WHAT IS A VAMPIRE?

The most frequent question put to the Vampire Research Society is: “What exactly is a vampire?” Our answer is in full accord with Chambers’ Twentieth Century Dictionary, namely: “An accursed body which cannot rest in the kindly earth, but nightly leaves its grave to suck the blood of sleeping men, [women, children et al].” A rather more comprehensive definition may be found on pages 27-28 of The Highgate Vampire, or, indeed, within the first five chapters of The Vampire Hunter’s Handbook.

Some of the immensely fascinating and, from a research point of view, still rewarding investigations embarked upon by the VRS have not necessarily always yielded evidence of vampire infestation. Two examples would be the Tarrant Valley case and the Brocket haunting of Lady Caroline Lamb. The latter can be read about in the book Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know. Others do, of course, unearth true vampirism and, where in the public interest, the VRS will take every precaution necessary to deal with this; publishing its findings prior to closure. The Kirklees case is a perfect example of this. More often is it, however, that files, or an entire case, be published only when satisfactorily concluded. Difficulties arise when permission for pending investigations is granted subject to certain conditions. These could prevent disclosures in the public domain; though the case will remain on file. The VRS works within the law of the land, but, of course, it is not impossible to envisage circumstances where personal safety, or recourse to a higher law, might sometimes prevail. The VRS would nevertheless stress that this has only very seldom occurred.

Some members of the executive committee are known to the public. Others prefer not to be identified because (a) the sensitive nature of this highly controversial area of research, and (b) the unpleasant behaviour of certain detractors whose poisonous abuse they simply do not wish to receive through the mail. Several VRS life-members are very well-known figures in their own right and, for obvious reasons, do not wish to be exposed to the aforementioned. However, a couple of life-members, whose names will be instantly familiar, are not especially concerned by this, and have therefore expressed no bar on being mentioned in public documents. One is a French actress. The other is a successful English author. It is superfluous to identify them here. Our colleague, vampirologist and VRS life-member, Professor Devendra P Varma, sadly, died quite unexpectedly on 24 October 1994.

The most prominent figure of the Vampire Research Society over its entire history, of course, has been its president and founder. His first public appearance as a dedicated vampirologist was on Thames Television on 13 March 1970. He entered the minor order of exorcist just prior to the expulsion of the source of the Highgate contamination and continued with his preparation for holy orders over the succeeding years. These he entered in 1990, and on 4 October 1991 he was episcopally consecrated. Details of this aspect of his life can be read in The Grail Church. Fragments of a memoir, Stray Ghosts, comprising reflections in a gallery of intimate portraits, can now be read online, while his many other semi-autobiographical accounts remain in print.

Having made countless television and radio transmissions over more than three decades, as well as featuring in many films and documentaries during that period, the Rt Rev Seán Manchester succumbed to his last appearance of the twentieth century for the BBC on 23 May 1999. He featured at the end of a three hour vampire special that included, unexpurgated, the first transmission he made for the BBC on 15 October 1970. Filmed at the Oratory of the Precious Blood, on display were his trusted accoutrements and an armoury of vampire repellents and antidotes. This section of the three hour programme was titled Interview with a Vampire Slayer, not a title Bishop Manchester would welcome. The evening ended with lines from Byron’s The Giaour. Thus he bowed out of the old century gracefully, having earlier made a short film for Granada-Sky broadcast on 24 January 1999 and shown again five days later where the cameras followed him during an investigation in Abney Park Cemetery. The turn of the century found him rarely making appearances. Radio shows in America, eg the Art Bell Show and the Lou Gentile Show, managed to lure him into lengthy debates, some lasting more than three hours. His final live radio interview in the UK was on 20 February 2002 for the James Whale Show, and internationally his last live transmission was for America’s Coast to Coast (Art Bell Show) on 15 July 2002. Today he concentrates on ecclesial duties, naturally including the ministry of exorcism, while continuing as a prime figurehead in the field of vampirology. The new century has found him unwilling to succumb to the blandishments of the media. Hence he no longer gives interviews.

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