The Duck, Aylesbury (Demolished)

The Duck public house closed in 2009 and was demolished the following year, so we will probably learn nothing anything new from this reputedly haunted building. Luckily the following article entitled ‘Ghostly goings-on puzzle pub couple ‘ was published in the Bucks Herald on 18 February 2004.

‘THE manager of a pub on Bedgrove, Aylesbury, who believes he has more than just alcoholic spirits on his premises is calling in a medium.

Graham Gray is convinced a ghost is haunting The Duck and now wants to find out who he is and what he is doing there.

Graham and partner Jo Ward claim to have had several eerie experiences since taking over the premises in December and have seen a ghostly figure standing in the bar after closing.

Mr Gray insists he was previously sceptical about the existence of ghosts.

“There is definitely something strange going on here. At first I thought I was going mad, but now I really believe this place is haunted,” he said.

The 22-year-old has arrived at the pub first thing in the morning to find the cellar completely reorganised with heavy items, including crates full of drinks, having seemingly been moved to the top of a staircase in the middle of the night.

It has left staff puzzled as the premises in Queensmead have been locked and empty.

Customers have also complained about feeling a cold presence close to them and as if something unnatural is standing behind them.

The couple became convinced something unworldly was around them when Ms Ward saw what she believes was the ghost for the first time, dressed in black in the bar.

Mr Gray has now seen him twice, while the pair have also been left shivering at hearing strange noises, including crates being dragged across the floor.

Ms Ward, 19, added: “Last week I was here with a member of staff when we heard a noise like a high pitched wind followed by a scream.

“It really freaked us out and just minutes later the fire alarm went off for the third time that week without explanation, it is really unnerving.” So scared of what is happening around him, Mr Gray is often left swearing at the ghost.

“You can live with it, but it is still unnerving, knowing that you are being watched but you do not who it is,” he said. “It is not a nice feeling. I often tell it where to go, in not such pleasant terms.”

The pair have also discovered that the pub’s previous manager also encountered ghoulish goings- on.

“Although people will probably think we are mad, we cannot all be wrong, too much has happened and we have seen it for ourselves,” Mr Gray said.

Ms Ward believes that the ghost, which has also moved football trophies around the bar, means no harm and is familiar with his surroundings. “There is something about these football trophies, it does not like them being changed,” she said. “Just after Christmas the football team brought in a new one and it is constantly moved around and for some reason he seems to have a problem with that.”

Now the couple are hoping that a visit from a medium will help explain why the ghost is there.

Mr Gray said: “One way or another, these things have happened and we have seen a figure, the medium must be able to explain what is going on.

“I never believed in ghosts before and would laugh about them. But I definitely believe in the supernatural now.”