Margaret Darling was born in 1916 and had, by anyone's standards, a remarkable life.
At first glance she appeared no different from legions of other sprightly pensioners.
She described herself as "religious", but belonged to no particular denomination.
She lived in a cosy bungalow in Featherstone Grove, Jarrow, which had a welcoming
atmosphere. One of her greatest joys was going to a nearby luncheon club with her
friends.
   
When we met Margaret she was busy making plans to wrap up the last of her Christmas
presents. But what made Margaret so remarkable was the fact that she was profoundly
psychic.
   
From the age of six Margaret had had paranormal experiences which defied all logical
explanation. Till the day she died those experiences continued, and profoundly affected
her life.
   
Margaret's first encounter with the supernatural came when she was just a small child,
living with her aunt in Wallsend.

She remembered rocking a cradle which contained a new-born baby girl, and
announcing to her family, "Mam's had a baby, then!"

Margaret was told that this was nonsense. Her mother certainly hadn't had a baby.
But two years later her mother did give birth; to a baby girl - Alice Caroline - and she
was placed in a cradle identical to the one Margaret had seen two years previously.
Perhaps she had a premonition of the future, who knows.
   
Volumes could be written about the psychic phenomena which occurred around
Margaret, but in this feature we’ll focus upon one in particular; the repeated
appearance of a spectre whom she nicknamed Peter.
   
Peter first appeared to Margaret around 1961 when she lived in Falmouth Drive. Initially
she was scared, but eventually became accustomed to his visits.
   
"Sometimes he would start off as a dark shadow on the wall, and then slowly take
form", Margaret told us. "He was dressed in a cloak with an unusually high collar.
By his appearance I would judge he lived during the 17th or 18th century."

Typical of such apparitions, "Peter" was incomplete. Although appearing relatively
solid for the most part his legs were always invisible. Nevertheless, Margaret was
able to find out quite a bit about her phantom guest.

He had, apparently, travelled to England from abroad. He was educated, but had
injured his leg in an accident and was forced to wear an "iron" on it for support.
He had a love of poetry, and was not averse to writing a few verses himself.
   
Margaret felt Peter's visits were significant.
   
"One time he appeared and his hand was raised as if he was holding something aloft.
I couldn't see what it was. It may have been a stone or something, I don't know. But I
sensed he was trying to warn me about something. It concerned some intrigue
which was going on, many years ago, amongst some people who mixed in the same
circle as myself. The warning came true”.

On one occasion "Peter" revealed his true name to Margaret, and also the English
name which he had adopted when he came to this country. Margaret wrote those
names down many years ago, but cannot recall them. She promised to hunt out her
notes which she made at the time and give them to us.  The object was to then try
and determine whether "Peter" was a real historical personage. Sadly, Margaret
passed into the world of spirit first.

In 1999, Margaret - under her pen name Jona Jay - wrote a fascinating book about her
experiences entitled, A Clairvoyant's Gallery Of Ghosts. Copies may still be
available from South Tyneside Central Library, or Branch Libraries, but check first.