Ashley Knibb
Paranormal Explorer, Investigator & Researcher
Ashley Knibb is a UK-based paranormal explorer, investigator, and researcher who approaches the subject through field investigation, witness accounts, and ongoing research into ideas that attempt to explain anomalous experience. He writes about investigation practice and “what to record” as well as wider topics including paranormal theory, case reflections, and related strands of unusual experience.
His interest began in childhood and developed into long-term exploration of reputedly active locations across the UK (and some abroad), alongside a growing focus on serious documentation and analysis rather than “TV-style” ghost hunting.
Ashley is a member of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) Council and its Spontaneous Cases Committee, supporting the SPR’s long-standing mission to examine and document spontaneous paranormal case material.
As an author, he is co-author (with Sarah Chumacero) of Supernatural Synchronicity and has written Paranormal Perspectives: The Royal Oak Investigations for 6th Books’ Paranormal Perspectives series. The book expands a decade-plus investigation into reports and experiences centred on the Royal Oak, combining investigation notes with witness testimony, local history, and the evolving personal impact of a long-running case.
Ashley also created The Paranormal Investigators Journal as a practical tool for structured note-taking and consistent case recording.
Julie Angel
International Psychic Medium
Julie Angel International Psychic Medium is a clairvoyant and psychic medium offering a range of spiritual services including:
Psychic and mediumship readings (one-to-one)
Public evenings of clairvoyance and demonstrations of mediumship
Psychic work for events such as private parties, corporate occasions, charity activities and paranormal evenings
Spiritual development workshops.
She’s described as having many years of experience and works both in the UK and internationally.
Offers services by appointment, and often appears at organised public events around the region.
🎤 Public Events & Media Presence
Julie Angel regularly hosts “Evenings of Clairvoyance” and similar events in towns across Worcestershire and neighbouring areas — for example places like Evesham, Droitwich and (in the past) Great Malvern.
She has also been noted for:
Appearances on radio and television (e.g., Sky TV, ITV, BBC1, Channel 4).
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Features in magazines and national press (such as Red, Woman’s Own, Chat and others).
Descriptions of her work often emphasise evidential mediumship (meaning she aims to connect with spirits and deliver messages), clairvoyant insight, and demonstrative events where audiences are invited to experience readings.
Eamonn Vann-Harris
New World Science
In 2009, Eamonn Vann-Harris began researching transcommunication—the study of possible interaction with non-physical intelligences—following what he describes as a direct experience of contact from “the other side.” This event initiated a long-term program of experimentation and engineering aimed at developing new methods of instrumental communication. By 2010, he had created a two-way communication system that departs from traditional EVP and instrumental transcommunication approaches. Drawing on scalar-energy concepts, he developed what he calls a “contact bridge,” a custom platform designed to receive and translate voices, messages, and visual impressions from non-physical sources. According to his documentation, the same group of communicators has interacted through the system over time, producing a consistent body of recorded phenomena.
To advance this work, Eamonn founded NewWorldScience in 2009, where he leads the design and development of specialized instruments and experimental protocols. His approach focuses on systematic documentation, iterative engineering, and the long-term study of recurring communication patterns. Since 2014, his work has been featured in public demonstrations and television programs including Most Haunted, Celebrity Haunted, and UKHaunted on Discovery Socials, bringing wider attention to experimental transcommunication.
Today, NewWorldScience operates from a dedicated studio and workshop facility where new instruments and communication technologies are under development. Eamonn reports that the clarity and responsiveness of the contact has continued to increase, with several new devices scheduled for release this year. He also serves as a board member of the VTF Association in Germany, an organization historically associated with the pioneering transcommunication research and lectures of Friedrich Jürgenson.
Paul Bestall
Mysteries and Monsters podcast
Paul Bestall is a UK-based researcher, writer and host of the Mysteries and Monsters Podcast, a popular podcast exploring the strange, unexplained and mysterious corners of the world. With a long-standing fascination for the unknown, Paul has spent years researching topics such as Cryptozoology, paranormal encounters, folklore, UFO phenomena and historical mysteries.
Through Mysteries and Monsters, Paul interviews authors, investigators, historians and witnesses from around the world, uncovering stories of legendary creatures, unexplained events and strange phenomena that continue to intrigue researchers and enthusiasts alike. His thoughtful approach combines curiosity, research and open-minded discussion, making the podcast a respected platform within the unexplained and paranormal community.
Paul’s particular interest in cryptids and mysterious creatures has led him to explore legends such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and many lesser-known creatures reported across the globe. His work brings together folklore, eyewitness testimony and modern research to examine why these stories endure and what they might reveal about our world.
