Not sure what to make of this, I ask Kingscote what people can expect from the evening. Firstly he will ‘connect with the energy’, I learn, and then he will start receiving names and sentences. These he will shout out to see which member of the audience they correspond to. Not everyone will receive something “but many will". I say that surely people are just hearing what they want to hear. Aren't they looking for answers? "This is a valid point", he tells me. "But the information is so specific, it’s very persuasive.” Like what? “Birthdays. Places where people have lived. In one case a woman wanted to contact her brother, and I felt convinced that his throat had been cut. It turned out he had been murdered. That was no coincidence.”

Kingscote is quite ready to admit that spiritualism has a bad reputation and is keen to distance himself from the seamier side of the profession. As a Christian Spiritualist (apparently not a contradiction in terms), Kingscote’s motivation is an attempt to provide comfort which is part and parcel of his Faith. He even welcomes doubters. “I would rather have someone who needs evidence because I am confident I can provide it”, he says. “The public isn’t stupid. They’d know if I was just making ambiguous statements for an hour and a half.” The conversation draws to a close. Have I been converted? Not by spiritualism, but I am convinced that Kingscote is a very nice man who genuinely believes what he is doing. And it might be a fascinating way to spend an evening. ER