THE GREY LADY IN HARDWICK PARK REVISITED

In June this year after celebrating my 60th birthday with having lunch with the family at the Hardwick Inn. The story of me seeing the Grey Lady in Hardwick Park, when I was eight years old was retold & we all decided to go to the bottom of the steps to re-enact my sighting all those years ago. 
To the able-bodied it's steady walk up the hill over the grassy path, but with our Thomas being in a wheelchair, it was a bit of a challenge. So his Dad, with the help of his brother Mark & encouragement from the rest of us, we all managed to get to the steps, so the events of that day all those years ago could be re-enacted.

Positioning my niece Joanne to where the Grey Lady had stood, young Callum (Jo's son & my Great Nephew) decided he was going to be an extra ghost at the top of the stairs. This was an great adventure to him because like me, he was also eight & he wanted to see the Grey Lady, but this was not be. They say that children around the age of eight are susceptible too to this phenomena, I certainly believe it or I would not be telling this story today. Thomas (also my Great Nephew) said if I had taken a photograph of the Grey Lady, then he would have believed me, but an eight year old in 1962 did not possess a camera. Not like an eight year old today who owns a camera or should I say owns a camera phone. How times have changed & progressed !

So after this group shot or nearly, Callum decided he was going to slide down the steps instead. It was an easier journey back to the car park. From left to right - Mark, Alan, Jo, Paul,Thomas & Callum.

View from where the Grey Lady had first stood, looking towards me & my bicycle, just in front of the nearest small trees.
Whether or not any of the family or even anyone else believes me, I know what I saw in broad daylight that day.

It was now back to the ranch for all of us to enjoy a slice of my birthday cake, which the family had presented me with after lunch & reflect on the day's events with a nice cup of tea. 
Thanks to all the Family for giving me such a Great Day Out !

If you haven't read the original story please click on this link.
http://gingerbennsdaysout.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-day-i-saw-grey-lady-in-hardwick-park.html

THE DAY I SAW THE GREY LADY IN HARDWICK PARK

The day all the family went to the Hardwick Inn, Derbyshire for my brother in law's 70th and my nephew's 40th birthdays. I re-told the story of the day I saw the Grey Lady in the park.
          
It was a bright & sunny September day in 1962, I was around 8 at the time. My dad & me had gone on our bikes to Hardwick Park to collect conkers. We were going from one conker tree to the next, collecting as we went. I was in front of my dad when we got close to the steps in the hillside, WHEN at the bottom of the steps, I saw a Grey Lady. She had a long grey dress on, which was buttoned up to the neck. Her face was grey. Her hair was grey & her shoes were grey !  I turned round & shouted to my dad to look, but I as turned back round & my dad looked up, it was too late, she was gone ! There was no time in that split moment of time for her to have gone up the steps or move behind a tree, not dressed like that. My dad never said you must have imagined it, because he knew I was telling the truth.
I know what I saw & to this day I still believe I saw a ghost. To quote Max Boyce -  I know it's true, because, I was there !

Old Hardwick Hall reached via the steps.

Bess of Hardwick's New Hardwick Hall.