As a speaker, Paul shares fascinating insights into cryptozoology, folklore and the enduring human fascination with monsters and mysteries, taking audiences on a journey through some of the most intriguing unexplained cases from around the world.
Ben and Louisa Winfield
Investigators and Occultologists
Ben and Louisa Winfield are UK-based paranormal investigators and occultologists known for their work researching demonic phenomena, hauntings, and spiritual disturbances. They are associated with paranormal media, live investigations, and educational talks exploring the darker aspects of the supernatural.
Ben Winfield is a demonologist and paranormal researcher who has spent many years studying cases involving alleged demonic activity, possession, and spirit attachment. His work focuses on investigating reports of hauntings and helping people understand the difference between paranormal activity and psychological or environmental explanations. Ben has appeared in paranormal media and has been connected with projects such as The Other Dimension Show, where he discusses supernatural phenomena, demonology, and historical occult traditions.
Louisa Winfield works alongside Ben as a paranormal investigator and researcher. Together they explore reports of supernatural disturbances and share their knowledge through events, talks, and investigations. The pair have been involved in public paranormal events and discussions about demonic lore, occult history, and the investigation of unexplained phenomena.
Ben and Louisa frequently appear at paranormal events and haunted locations, where they present talks on demonology, myths surrounding demonic entities, and the historical traditions of spirit conjuration and occult practices. Their work aims to educate audiences about the realities behind sensationalised stories of demonic encounters while encouraging responsible paranormal investigation.
Gemma Louise Johnson
Junior Paranormal Events
Gemma Johnson is the co-founder and manager of Junior Paranormal Events, the only group offering paranormal events for juniors. Gemma uses her teaching background, and historical research, to approach the events in an educational manner challenging what juniors are exposed to on social media. In addition to her work with Junior Paranormal Events, Gemma is a writer with two published historical guides for Juniors and an article on female executioners which featured in the American Journal 'The Feminine Macabre'. Gemma is also on the writing team for Haunted Magazine and Spooky Isles. In her spare time Gemma works for the radio station 'Roch Valley Radio' as a presenter with two regular shows each week 'The Graveyard Shift' and 'Spooky Talk' Gemma regularly appears as a speaker at paranormal conferences where she challenges practices and advises on approaches to improve investigations for the next generation. Since the start of 2026, Gemma has also branched out to telling ghost stories as a way of keeping history alive and has been invited to collaborate with historical venues across Greater Manchester.
Jay Austin
The Anomalies Archives
Jay Austin is the owner and founder of The Anomalies Archives, a platform he launched in 2013 dedicated to the serious exploration of UFOs/UAPs and unexplained phenomena. What began as a focused interest in aerial anomalies has grown into a wider archive examining credible cases, historical reports, and emerging disclosure narratives.
Jay has been an invited speaker at the Festival of the Unexplained for the past three consecutive years, where he has presented on UFO/UAP developments, historical cases, and the evolving conversation around transparency and disclosure. His work is driven by a commitment to evidence-based discussion, critical thinking, and separating speculation from substantiated information.
He is now delighted to be joining the Festival of the Unexplained team, following an invitation from the festival’s owner, Karen. Jay looks forward to contributing his experience, research, and passion for the subject as part of the team, and to continuing meaningful conversations around the unexplained with audiences both online and in person.
Mandy West
The Haunted Historian
From an early age, Mandy West felt an undeniable pull toward the unknown. Fascinated by the whispers of the past and the shadows where history and mystery intertwine, her curiosity quickly evolved into a lifelong passion for the paranormal.
Her journey took a pivotal turn during her time managing paranormal investigations at Bewdley Museum, where she discovered that hauntings were far more than fleeting ghostly encounters. Instead, they revealed something deeper—a powerful and often overlooked connection between historical events and the spirits said to linger in their wake. This realisation became the foundation of her work.
Now widely recognised as The Haunted Historian, Mandy combines meticulous historical research with hands-on paranormal investigation. She delves into forgotten archives, uncovers lost records, and pieces together untold stories to identify the individuals behind reported hauntings. Her unique approach bridges the gap between fact and folklore, breathing life into the past while shedding light on the unexplained.
Through compelling storytelling and evidence-based investigation, Mandy reveals the human stories behind the paranormal—connecting audiences not just with ghostly phenomena, but with the real people, tragedies, and histories that continue to echo through time.
Engaging, insightful, and often chilling, Mandy’s work invites you to look beyond the surface of hauntings and consider a deeper question: what if the past is never truly gone?
Previous Speakers & Workshop Hosts
