After everything I have said about ghosts being a load of tosh and make believe for impressionable people I feel I should relate a true story to all of you, its only fair that I pass this story on because at least then I feel that I have accepted that some things are a bit spooky.
Turn the lights off and light a candle for effects.
I was in a working man's club many years ago, they were holding a race meeting where you could bet on videos of horse races from long ago, we had a great night that finished in the early hours of a Sunday.
I decided to walk home and get some fresh air so I set off on my way. After about 15 minutes I was near to the entrance of Crewe Cemetery, I looked at the fence and decided to climb over and walk through, this would save me at least half an hour in getting home. Walking through the cemetery would not bother me as I had done it many times, after all who is going to bother you in a place like that.
I had been walking for about 5 minutes when I heard a faint 'tap tap tap' in the near distance, slightly puzzled but not frightened I carried on, again I heard that noise, 'tap tap tap' I had a good look around but could see nothing as it was pitch black.
Shrugging it off and carrying on I only went another few feet before I heard it again, only this time much closer, in fact very close. I peered through the gloom and realized I was seeing a form of a man near to a headstone, he or it was crouching down and was dressed all in black, the hairs on the back of my neck suddenly went rigid and a cold shiver ran down my spine. I was suddenly very alert and felt strangely vulnerable.
"what the hell is that" I thought, I should have turned and ran but an unseen force had gripped me and I stood frozen to the spot as this 'thing' turned and looked straight into my eyes. It slowly walked towards me and stopped inches from my face, its breath was acrid and I felt like being sick. Then I realized it was just an old tramp that must sleep in the cemetery at night. "Jesus mate, you scared the hell out of me" I said, "what are you doing in here at such a late hour?"
"nothing much" said the old man, " I am just changing the spelling on this headstone"
"Now I really dont think you should be doing that" I said, in a Harry Enfield sort of way, "you will get into trouble.........whats wrong with the headstone anyway?" I asked.
"nothing much" said the old man, "its just that they have spelt my name wrong!"