THE WHEATSHEAF HORROR

The small north-east village of Boldon has been put firmly on the map after the tale of one of the its’s most haunted pubs fascinated a TV audience of 20million American viewers.

The Wheatsheaf Hotel is the subject of a Discovery Channel documentary, telling the chilling tale of the pub’s spirits and the unearthing of a 100-year old murder mystery.

The haunted pub was the scene of a gruesome murder over a century ago and with the help of the spirits, staff uncovered what became voted Britain’s Top Paranormal Event of 2004 – attracting the attention of the Discovery Channel and a wide audience across the Atlantic.

Licensee Claire Robson said: “It’s great that this story has become so popular. The Discovery Channel were interested in it and decided to fly all the way over to Boldon to film it.

“It’s the first time the channel has been over in the UK to film a documentary. We’re just so pleased the story is finally being told.”

Both staff and customers had long suspected that the quiet pub in West Boldon had been haunted.

It was not until spiritual medium, Suzanne Hadwick, attended a charity event at the Wheatsheaf that their fears were confirmed, as they found themselves involved in a real life ghost hunt, unravelling a chilling mystery.

Suzanne said: “From the moment I entered the pub I felt an evil presence. I began to get visions of a horrific crime that had taken place hundreds of years ago.”

Led by the spirit of a local girl, Jessica, Suzanne witnessed her horrific ordeal as she was raped, beaten and murdered at the hands of evil Landlord, Joseph.

Suzanne said: “It was like the spirits had taken me back to a time between 1899 and 1906. Jessica was appealing to me to help her.”

Researching the pub’s history at Boldon Library, Suzanne and the staff found records, including pictures, of both Jessica and Joseph.

With Jessica’s help, Suzanne was able to see how she was killed and where her body had been buried.

On Suzanne’s advice, staff worked through the night, knocking down a wall to reveal a lock of hair and clothes believed to belong to Jessica – though the body had been moved.

Suzanne said: “Jessica had placed a great trust in me allowing me to help her. In doing this I was able to release her spirit from the pub and set her free.

“Doing the documentary was great but there is so much more to the story that hasn’t been told.”

Suzanne believes there are still more spirits in the attic and is keen to conclude this chilling tale.

She revealed: “Since the documentary, I have discovered so much more. Jessica has actually appeared to me to tell me where her body is buried.”

Later this month, Suzanne will be hosting a sleepover and an all night vigil at the Wheatsheaf to finally bring closure to this century-old mystery.

A Haunting: The Wheatsheaf Horror is to be aired in the UK later this year

BROWN SHOWS HIS PRIMARY COLOURS - A VERY FAINT SHADE OF GREEN

I felt Gordon Brown’s ‘green’ tax come into effect this week after I received an e-mail informing me that the cost of my flight to London next month had increased.


It said:

“You may have heard that the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, recently announced that Air Passenger Duty (APD) - a tax implemented, controlled and collected by the UK Government - is due to increase on all flights departing from UK airports after 1 February 2007”

Well, there’s no doubting where EasyJet are laying the blame!

And fair enough, they’re certainly not wrong. But what is interesting about the tax is where it goes. As a ‘green’ tax it is (allegedly) implemented to reduce the number of flights and thus reduce carbon emissions.

Now, dear reader, let me tell you what the tax meant to me. My flight cost £8.99. It now costs £18.99 – an increase of almost 110%. But I’m still flying to London for just £18.99!

The same journey by train, on the same date would cost £55 and take twice as long. If I drove, the cost in petrol alone would be £35, with London’s congestion charge raising the cost to £43.

So how, with air fares so low at the moment, will a simple £10 tax stop people from flying?

The answer is, it won’t.

Instead, it is simply another of Brown’s stealth taxes, swelling the treasury’s coffers to be spent on education and health – two departments with bank accounts leaking so much money they make a Thames water pipe blush.

