derek (and Gwen) for many years now, we’ve supported each other through the tough times of the metaphysical work. They’ve always been cherished friends and I know that Derek will be flying high now (along with the late Colin Fry) with a glass of red wine in one hand and a cigarette in the other.... typical Derek & Colin.

I would personally like to give thanks and praise to Derek for allowing the paranormal and mediumship world to be opened up, as I believe we wouldn’t be where we are now without him!

Fly high Derek my dear friend... and maybe you’ll want to haunt a few people now!

Barrie John x

When I first worked with Derek back in 2002, it was with some in trepidation. Here was a man I had seen on TV, a larger than life character, and I was a relative stranger who was gate-crashing his stage. As it happens, I need not have been so concerned. Derek was a warm and friendly soul from the get-go with me, something I will always remember him for.

We had some very memorable times, many of which involved laughter, whenever we got together. One of my everlasting memories was during the filming in the basement of a location, with just Derek and me. Suddenly - and this is the only time I have ever had this happen - I saw a blue ball of light fly left to right and vanish into the corner of the basement. I turned to Derek, and I kid you not, both of us at the same time asked each other if we had just seen it! We both described the same thing! Bizarre, but a private moment we - and only we - both shared together at that time.

My wife Sara and I still cannot get our heads around Derek being gone. It doesn’t seem real somehow. He was showman. He was a larger than life character. He was my friend, and someone I will miss dearly. RIP Derek.

Phil Whyman x