Veteran paranormal investigator Richard Clements blends scepticism and curiosity in his explorations of ghostly encounters and psychic questing across Essex
Richard Clements has been involved in paranormal investigation for more than 25 years. Based in Witham, Essex, he is one of those rare investigators who blends curiosity with a deep sense of scepticism — always probing, always questioning, never settling for the easy answer.
Early fascination with the unexplained
Richard’s interest in the paranormal began in childhood, when he discovered a mysterious hardback book in his village library. Its cover showed the famous Brown Lady of Raynham Hall photograph — one of the most debated ghost images of all time.
Inside were black-and-white photos of alleged apparitions and even an image of Harry Price.
“I believed every one of them,” Richard recalls. “Every time I visited the library, I would head straight for that book.”
That early spark grew into a lifelong passion, eventually leading him into hands-on investigations.
A ghostly airman at Ongar railway station
Despite his long-standing interest, Richard’s first major personal experience came relatively recently at Ongar railway station in Essex. During a public investigation, he believes he saw the full-body apparition of an airman.
The encounter was fleeting — and complicated by the event’s format, with groups moving between locations quickly — but it left a lasting impression.
“It’s something I’d love to revisit with a smaller team,” he says.
Beyond traditional ghosts
Richard doesn’t believe in ghosts in the straightforward sense of departed spirits. His thinking is more nuanced.
“I tend to use the word ‘paranormal in nature,’” he explains. “What we encounter may be energy that has its own agency and appears in a way you’ll recognise. It often manifests in human form or behaviour, but I’m not sure why.”
For him, the human witness is central.
“If nobody is around to witness it, does paranormal activity occur? I’m not sure that it does.”
Cash’s Well and sensory deprivation
One of Richard’s most rewarding cases was at Cash’s Well in Essex — once a popular location for investigators but now less frequently visited.
Here, his team experimented with sensory deprivation, and the results stood out.
“Some people told us it wouldn’t be worth investigating,” he says, “but our experiment produced some of the best results I’ve had.”
Though Richard admits he doesn’t scare easily, he confesses that staircases and stairwells always leave him feeling unsettled.
Evolving beliefs and inspirations
Like many investigators, Richard’s beliefs have shifted over time. As a younger man, he accepted the traditional idea of ghosts as the spirits of the dead.
Over the years, experience has shaped him into a more cautious thinker, blending psychology, energy theory, and human interaction into his approach.
He cites Peter Underwood as a major influence — “his books sparked my interest, even if I don’t always agree with his conclusions” — and names Guy Lyon Playfair as an investigator he admires.
In recent years, Richard has also become a writer. During lockdown, he took online courses and began publishing articles across paranormal websites, including Spooky Isles.
Today, he is involved with two groups.
The first explores the unusual practice of psychic questing, where investigators attempt to uncover hidden knowledge or artefacts through psychic impressions.
The second is linked to the Seventh Sanctum podcast, where he continues with more traditional ghost-hunting.
Richard encourages newcomers to keep their groups small and focus on local history.
“You don’t need to travel far. Stay in your county and you’ll find more than enough. When you reach out to property owners, highlight the historical elements of your research — that approach is often more productive.”
You can follow Richard on X at @clements_writer and listen to his psychic questing journey on the Life’s Quest podcast: [Spreaker link].
