We
recently received a series of e-mails from an organization called “The Phantom
or Fraud Project”. As they have been selectively quoted on their website we
have decided to publish them in their entirety (including spelling and other
grammatical errors) for members and others to read so that they can form their
own opinion of the correspondence.
Phantom
or Fraud Project:
Dear
sir/madam
I head The Phantom or Fraud Project, a scientific reserach organisation
trying to prove life after death beyond all doubt. I started as a sceptic
some five years ago, and am now channelling myself and have therefore
become an rdent beleiever.
I am trying to locate a living physical medium, to take part in a recorded
experiment to PROVE spirit communication, but the search to date is proving
very difficult.
Any ideas?
Regards
Ross Hemsworth
The Phantom or Fraud Project
The
NAS replied:
Sorry we cannot assist you.
Phantom
or Fraud:
Hi
again!
Does that mean no such p[erson exists that you know of, or that you are
just not wanting to assist us?
I am a friend of Colin Fry's and he speaks highly of your society.
Ross
Phantom or Fraud
The
NAS replied:
We
continually receive requests from so-called experts who think they are
the first persons to investigate physical mediumship. We have no intention
of exposing our mediums to experiments of any kind.
The NAS is not interested in scientific investigation. It's all been done
many many years ago and we see no point in going over old ground again and
again. For further information see our website.
Phantom
or Fraud:
I
am seething at your reference to me as a "so called expert", and
suggest
you refrain from making such a sweeping statement until you investigate
further the reserach I have done over the past ten years! I have spent a
long period of time PROMOTING soul survival and supporting the work of
mediums, some of whom we used in our series Ghost Detectives. And at least
I put my name to my e-mails and not just signing as "webmaster"!
I now openly challenge you to defend your thoughts and theories in my
forthcoming TV series, as it seems you have little real evidence of
physical mediumship other than website stories of Victorian "seances".
Regards
Ross Hemsworth
The
NAS replied:
I
have over 45 years of experience of physical mediumship and am not the slightest
bit interested in challenges of any kind. Please don't waste my time
Phantom
or Fraud:
I
find your attitide somewhat negative at a time when organisations who are
well established, attempt to offer PROOF of soul survival. It is for this
very reason that sceptics like Wiseman and French, and the current Channel
5 programme Psychic Secrets Revealed, are having such a lot of press,
because there is little actual evidence to contest their views.
We are in the 21st century, a time when spiritualism and science should be
working together to PROVE the survival of the human soul, an organisation
that hides away as you appear to be doing, does nothing but damage, and I
will have to put this forward in the forthcoming TV series, stating that
you failed to assist in these experiments.
What have you to hide from?
Ross Hemsworth
The Phantom or Fraud Project
The
NAS replied:
We
have nothing to hide and as I said earlier just because you think you
are an expert we should jump at your behest. Sorry but we do not respond to
challenges neither do physical mediums of any sense. We do not have to
prove anything - the evidence speaks for itself. You can say what you like
in your programme but it won't make any difference.
Phantom
or Fraud:
I
shall be following these communications up as I see fit.
I am astonished that you claim to have "evidence" yet cannot share it
with
anyone else! I'm sure this will make interesting reading.
Regards
Ross Hemsworth
The Phantom or Fraud Project
The
NAS replied:
Your
threats carry no weight with me.
I have shared my evidence freely over the years with thousands of people.
Just because you are not aware of it is not my problem. I pointed out to
you, but you chose to ignore it, that many others before you wanted to
research physical mediumship but failed as you will too. If you are really
interested form your own physical circle instead of expecting others to do
it for you.
Phantom
or Fraud:
Your
e-mails do nothing but make you appear a pompous git!
I have made no threat whatsoever, this is purely how you have misunderstood
the the plain English spoken to you.
I will however, be discussing this issue in a future programme, with Prof
Chris French, a close associate and resident sceptic within the programme.
As it appears you do not wish to be there to defend your corner, I cannot
see the feature being very positive for your organisation.
After our conversations of today, I am even more convinced that physical
mediums do not exist, and you have done nothing to convince me otherwise.
