We then gathered in the great room where Chris continued to pass on a few more tales including the one about the brass horse seen on the mantelpiece which apparently threw itself across the room. Joe added that it had been brassed off but was now in a stable condition ....
Up for it were:
Yuppers, Craigee, Jaycee, Bolt, Ali Gee, Pedro, Granpop Bill, 2 Pie Hard Dave Semi-Colon, Tim Mothy, Bolt, BrollyWolly Bagman of Talke Talke, Huge Mungeous, Mr Tahoohigh, Dan & Cate, WillnAnn.
On a dark and cloudy night in March the clan began to group at the Duke William to build up courage for a spooky night at the Leopard Hotel. The weather was deteriorating and thunder and lightening was looking highly likely. No-one could have ordered that for tonights adventure, surely not ....
As our cnerves settled after a couple of pints of Oracle and Citra we inched down to the Leopard in wait for Joseph, his 2 bodyguards; Dan & Cate, and WillnAnn.
Jaycee recounted his recent experience at the hospital when a nurse checked the swelling around his knee to see how far it had spread. Feeling under his Y fronts under a small towel, likened to a face cloth, to hide his embarassment, she confirmed it hadn't and couldn't find anything at all..... Amazingly though, Jaycee's pain had disappeared. 'Can you get that treatment on the NHS', asked Granpop Bill.
Brolly wolly man exposed his knee and the scars of his recent operation to repair his ligaments following his fall on the London do last year ........... Battlescars exposed all round it was time for a drink. Pride of Pendle and Posthorne were on tap and served by Phil. Could it be Phil Spectre asked Craigee who then went on to ask Bolt if he'd like a spirit just as a bolt of lightening flashed through the window and a clap of thunder shook the room. 'I can't hear any thunder', said Bill. 'Fancy a pint Bill?', someone asked. 'Yes please' came the swift reply.
Finally it was time to settle up and head off home. Craigee ably took control under the watchful eyes of Tim and Pedro who was waiting to pounce on the chocolates.
Hard Daves bus wasn't till 11.30pm but he was happy to hang around after we'd left cus he had a few Big Issues to sell.
A frightfully superb night.
Cheers
Yuppers
(enjoy yer nightmares)
Joseph and his 2 young bodyguards arrived in the nick of time as the thunder and lightening intensified and local magician and illusionist Chris Stokes gathered us together to take us around the Leopard's rear quarters.
We were then escorted down to the cellars where marks on the walls depicted positions of old tunnels and door ways. We spotted a ghostly figure which appeared behind a glass door but were relieved to see it was Bill having a tinkle, who was even more releived than we were.
Note the brass horse on the mantlepiece.
Have you spotted the hand in the mirror !!!!!
We gathered in a large room used for parties and Chris introduced the history of the Leopard to us under the watchful gaze of Mollie Lee, the legendry witch of Burslem. The Leopard consists of 3 properties knocked into 1. It was also featured in the 'Most haunted' programme in 2007. Sadly no funding is available to keep the roof secure and the building from falling into a worse state of dilapidation than it already is.
2 Pie R Dave fancied a bath but couldn't find the soap.
Not sure who that fella was sitting in the corner but I'm pretty sure He wasn't one of our group.
Chris gathered us together in the darkness and switched all torches off to absorb the darkness. Suddenly a loud bang echoed round the room. None of us moved. We were used to the sound of Pedro's wallet falling on to the floor.
To see what Bill took a photo of in the roof space click on his camera ...
