Her strange encounter happened many years ago when her son Christopher (who was three years old at the time) came out of hospital after a routine operation for the removal of his tonsils.

The poor little chap was very poorly, he was running a high temperature and having convulsions, this went on for about a week and poor Ivy got very little sleep as she was up tending to Christopher every night. She said it was very frightening seeing the little lad so ill.

The doctor became a regular visitor, calling in every day. On his last visit he repeated to Ivy what he always said, "keep a close eye on him, I will be back in the morning."

That night Ivy went to bed as usual and as usual could not get to sleep. She was waiting for Christopher to start crying, (which had become a regular thing since his operation.) This night was different though. There was no crying, and Ivy found this just as alarming! She said to her husband, "It's no good I must get up and check on Christopher."

As she tip -toed into his room she saw her father standing at the foot of the bed. He stood there wearing his full Royal Navy uniform of which he was very proud, looking fit and well with arms folded across his chest (a favourite stance of his.)

He looked at Ivy and said, " Go back to your bed there is nothing for you to worry about." Ivy said I did as I was told, no one ever disobeyed Dad! I went back to my bed and slept like a log till morning! It was only as I was waking up the next morning that it hit me! I had seen my Dad! In fact not only seen my Dad but he had spoken to me as well! Yet how could that be? He had died six months ago!

I leapt out of bed and ran in to check on Christopher. He was sleeping peacefully. I touched his forehead and found it cool. No sign of any temperature, he was fine.

"My Dad" she said to me, "had been Christopher's guardian angel keeping a close eye on him."

Ivy also went on to say that when she saw her Dad by the child's bed she was not frightened or surprised, it seemed the most natural thing in the world! It was only on waking the next morning that the full force of what she had seen in the night hit her!

The doctor called in later and was amazed at the child's recovery!

Ivy told him about the night's visitation from her dear Dad. Half expecting him to pooh, pooh it. Or put it down to exhaustion. But the doctor said he was not surprised at all, as over the years he had heard many similar tales.

He said that the body might die, but the love that they carried for you in their heart and soul always remain close, that he said will never die.

I thought that was lovely.

Go to the next ghost story Here