
Parapsychology Publications Casebook Gallery Media Links	A Short History of APIS While researching and writing my first book, Ghostly Bedfordshire, the idea of forming a paranormal investigation society was born. I thought that other people might like to share my interest and would enjoy exploring unexplained phenomena with me. APIS’s inaugural meeting was held on Halloween, October 31st 2002. Eleven members met in the ‘back room’ at The Five Bells, the village pub at Cople in Bedfordshire. Dave Burns, the manager, gave us his full support and encouragement. Five members formed the APIS Committee, and I was elected Chairman. A turning point was reached in March 2003, when I met Paul Keech, a seasoned paranormal investigator who joined APIS as Investigations Co-ordinator. Two months later, on May 21st, Paul was elected Vice Chairman and since then he has continued to support me at all stages of the club’s development. Another important meeting later that same year was with Michael Lewis, who has succeeded Paul as Investigations Co-ordinator. Michael has been active in the field of the Paranormal for over 50 years. He is, like myself, an ASSAP Approved Investigator and was ASSAP's National Investigations Co-ordinator for 10 years. Rob and Linda Rothwell joined APIS in October 2007 and ever since they have been on the team and actively involved in our investigations. They recently agreed to become Equipment Managers, responsible for the electronic equipment so necessary to conduct modern-day paranormal investigation. In January 2010 Rob agreed to be the Webmaster for this site. 2003: A busy year for us, in January apisteamspirit.co.uk, our website, was initiated. In April our motto ‘Let us find what you cannot see’ was suggested by Joan Dancer, psychic medium and a senior member of APIS. The APIS bull logo was the idea of Keith Paull, long term member and one of the finest dowsers in the U.K. He pointed out that APIS was the sacred bull associated with Osiris from Egyptian mythology. 2004: April witnessed an expansion of APIS with the opening of a Hertfordshire branch. We also established our reputation for investigating sites that other clubs could only dream about. APIS was granted exclusive access on two special investigations. In October we held a ghost watch at the Cecil Higgins Museum in Bedford. In November we were invited to conduct investigations into the hauntings at BBC 3 Counties Radio at Luton. 2005: The APIS Seminar was launched at the Weatherley Centre in Biggleswade on the 28th May. Our star speaker was Chris Robinson, the ‘Dream Detective’. We also introduced Advanced Training, to help those members interested in becoming Team Leaders, for our steadily increasing number of vigils. Highlight of the year was undoubtedly our exclusive two night investigation in December at Britain’s Most Haunted House – Chicksands Priory in Shefford, Bedfordshire. 2006: In June (17th) we held our second APIS Seminar, again at the Weatherley Centre, which was even more successful than the original. Star speaker was Malcolm Robinson and his talk about UFOs. We moved to more permanent ‘homes’ for our meetings; at the Anchor in Tempsford, Bedfordshire and the Horse and Groom in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Our favourite investigation this year had to be September’s ghost watch at the Sun Hotel in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. 2007: Third, biggest and best Seminar so far with over 100 visitors attending the Weatherley Centre. Star speaker was the legendary Lionel Fanthorpe and his gripping Fortean Mysteries. John Spencer’s Poltergeists talk was also highly praiseworthy and Ted Babbs exposition on Borley Rectory was fascinating too. I was particularly honoured to be approached by the internationally recognised Arthur Findlay College at Stansted Hall in Stansted, Essex. This is where Spiritualist mediums from all over the world come to be trained. I was approached to be the tutor for a brand new course – Investigating the Paranormal. I spent a most enjoyable week lecturing at one lovely old house. APIS did it again…October brought another exclusive ghost watch. Watford Library invited us to look into hauntings reported in their building by a number of staff members. This ranks as one of our best investigations… ever. 2008: APIS will continue to be run by Paul and myself as a private club without the formalities, politics and complications of a committee. We have gathered together some of the best investigators in this or any other paranormal investigation group. Together we have some exciting times ahead of us…watch this space… Damien O’Dell January 2008

A Short History of APIS

While researching and writing my first book, Ghostly Bedfordshire, the idea of forming a paranormal investigation society was born. I thought that other people might like to share my interest and would enjoy exploring unexplained phenomena with me.