This ‘green’ tax is not helping protect the environment, it is simply increasing the burden of tax on the British public – now the most highly taxed populace in Europe.

If Gordon Brown really wants to be seen as a ‘green’ Prime Minister and challenge the Tories on it, he is going to have to go much further.

Tough on global warming, tough on the causes of global warming. Has a certain ring to it, don’t you think?

2007: YEAR OF THE PROG

Happy New Year!

History tells us this will be a hugely important one. From the calendar, it is clear to see that years ending in a 7 always seem to throw up something to remember. Throughout 2007, we will be invited to remember a whole host of anniversaries – some important, some forgotten and some entirely trivial.


Europeans will be pressed to remember the signing of the Treaty of Rome, which set up the European Union, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Despite the rejections of French and Dutch voters, we look set to cement the union further. The European constitution, rejected in 2005, has been slimmed down and sexed up and is set to be presented to government leaders this year. And as governments celebrate the Union’s birthday, they will reaffirm their commitment to it, keen that 2007 will not be remembered as the year the constitution was refused once more.


In Britain, we shall be celebrating 300 years since the signing of the Act of Union that saw Scotland and England forge the United Kingdom. The May elections in Scotland, could signal the beginning of the end for the Union and see 2007 as the year the Scots finally brake away. Amid unpopular policy emanating from Westminster (namely the Iraq war), the SNP hope for huge gains in the elections and continue to reiterate their promise to fight for Scottish independence. The argument has raged for many years on both sides of the border whether the union should be maintained now Scotland has a devolved parliament. Scottish MPs vote in Westminster on key issues affecting England such as health and education. English MPs meanwhile have no say over many such issues north of the border. It seems to many to be an unfair balance of power.
The Labour party are keen to nip this in the bud. Besides losing its 41 Scottish seats, Scottish independence would also see the likes of Gordon Brown and John Reid unable to hold positions in cabinet, or as is more likely, stand as Prime Minister. They argue that the union is beneficial to Scotland. At £7,597, public spending per Scot is 16% higher than the rest of the UK. English taxpayers are effectively subsidising Scotland. It won’t be too long before calls for independence are heard from south of the border as those in England resent paying for a country that wants little to do with them and secondly resent the power Scottish MPs hold in England, with little being given in return.
2007 will be an important year for the sate of the union. Whilst Labour will oppose a break-up, calls from the opposition (who are hopelessly weak in Scotland) and from the SNP will undoubtedly be heard in the corridors of Whitehall. Who knows, perhaps in 2017 the streets of Edinburgh will be lined with party-goers celebrating 10 years of post-union independence?


We will also be reminded that it is 10 years since Princess Diana’s death. The Daily Express will no doubt provide us weekly reminders (starting in fact with yesterday’s front page!) to remember her. The anniversary itself comes at a time when Prince William's girfriend Kate Middleton is being endlessly compared to Diana both in character and appearance and is being hounded just as closely by the popular press.

We will also remember 25 years since the Falklands War. Amid growing tension and an increasingly chaotic campaign in Iraq, it will serve as a timely reminder of the blood shed over the past 25 years. It would be a ridiculous suggestion that 2007 will see the end of the Iraq campaign but perhaps in 2032 we will remember it as the year we took a greater step towards peace in the Middle East. As I write this, 20,000 American troops are boarding a plane to Iraq so perhaps not. But you never know…


Then there's the trivial anniversaries. 60 years since a dog first went into space, 50 years since the Pina Colada was first invented by a Puerto Rican bartender, 60 years since Bill Hayley and the Comets first graced the UK charts… you get the idea!

There is certainly much to remember in 2007. Looking forward, it is also a year that holds much promise of creating its own history. Ban Ki-Moon will take over as Secretary-General of the UN, Portugal will take over the EU presidency, presidential elections will be held in France, Turkey and Argentina, and Britain too will unveil its new leader.

This time next year, the world looks set to be a very different place – if nothing else, in appearance alone!

Once again, Happy New Year.