History

"A Ghostly Company" was formed in April 2004 and takes its title from the H. R. Wakefield ghost story collection of that name. It is a literary society devoted to the ghost story in all its forms, though preference is given to the traditional and time-honoured fiction of such writers as M. R. James, E. F. Benson, Walter de la Mare, A. M. Burrage, and others, as well as more modern and contemporary authors. It exists to fill a gap in Great Britain which the removal of the long-standing Ghost Story Society to Canada created, namely the meeting-up of like-minded enthusiasts at gatherings in suitable locations around the UK at frequent intervals. It is an informal club with no great pretensions to grandeur!

"A Ghostly Company" is a society of like-minded people, whose members are known within the society as "Companions". This is purely for the ease of day-to-day running and administration, as it is a non-profit organisation run by volunteer enthusiasts for the same kind of folk! Many of its number are also members of similar societies which you can find on our Links page. AGC prides itself on including in its membership published authors of contemporary ghost stories and writers of in-depth and well-researched articles and essays concerning the genre.

The society publishes a regular newsletter which appears four times a year at approximately two-month intervals, depending on material and events. The newsletter includes members' letters, book reviews, a section for book sales and wanted, and other news concerning events, etc.

The society holds an Annual General Meeting, which coincides with a gathering or "Black Pilgrimage" (from the story "Count Magnus" by Dr. M. R. James). See the events page for further information.

Members are actively encouraged to participate, both in attending events or writing, either fiction or articles, for the society, although this isn't compulsory!

"The Silent Companion", our annual fiction magazine, is issued as close to Christmas as possible to conform to established Dickensian tradition. It contains previously unpublished stories by members, principally for members, but a limited number of back issues are available for general sale (see Membership page). Meetings may be held informally by members living locally to one another, and general gatherings are a mixture of informal chat, drinks and food, quizzes, talks, film evenings, and book bartering.

Within just six months of its inception, in October 2005 AGC held its first Gathering, AGM, and Black Pilgrimage combined. Based in Great Malvern, Worcestershire, this first meeting also included a tour of The Priory, a place associated with M. R. James. It was deemed a success by all who attended.

Subsequent events, including further AGMs, have been held in Chester, Lichfield, York, Sheffield, Norwich, Boston, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, and Hereford.

Historically, before the creation of AGC (in the 90s), founder members planned and attended several Ghost Story Society conventions held in Chester, a "Ghosts & Scholars" convention at Rochester (Kent), as well as the plaque-unveiling in honour of M. R. James in Great Livermere Church, Suffolk, plus the service at his restored grave in Eton Town Cemetery, before a special guided tour of Eton College.

So if you're a long-time lover of the ghost story, or a relative newcomer, "A Ghostly Company" could be the very thing to stimulate your interest, meet new people, and above all get more enjoyment out of what most folk would consider quirky, old-fashioned, and just a minority interest. Why not consider joining the minority?