Our work was just ‘tomorrow’s fish and chip wrappers’ after all, as the old hands frequently reminded us cub-reporters if we showed signs of getting above ourselves. Born on January 6, 1920, Doris passed on May 8, 1987, following surgery at a NW London hospital for a brain tumour. I watched Doris Stokes on the TV many years ago and I think she gave a lot of comfort to many people. This unique collection includes the two best–selling books in which Doris Stokes shared her remarkable experiences with readers throughout the world. From letters signed by Disney himself to classic children’s books or ephemera, be sure to check out some of the collectible Walt Disney books on Biblio!

Driving past an unassuming village pub near the M1, not long ago, I was surprised to see a large board on the pavement outside on which someone had chalked – in big, rainbow letters – ‘PSYCHIC NITE. Doris Stokes, as she went on to become known to the world a few years later, truly caused a sensation. From the palmist who saw pictures in people’s hands, to the couple whose marriage was predicted by Doris, and the woman who believes she captures departed spirits on camera – the mysterious world of the paranormal, and Doris Stokes’ place within it, continues to unfold. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that it which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.Stokes was accused of using various forms of deception to achieve the effect of communicating with the dead. Up the road, Cardboard City – named for the hundreds of rough sleepers who congregated there on beds made from cardboard boxes – was already beginning to form in the gloomy warren of underpasses that led to Waterloo station.

Dark River has endeavoured to provide trademark information about all the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. She was good-natured throughout and would sometimes joke, ‘They’re taking me over to the Other Side bit by bit! Doris turned out to live on the other side of town, behind Fulham Broadway Station in a big complex built just after World War I for disabled ex-servicemen. Yet this was the person who packed the London Palladium something like eight times and took Australia by storm appearing at the Sydney Opera House and being whisked all over the country.

Some of the other ideas were a lot stronger commercially, but in the end – and to my surprise – the publisher came back and said that’s the book he wanted. I don’t know what I expected – knowing nothing about real life psychics – but from the films I’d seen, a flowing kaftan, hoop ear-rings and a distracted, other-worldly air seemed essential.