The Storyteller shares tales of the paranormal

I love sharing stories, whether they are folklore or my own experiences, anything that gets a reaction from an audience. I guess it stems from my desire to be an actor, when I was growing up, I just liked to entertain.

Over the years, I have used various mediums to do this, not just writing articles for newspapers, but also the radio; films made by students, including my own niece, and TV companies, both here and abroad; meetings of my paranormal investigation group, TIP; and the many talks I’ve given for various groups, including the Agatha Christie Festival.
Since leaving my job at the box office at the Princess Theatre, I’ve been trying to establish my own business as a Dartmoor tour guide. This would involve taking small groups out in an eight-seater vehicle, showing them the sights, and taking them to the many locations where the stories I tell, allegedly took place. Last year, I took out a group from Exeter University, in a 53-seater coach. In the past, I've been on board minibuses sharing my stories.

Now I’m trying to find other ways to bring my passion to a wider audience. My radio stints have included phone-ins on local radio, one of which landed us our first ongoing investigation, which kept us busy for the whole Summer of 1999 at Salem Chapel in East Budleigh. I’ve also enjoyed a monthly slot on John Govier’s Late-Night Radio Show and on BBC Radio Devon alongside my good friend Maia. Together, we shared our knowledge of various areas of paranormal study, at the same time fielding calls from John’s listeners. During the years we were featured guests and persuaded John to host some Halloween specials as outside broadcasts, from such places as the Coffin House in Brixham and the old courthouse in Exeter (before it was turned into flats and commercial properties). These were great fun to do, carrying out investigations during the show, and giving feedback on our findings on live radio.

One year, John decided to host a live show to celebrate an anniversary of his radio broadcasting career. We suggested the old ABC cinema in Plymouth, which was famous for a haunting in one of its screens by a customer who was often seen sitting on the front row during the film but was never accounted for as the audience left.

This was the auditorium we were allowed to use as John wanted to have a live audience during the show, and, as well as various acts to entertain, throughout the show we kept reporting back with any activity we were picking up on. Good times!
Nowadays, I’m a regular contributor to my friend David Hammond’s Thursday morning radio show on Riviera FM. Together we go out and about, visiting the various sites where my stories took place, and making recordings for his regular Southwest Folklore segment. Just recently we spent the day in Bovey Tracey, visiting the heath where the Civil War battle took place in 1646, an event I covered in a recent article, followed by a walk around the town itself, paying a visit to the magnificent church which now stands on the site of the original, that was allegedly commissioned by William de Tracey, one of the assassins of Thomas Becket, in Canterbury Cathedral, back in 1170, as an act of penitence for that heinous crime, who also gives his name to the town.

After making several recordings that will be aired over the coming weeks, we retired to the atmospheric Cromwell Arms, which boasts the Cromwell Arch in its car park, for a late lunch, and where I had a business proposition to put to the landlady.
Since Covid put a stop to our weekly meetings at Churston Court, making them become monthly at Chelston Manor in Torquay, I have been looking for other venues outside of Torbay to host gatherings, taking TIP on the road, as it were. The other year I set up an event at The East Dart Inn, at Postbridge on Dartmoor, and on the first occasion around thirty people turned up to hear my stories and to tell me theirs. The second time, it wasn’t quite so well attended but then it was a shocking night weather-wise, so this might have put some of the locals off. However, I’m hoping for better things from my endeavours in Bovey Tracey...

The landlady was quite happy to oblige, offering the use of the meeting room in her establishment, allowing me to hold a private meeting there, with a view to sharing my stories with a new audience, and hopefully, hearing theirs in return. I’m particularly interested in hearing from locals with a spooky tale to tell from the surrounding area, possibly something that adds to the snippets of folklore I’ve already researched that needs building upon. My ultimate aim is to hold regular ghost walks around the town for a paying audience, and I’ve already secured the help of members of the Bovey Tracey Heritage Trust. So hopefully this will happen, and, if it takes off, I hope to take the idea to other towns and villages, on and around Dartmoor.

Now I’m in the process of putting together an advert for the date of the first meeting in early March, which gives me the whole of February to spread the word and plan the route of any future ghost walk. I will obviously share further details here over the coming weeks, but if you want to have updates sooner, feel free to contact me via the email address at the end of this article.
I would also like to hear from anyone who has their own stories and experiences to share with me, either in confidence or to provide inspiration for future articles or possible investigations. New members are always welcome at any meeting, whilst I’m also open to suggestions for other places that might like to host a meeting or maybe you might belong to a group in need of a speaker versed in my particular subject, please get in touch.

I’ve also got a couple of friends who are very interested in hearing about people’s experiences at the very haunted Berry Pomeroy Castle, one makes YouTube videos, whilst the other is looking for material for a new book. So if you’ve got anything to share on this subject or any of the above, here is my email address: davidtiptrips@gmail.com
I look forward to hearing from you.