Readers Stories
Night Vigil. This first time, we stood to watch her ghostly self proceed with this yearly venture, it become like the story in the book we later read when we got home. We witnessed a stillness of the entire dark river world that literally stood still. It was like looking at a painting, with the river like a mirror in the moonlight, so deadly still. It is so quiet in this little remote village; at night you can hear a pin drop. Everything is still, no bird-life to be seen or heard perhaps the odd occasional splurge of fish surfacing for insects. Then, comes the icy cold stillness of the air. It gets through to your bones; the late night warmth becomes lost when the chill creeps up behind you. We heard the footsteps of someone walking down the steep winding pathway that leads to the river's edge. We heard the cracking of the twigs and foliage that decorates the quaint sloping path. You could distinctly hear this without question and the shuffling that came with it. The time on our watch read 11.50 approx., just shortly after the sound of the distant bells that could be heard in the far distant, possibly at Coltishall. Halfway along her descending little journey along the pathway, she stops for a brief while. It is very brief; it is like she pauses for a while. At this point both Adrian and I witnessed the green orb like light that fuzzed away amidst the darkness of the tree's that line the path. At first, it does appear like someone has a cigarette alight, and you can watch as this light descends the path and grows into this green light that glows in the night atmosphere. This light can be seen once more at the bottom of the pathway, at the river's edge. You can see a misty glowing light that wanders at the edge of the river along the short mooring spot available there. It was not easy to see this from where Adrian and I were standing. I could see a little of it. The best bit was yet to come. She called out to 'Olave'. We did not see the procession; neither witnessed any movement in the mirror like river amidst the darkness. Still nothing stirred, you could see your breath, and hear the chattering of your teeth. It gets very cold. You can not mistake the coldness of the icy chill, not necessarily a breeze, but the chill, which gets colder when she arrives out of her cold vault within the church walls. Around the time of 12.20 approx., Alys calls out. It sounds like a deep horn sound that has a kind of shrill in it, almost a growl if you like. It is very difficult to explain. You can quite clearly hear the word 'Olaf!' it is just very deep in tone and growl-like and just comes out of the blue. It took us by surprise. It was great to hear never the less. She stays for a short while, and then commits herself to her ascent. This is the same as her descent; you can hear her perfectly within the deep eerie silence of the night. My twin sister had gone to see this event last year. Adrian took her along. Her Account was almost the same, except for a few differences. Debbie said that she could hear the door of the church open. She had come across exactly the same as I, as this event proceeded from start to finish. Before, Debbie had heard the door of the church open whilst she was standing about waiting for the entire happening to begin, she had felt a presence behind her. She had to keep looking behind her. She said the instinct to look around behind her was very strong. At one point she had heard footsteps in the gravel of the boatyard just inches from where she was standing with Adrian. She had also felt someone touch her back like someone had stroked her. Debbie had quickly gone to look to see if she could see anyone just around the corner, but there was no one there. Debbie remarked upon the funeral procession that one could see at this time. Debbie did not see the boat or ghosts aboard such a boat of this kind, but did see quite clearly a rippling in the water. This did pass by her as she stood at the water's edge. She said that it seemed to be the passing of a small boat that had come by. This year I returned once again to this haunted place with Adrian. This time we had company. Adrian took his sister and brother-in-law along to witness this event. This time it was different, but not at first. Angela came with me to the spot that I chose to stand at. It is in front of the boatyards, right by the water's edge, In front of us, on the top of the little hill is the church. I like this spot because you can get to see her descent and ascent. You can hear her clearly from here. You do not get a great view of her at the bottom, but, for those who are wary of ghosts, this would be the better place. I am not wary of ghosts; I have grown up with them all my life. I would like to go to the river's edge at the bottom of the pathway next time. This time, the usual coldness started to evolve into an icy chill, and the river and surroundings turned into the painting with the river like a huge mirror in the moonlight. I heard the church door open and then again a second time. I gather Alys opens both doors of the entrance to the church. I awaited her descent and her fantastic glowing with awe. I got very little. I saw the little green flickering lights that twinkled just momentarily. I saw the little cigarette light that starts at the top of the path. Angela saw that too. I heard a faint crackling of undergrowth but that is all. I had wondered what had gone on. Then, as I scanned the darkness of the huge silhouette of the church and tree's, I could see this figure, a