I do not intend corresponding with your further.
Ross Hemsworth
The
NAS replied:
At
last the cat is out of the bag!
Your opinion of me counts for nothing. I could easily trade insults with
you but I do not intend descending to your level. For your information I
have appeared on a number of programmes with Chris French your "resident
sceptic". His knowledge, like yours, of physical mediumship is abysmal.
I have appeared on many TV programmes - another one is of no importance.
Because you do not know of any physical mediums doesn't mean they don't
exist. What curious logic! I have no intention of trying to convince you or
anyone else of anything. This correspondence is definitely closed.
Phantom
or Fraud:
I
will finish this conversation with one comment - I am an open-minded
person WILLING to be convinced but when people like you state that physical
mediumship is REAL and that you "have evidence" but cannot produce
such
evidence on demand, you must expect to not be taken seriously. Evidence is
there to share, not to withold, and if there is an afterlife, I think you
will find a suitable punishment awaits you.
The
NAS replied:
You
must be a really sad person. You don't seem to understand basic
English. I told you this correspondence was closed but still you persist in
your idiotic remarks. A cursory investigation has revealed that your
one-off programme achieved such appalling ratings that no TV company will
touch your programmes with a bargepole.
The evidence is there if you bothered to look. Why anyone should take you
seriously is beyond me. Particularly when you write such rubbish as "if
there is an afterlife" and your remarks about "punishment". That
tells me
and all right-thinking people that you have no understanding of
Spiritualism and are talking through your nether regions.
DO NOT WRITE AGAIN
Phantom
or Fraud:
Oh
you don't get away that easily you complete idiot!
If you had done your research properly you would find that Ghost Detectives
broke all ratings records for UK Horizons, as did Ghostwatch Live at the
Tower of London, and we still remain the ONLY paranormal investigation
organisation to be allowed in the Tower for an overnight investigation!
The new series which is now in pre-production, will feature all your
e-mails which I have saved, and will offer a spokesman from your
organisation onto the programme to defend your organisation, which appears
on the face of it, even more secretive than the Masons! The new programme
which is commissioned by an American broadcaster, is to be shown worldwide.
My organisation, contains some of the biggest names in SCIENTIFIC
paranormal research amongst its membership, and we deal only in FACT not in
hersay and gobble-de-gook. If you have evidence, PUT UP OR SHUT UP, because
your constant attacks on me leave you in a position of having egg on your
face very soon.
Ross Hemsworth
LAST
WORD
The
NAS replied:
Name
calling will not get you anywhere. Why don't you take a leaf out of Helen's
(Helen Livesey-Jones, a Team Leader of the Phantom project) book instead of your
ever increasing abusive e-mails. You have certainly ensured that you will not
receive any cooperation from any of our members now or in the future.
My
research shows that UK Horizons are way down the list in the ratings. Living TV
have broken all records with their recent viewing figures of 15 million
surpassing all other channels. We have not the slightest interest in the
Tower of London or any other tower.
I
only responded to your attacks. I did not instigate them. By all means put them
on your programme, if it ever gets shown, and let the public judge for
themselves.
All
future e-mails will automatically be deleted.
Latest:
We
have received the following email -
Dear
Sir,
I
read with interest the thread on your website regarding your communication with
Phantom or Fraud.
Whilst I have no wish to comment on the content of the argument in any way, I
would however like to correct a few facts.
First, one of the e-mails sent to you implies that Phantom or Fraud were behind
“Ghostwatch Live” and were instrumental in
gaining access into the
Tower
of
London
.
The Phantom or Fraud team were essential contributors to the show, but the show
was made by BBC Worldwide for UK Horizons. It
was in fact the work of Executive Producer Andrew Sewell and myself, Simon
Moorhead as producer that were behind these programmes.
As it happens, “Ghostwatch Live” still
remains the most successful cross-platform production of its kind, crossing
terrestrial, digital and internet transmission.
“Ghostwatch Live” gained a 0.8 million
audience and the web based broadcast gained a further 0.5 million hits over the
two nights. Indeed one viewer
stayed on line continuously for 7 hours.
