Veteran thanks community spirit for ghost venture

A former soldier who was struggling to adapt to civilian life has been helped by members of his village cricket club.

Larry Gray, from Polegate, said he struggled to adapt to civilian life when he left the armed forces after more than 20 years.

After confiding in East Dean and Friston Cricket Club - where he serves as an umpire - about his struggle, members and team mates helped get his idea for local ghost walks off the ground.

"It has given me a call and something for me to put my mind to,” the former gunner said.

Mr Gray dedicated himself to researching local ghost stories, smuggling history and folklore to set up his East Dean Smugglers and Ghost Tours business.

He now runs weekly tours starting from the Tiger Inn public house, on The Green, on Fridays and Saturdays.

Local legends include the Black Monk, who is reputed to lure people to their death at Beachy Head, the ghost of the headless smuggler - who appears around a harvest moon - and the ghostly cries of condemned smugglers.

As well as help and support from the cricket club, a local designer built a website for the venture as a gift.

Mr Gray said: "I’ve always had a passion for local history and storytelling.

“Bringing these stories to life has been incredibly rewarding, and the support from the cricket club and the community has been amazing.”

Cricket club chairman Jason Woodford said: "He’s got such a great spirit and a fantastic ability to tell stories.

"We realized that East Dean’s history, especially its ghostly tales, could be a perfect fit for him."

Once the tours started, Mr Gray said he has been recognised in the area as "the ghost hunter".

With Halloween approaching, he is organising a costume competition in collaboration with a local charity shop, and a special Halloween hotel stay package in partnership with a nearby hotel.

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