“Fred” the Prankster Poltergeist

In the heart of the Isle of Sheppey, within the walls of The Shurland Hotel, resides a spirit as well-known to the staff as any living guest. He goes by the name of “Fred,” and his reputation is one of mischievous, and sometimes startling, pranks. Fred is not a silent, fleeting apparition; he is a force, a poltergeist whose presence is felt through his actions, creating an atmosphere of playful unpredictability that has persisted for decades.

The Legend of Fred’s Activities

The stories of Fred’s antics have become legendary among those familiar with the hotel, with documented incidents spanning over a decade. His activities seem to centre on the older wing, particularly Rooms 1 and 2, though his influence extends throughout the building. In Room 1, the light switch has developed an infamous reputation for having a mind of its own, flipping on moments after being turned off by staff or guests. This phenomenon has been reported so consistently that staff have learned to politely ask Fred to behave, suggesting an intelligent presence rather than mere electrical faults.

In Room 2, the door has been known to unlock and swing open on its own, as if inviting someone in, or perhaps, letting someone out. These occurrences happen even when the door has been securely locked and checked multiple times. The consistency of these manifestations in specific locations has led many to believe that Fred has favourite haunts within the building, areas where his energy is most concentrated.

The Famous CCTV Evidence

Fred’s pranks are not confined to the guest rooms. The most compelling evidence of his presence came on 7th October 2011, when a pint glass was captured on CCTV as it slid across a table during a morning staff briefing before tipping over the edge and shattering on the floor. This footage has become a cornerstone of the hotel’s haunted lore, providing tangible evidence of the paranormal activity that staff had been reporting for years. While some sceptics suggest the glass may have simply slipped, the circumstances and timing seemed too deliberate to be mere coincidence.

The incident occurred in the bar area during daylight hours with staff present, ruling out many conventional explanations. The glass moved across a stable surface with no apparent vibration or cause, making it one of the most documented pieces of poltergeist evidence in the hotel’s collection.

Other Reported Phenomena

Beyond the famous glass incident, Fred’s repertoire includes a variety of mischievous activities. On one memorable occasion, a staff member was reportedly hit by a toilet roll that was thrown by an unseen hand, a classic example of poltergeist behaviour involving the manipulation of physical objects. Staff have also reported hearing disembodied footsteps in areas where no one else is present, and the inexplicable banging on walls that seems to respond to human presence.

Electronic devices in the hotel have also been subject to Fred’s attention, with touch lamps in the manager’s flat activating spontaneously and other electrical equipment behaving erratically in certain areas of the building. These incidents typically occur in the older wing of the hotel, particularly in rooms 1 through 7, suggesting that Fred’s presence is strongest in the original part of the structure.

The Question of Identity

The origin and identity of Fred remains a subject of much speculation among staff and paranormal investigators. Some believe he is the spirit of a former landlord from the 1950s who was known for his practical jokes, his mischievous personality lingering on in the building he once ran with such character. This theory would explain the playful nature of the haunting, suggesting that Fred continues in death the pranks he enjoyed in life.

However, a different theory emerged during a paranormal investigation conducted in 2014 by a small team of researchers. During their investigation, they reportedly experienced the light phenomenon in Room 1 firsthand and captured an audio recording of a door slam with no apparent cause. More intriguingly, a spirit box session allegedly produced the name “Edward,” leading some investigators to believe that this may be Fred’s true identity, with “Fred” being merely a nickname adopted by staff.

The investigators noted that the responses seemed intelligent and interactive, suggesting that whatever entity resides in the hotel possesses awareness and the ability to communicate, albeit in limited ways. This has led to the theory that Fred may be a more complex spirit than initially thought, one capable of deliberate interaction with the living world.

Fred’s Continuing Legacy

For over a decade, The Shurland Hotel maintained a blog documenting Fred’s monthly antics, creating an informal but detailed record of paranormal activity that few other establishments have matched. This open acknowledgement of the hotel’s ghostly resident has made Fred something of a local celebrity, with visitors often asking about him by name.

Fred’s presence appears to be cyclical, with periods of intense activity followed by quieter spells. Interestingly, staff have noted that the phenomena often intensify during times of change at the hotel, such as renovations or changes in management, as if Fred is reacting to alterations in his domain. The hotel has experienced closures and reopenings, and paranormal activity has often resumed or even increased after periods of inactivity, suggesting that Fred’s presence is deeply connected to the building itself rather than specific individuals.

Whatever his true name or origin, Fred’s presence is an integral part of The Shurland Hotel’s character. He is a ghost who doesn’t merely haunt the building; he interacts with it, leaving a trail of minor chaos and a legacy of unforgettable stories. For those who stay at The Shurland, the possibility of experiencing one of Fred’s playful pranks has become part of the unique charm of this historic isle hotel. Staff have learned to coexist with their spectral resident, treating him with a mixture of respect and good-humoured tolerance that seems to keep his activities on the playful rather than frightening side of the paranormal spectrum.