APIS’s inaugural meeting was held on Halloween, October 31st 2002. Eleven members met in the ‘back room’ at The Five Bells, the village pub at Cople in Bedfordshire. Dave Burns, the manager, gave us his full support and encouragement. Five members formed the APIS Committee, and I was elected Chairman.

paul A turning point was reached in March 2003, when I met Paul Keech, a seasoned paranormal investigator who joined APIS as Investigations Co-ordinator. Two months later, on May 21st, Paul was elected Vice Chairman and since then he has continued to support me at all stages of the club’s development.

M.Lewis Another important meeting later that same year was with Michael Lewis, who has succeeded Paul as Investigations Co-ordinator. Michael has been active in the field of the Paranormal for over 50 years. He is, like myself, an ASSAP Approved Investigator and was ASSAP's National Investigations Co-ordinator for 10 years.

linda rob Rob and Linda Rothwell joined APIS in October 2007 and ever since they have been on the team and actively involved in our investigations. They recently agreed to become Equipment Managers, responsible for the electronic equipment so necessary to conduct modern-day paranormal investigation. In January 2010 Rob agreed to be the Webmaster for this site.

2003: A busy year for us, in January apisteamspirit.co.uk, our website, was initiated. In April our motto ‘Let us find what you cannot see’ was suggested by Joan Dancer, psychic medium and a senior member of APIS. The APIS bull logo was the idea of Keith Paull, long term member and one of the finest dowsers in the U.K. He pointed out that APIS was the sacred bull associated with Osiris from Egyptian mythology.

2004: April witnessed an expansion of APIS with the opening of a Hertfordshire branch. We also established our reputation for investigating sites that other clubs could only dream about. APIS was granted exclusive access on two special investigations. In October we held a ghost watch at the Cecil Higgins Museum in Bedford. In November we were invited to conduct investigations into the hauntings at BBC 3 Counties Radio at Luton.

2005: The APIS Seminar was launched at the Weatherley Centre in Biggleswade on the 28th May. Our star speaker was Chris Robinson, the ‘Dream Detective’. We also introduced Advanced Training, to help those members interested in becoming Team Leaders, for our steadily increasing number of vigils. Highlight of the year was undoubtedly our exclusive two night investigation in December at Britain’s Most Haunted House – Chicksands Priory in Shefford, Bedfordshire.

2006: In June (17th) we held our second APIS Seminar, again at the Weatherley Centre, which was even more successful than the original. Star speaker was Malcolm Robinson and his talk about UFOs. We moved to more permanent ‘homes’ for our meetings; at the Anchor in Tempsford, Bedfordshire and the Horse and Groom in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Our favourite investigation this year had to be September’s ghost watch at the Sun Hotel in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

2007: Third, biggest and best Seminar so far with over 100 visitors attending the Weatherley Centre. Star speaker was the legendary Lionel Fanthorpe and his gripping Fortean Mysteries. John Spencer’s Poltergeists talk was also highly praiseworthy and Ted Babbs exposition on Borley Rectory was fascinating too.

I was particularly honoured to be approached by the internationally recognised Arthur Findlay College at Stansted Hall in Stansted, Essex. This is where Spiritualist mediums from all over the world come to be trained. I was approached to be the tutor for a brand new course – Investigating the Paranormal. I spent a most enjoyable week lecturing at one lovely old house.

APIS did it again…October brought another exclusive ghost watch. Watford Library invited us to look into hauntings reported in their building by a number of staff members. This ranks as one of our best investigations… ever.

2008: APIS will continue to be run by Paul and myself as a private club without the formalities, politics and complications of a committee. We have gathered together some of the best investigators in this or any other paranormal investigation group. Together we have some exciting times ahead of us…watch this space…

Damien O’Dell
January 2008