Sage Paracon UK 2016

On the 8th & 9th October 2016 Sage Paranormal will be hosting their very own Paranormal Convention at Wroxall Abbey Estate in Warwickshire. I know this because it’s well advertised, if you’ve missed it you’re social media blind and because I have the pleasure of being one of the guest speakers. Don’t miss out on what’s going to be a great weekend and pop over to their website later and purchase your tickets. There are some great deals available.

So, as we begin to run up to the event I thought I would make a few of my posts all about some of the things going on over the weekend at Sage Paracon UK 2016. Hopefully as you follow the posts, which I will try to make as frequent as possible, you can join me on a virtual journey into the paranormal world. Our final destination will be the Wroxall Abbey Estate on the 8th October and Sage Paracon UK 2016.

If you missed last weeks post on history being ghost stories and Jeff Belanger from Ghost Adventures, who will be speaking  at Sage Paracon UK 2016, then check it out at Sage Paracon UK 2016 – ‘History is a Ghost Story’ – Jeff Belanger.

Carl Hutchinson’s Search for Ghosts

This weeks post is all about my mate Carl. Okay so we’re not like best mates or anything, but I do consider Carl a good friend and someone I trust in the paranormal field. My family would probably refer to him as ‘one of your ghost pals’, which is term I always find a little humorous considering they are often referring to people that are very much alive, as well ghosts! Carl isn’t a ghost, well at I’m pretty sure he’s not. I mean what is a ghost? Think that’s a question for a different post!

I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and speak with Carl at a few Paranormal events, such as Paracon UK 2014, Sage Mini-Con earlier this year. He is a top bloke and I’m sure many in the field would back me up on that.

As Carl (like me) will be speaking at the upcoming Sage Paracon  later this year I thought I would catch up with him and have brief chat (informal interview) about his paranormal story. All made possible through Social Media, the world truly is getting smaller right?

As for many of us, Carl’s initial understanding was from the art of classic ghost story telling amongst friends, which has become a little more updated these days and delivered through the media of movies. For Carl this was something he really enjoyed, but the stories soon became a reality when he was six years old. It was around this time that he first moved down from Sheffield to Kent and he stayed in a country hotel. As Carl and his brother watched TV in their room they noticed the door handle go up and down a few times. Of course even then Carl had to investigate, but all he found was a funny looking character disappear around the corner of the corridor. It wasn’t until the next day that Carl’s dad enquired with the hotel and they explained that a British Civil War Soldier walked the Hotels corridors playing with door handles. Carl told me how this was possibly his first main experience and the one which has stuck with him and kept his interest in the paranormal all these years.

Tech Guy Carl

I’ve always known Carl for his great knowledge of the varied tech out there that’s available for investigators to use during an investigation. With this in mind I wondered how Carl ended up in this Tech role, was it something he took on or simply ended up with?

“I have always had a logical mind” Carl told me. However when Carl experienced something strange that he couldn’t explain logically, he found himself walking away with more questions than answers. As he learnt and discovered more about the paranormal field he soon realised that there were many pieces of equipment out there that could help him find his answers. However Carl wanted to know all about the equipment before he simply used it, an approach which he still uses today.

These days Carl looks at a location and his brain goes into overdrive planning out the best pieces of equipment to use and where for the best results. Especially when they can be used to collaborate each other.

“I have a house full of equipment and I live and breath equipment” Carl explained. He certainly knows he’s stuff.

Special Guest on Ghost Adventures

Back in March 2012 Carl was asked to join the Ghost Adventures team at Fort Horsted for a special investigation, one Carl wouldn’t forget in a hurry. The Ghost Adventures team asked Carl all about he’s experiences at the Fort which were extensive as he had been investigating the location for many years and had some quite dramatic experiences there. On one occasion he even felt what seemed to be two fists hitting him in the stomach knocking him against the wall. An experiece that meant he didn’t return to the room in question for about two years.

During filming of the Ghost Adventures show, Zak asked Carl to return to that very same room with Aaron. During which they encountered some interesting responses on the SB7, heard footsteps and even a whistle. An thoroughly interesting session with the guys from Ghost Adventures.

Carl’s Paranormal Understanding

As someone that has gone from being a non-believer to an investigator who believes there is something there, but something that requires proper investigation and understanding, Carl takes on a rather Sherlock approach in my book. One that I also share though to be fair. Firstly, he looks to debunk everything he can with logic and understanding. Then whatever is left absent of explanation must be something unknown! Something that we should be seeking explanation for.

“I think I am more of a believer than a non-believer” He tells me.

Carl has a great understanding of the field and that in our world that has explanation, but believes some of which remains unknown may fit into the Stone Tape Theory. A theory that explains how things that occur are simply a replay of an event that was somehow recorded, perhaps store in the locality of where it’s encountered. Carl thinks that high emotions or sudden death are good examples of how these events are imbedded into say a building or object. However Carl doesn’t rule out intelligent Hauntings either, which can respond to the living and often can create the possibility of communication.

During he’s investigations Carl has witnessed, experienced and captured some very strange things; a possible spirit doing impressions of the Sage Paranormal team, a photo of what appears to be a pregnant woman in the Screaming Woods, a full body apparition at Rye Castle, oddities on the thermal camera at the Skirrid Inn.

It was following some stints as a Guest Investigator with Sage Paranormal that he later decided to join the team as permanent member and hasn’t looked back since.

Carl’s Top Five Lists

I couldn’t really leave this with Carl without gathering some of his Top Fives could, so here we go!

Top Five Locations That Carl Has Investigated

1. Fort Horsted
2. The Explosions Museum
3. Rye Castle
4. Drakelow Tunnels
5. Delapry Abbey

Top Five Locations That Carl Would Like To Investigate

1. Tower of London – UK
2. Hell Fire Caves – UK
3. Eastern State Penitentiary – USA
4. Castle of Good Hope – South Africa
5. Banff Springs Hotel – Canada

Top Five Pieces of Tech

1. Digital Recorder
2. Parabolic Microphone
3. SB7 Spirit Box
4. Full Spectrum Still & Video Camera
5. Vibe Pod or REM Pod

And of course he’s own body, as that’s an investigators primary piece of kit.

Get On Line And Get Your Tickets Before Its Too Late!

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be a part of this fantastic event, follow the link below to the Sage Paranormal website to purchase your tickets now.

Sage Paracon UK 2016

Alternatively if you already have tickets to Sage Paracon UK, then please comment below to let us all know and make those not going a little jealous ha ha!

I look forward to seeing you all there and possibly talking paranormal at some point over the weekend. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for my future posts related to Sage Paracon UK 2016.