From the Ridiculous to the Paranormal (Michael Bentine documentary)

A talk given by Michael Bentine about his paranormal experiences and investigations into mediumship to the Wrekin Trust on 29th October 1989

Misty wrote:I knew that Peter Sellers was into allsorts to do with Spiritualism, Mediums etc but didnt know that about Michael Bentine.  I wonder if the other two Goons were also ----  Spike Milligan?  Harry Secombe?

This documentary revealed Peter Sellers obsession with the occult.  Sellers was a highly superstitious man who consulted fortune tellers, clairvoyants and mediums to help him make key decisions in his life and work.

Comedian and author Spike Milligan was brought up in India but never took an interest in the psychic practitioners all around him - until a strange event changed his mind.  One day, while listening to a football match on the radio, he was annoyed when his watch stopped at 4.20pm.  Then the phone rang.  He answered it and heard the speaking clock saying it was 4.20 and 18 seconds.  This shocked Spike, so he dialled the telephone engineers, who explained that it was impossible and such a thing had never happened before.   The next morning, Spike received a sad letter.  His beloved grandmother had died the previous day at 4.20pm.

Nothing too dramatic today as far as coincidences go but it’s another small personal experience from one of our holidays.

We were staying in a 16th century cottage in Rye, East Sussex, England. That’s the row of cottages at the front of the photo. The picture was taken from the church bell tower opposite.

One day my wife and I set off for a long walk heading in the direction of the sea. As we crossed some open fields I started talking about Spike Milligan, a British/Irish comedian, writer, actor, musician and poet who died back in 2002. Nothing specific, just general chat as we walked.

After crossing the fields I wasn’t too sure which way to head but saw a sign saying Winchelsea, so I suggested we went in that direction. We approached the village which was highish on a hill and looked to be old and interesting.

We made our way through the old gatehouse and into the village. It was typically, old fashioned England with a big church at the center. Though I don’t belong to any organised religion I like churches: the way they feel, the atmosphere inside and so on. They are usually full of history.

We spent an age in the church and my wife even made a ‘rainbow’ woollen bracelet while there, which she attached to her rucksack. As we were leaving my wife noticed a photo of Spike Milligan in the church!

She beckoned me over and, sure enough, it was Spike’s picture – with directions of how find his grave in the churchyard. This was completely unbeknown to us. We had no idea where he lived when alive or where he was buried. We now know that prior to his death he was living in Rye.

We found his grave outside and paid our respects. In typical Milligan humour his stone bears the words “Dúirt mé leat go raibh mé breoite”. This is Irish and translates to “I told you I was ill.” I have since read that the church would not allow this to be written in English.

Misty wrote:I didnt know he was Irish either.