light misty green figure, that seemed to be standing at the top of the steps that lead down the pathway. I saw this figure come and go in intervals. Throughout this time I was expecting Alys to come out and walk down the pathway to the river's edge. I kept scanning my watch totally puzzled as to why she had not decided to go down the pathway that night. All I could assume was that there was something that was stopping her. I assumed she was not happy with something at the bottom of the pathway. I mentioned this to Angela who stood awaiting the event with me, very apprehensive indeed. Adrian and Ewan had gone to stand by the church. They had gone into the graveyard to see if they could see anything. They had met another couples who have come to see this special lady ghost for the past 10 years. They had some interesting things to say! During the time that Angela and I had waited it was only the figurine that I saw, until 12.25 am&ldots;. A horn like sound suddenly broke the silence of the dark river world. It seemed to come from the air above. It did not last long. I kept thinking that it might have been Alys calling out to Olave. She does sound pretty much like this. Angela seemed to think it sounded like a horn being blasted. Both Angela and I decided to go back to the car. I said it was no use, Alys was not having any of it tonight! Angela remarked on the fact that she kept thinking that someone was standing behind us, a little way behind us. I had felt it also. I felt someone grab my leg, I asked Angela if it were her, thinking she had got scared abruptly by something she didn't understand. Her answer was no! The icy chill still remained, and nothing stirred itself either. I sensed she was still around. Something had upset her normal procedure, for she did not go down the pathway as usual. Adrian and Ewan returned to tell us of the other folk that were about, who come every year without fail. Ewan laughed how he had accidentally scared the woman. We chatted, had coffee and a cigarette. The time was growing on now towards 1.20 a.m. It was then that we all felt this extreme cold icy blast. We could see our breath like we were still smoking our cigarettes. I ran off up the path to return to my spot in front of the boatyard. I had said that I did think she would return when she thought other's had gone away. She did so. It was not because of other folk at the bottom of the pathway that made her change her mind. It turned out to be the three moored boats that indeed spoilt her view. It does appear to be the fact that Alys does not mind the spectators that come around to observe her yearly event. I think it is her that sneaks up around those who do arrive. I think she likes to be nosy. She checks you out, I am sure of it. Anyway I stood at the beginning of the boat yard, for I had heard the sound of her descent. I saw the twinkling green lights. I heard nothing else but the sound of the arrival of Angie and Ewan coming up towards me. I signalled towards them to come with me. We all crushed the gravel beneath us as we strutted across to the other end of the boatyard. There we stood, in anticipation waiting to see Lady Alys Coverill. We were not disappointed. After a short while we could hear the faint shuffling of someone walking to and fro just up ahead of us about the spot where she stands. We knew however that the boat she waits for had long gone. I did not expect to hear her. Angie heard a belly laugh come from ahead. I did hear something like that, although I may have only caught a fragment of that. I could see the tail end of her white dress that glowed only faintly. A great bush hides the view of anyone that could be standing there. The glowing was fading off then returning for a short while. I pointed it out to both Angie and Ewan. It then vanished completely. I thought that she would make her way back up to the top of the pathway back to the church. She did not. She came to stand behind us instead. You could feel this still icy patch linger just behind us, and we turned to face it, and felt it distinctly. We turned back to see if we could hear her return up the pathway but to no avail. It must be her behind us. At that point, Angie felt someone touch her hair, as if someone had stroked it. We once again faced away from the church. I said that we should go back to the car to see if she would follow us there. At that point, Angie looked back. She felt that someone was staring at us. There was! We all stood and stared. At the far end of the nose of one of the boats, nearest the bush that block the view to the pathway's end stood a faint misty something. It then took shape. I could see the definite outline of a head and shoulders. I could then see the dark hair and very faint markings upon a face. At this point, Angie and Ewan could see something of an outline of someone. I asked them to focus on the nose of the boat only, and then they would see her more clearly. They did. I saw her attempt to walk forward and saw her arms move as if to walk. I feel she hesitated because of the fear that would have filled Angie if the apparition had came any closer. There was an interlude of about 5-8 minutes I would say. We did get to see her after all. I have seen Alys, at other times. I have seen her crossing the road very close to the turn off to the little village of B*** (withheld) on the way to Coltishall. This is what started it all. She is a lovely friendly ghost. A special ghost I would say. She is my favourite.
Tracey.
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