WHEN clergyman Rev Martin Draycott picked up his wedding photographs he was in for a spooky surprise.
For instead of friends or family in the background, he instead saw what he was certain were ghosts ? a revelation which prompted him to be the first ghost-hunting vicar in the country.
Rev Draycott, 39, was ordained in Burton last year, but is working as a youth worker until he gets his own parish.
He said: "I got married last year and when I was looking at the photos, there were images on there that I couldn?t explain.
"I heard about Swadlincote Paranormal Investigations on the radio and rang them up to see if they could explain them. There was an image of a young woman and you could see her face and shoulders.
"I believe that I have been sent to the group. It is fate, really. I know some people will think it is bad that a reverend is involved with ghosts, but it is all about spiritualism.
"I hope to provide a Christian presence in the group in order to help troubled souls who are having trouble passing on. I rang my bishop and asked him if I could join the group and he gave me his blessing. I still struggle with death though so I am learning all the time.
"Being a reverend is all about serving the public and this is just another level of this spirituality. I want to be a cross between the Vicar of Dibley and Father Ted ? I really want to rock the town and help people, whether they are Christian or not."
Even though Rev Draycott, who lives in Mackworth, Derby, had the calling 10 years ago, he has not had an easy start into the clergy ? during his first funeral he fell into the grave.
He said: "The first funeral I ever held I fell into the hole. I was standing on the mound of earth that had been dug out of the hole. The side is quite built up and because it was winter, it had started to slide down, and the next thing I knew I was in the hole.
"People were just laughing at me and I wasn?t quite sure whether the tears were them laughing or whether it was them grieving. We have been friends ever since."
Swadlincote Paranormal Investigations is made up of 11 people, three of whom are mediums and three sceptics.
They hold private and public investigations into unexplained disturbances. They go out to check for other-worldly activity with the help of infra-red video cameras, motion detectors and other devices.
Further details about the group are available on www.swadlincoteparanormal.co.uk
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/detail.asp? ... id=6583121
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