Ghosthunter Mum Chases Scotland's Spooky Past
Dec 4 2007 By Steve Smith

WITH the kids in bed, most busy mums want nothing more than a couple of hours peace and quiet on the sofa.

But with her working day at an end, mum-of-two Sharon McKee checks on her kids, kisses her husband goodbye and disappears into the night - ghostbusting.

The 35-year-old business development manager likes nothing better than spending her nights in creepy castles or haunted hotels.

Despite a full working day in a Glasgow architects' office, Sharon regularly spends up to 10 hours a night speaking to spirits and probing the paranormal.

She is one of the latest members of Ghost Hunters Scotland, a paranormal investigation team that uses the spirit world to unlock Scotland's spooky past.

Sharon, from Ayrshire, revealed she joined the team after calling them in to investigate her own haunted cottage in the summer.

She explained: "I have always been really interested in the paranormal and I'm always watching the investigation programmes on TV or reading books about it.

"My husband, Stuart, was a non-believer. He was the classic, 'there's no such thing as ghosts' person and would not accept the spirit world.

"Earlier this year, we were staying in a rented cottage in Largs and even Stuart agreed something very strange was happening.

"We would often hear loud thumps or banging upstairs and there was nothing to explain it - the kids were asleep and nothing had moved or fallen over. The atmosphere in our bedroom upstairs was very heavy and uncomfortable and, every now and again, lights would flash on and off.

"I called Ghost Hunters Scotland and they came out to do an investigation. It was incredible - they caught images of bright orbs on camera and a clairvoyant who came out felt something to do with a plague and death was responsible.

"I checked it out on the internet and found that the plague had been in Largs around the 1640s and the local people had moved out of their homes to huts on the hill, where our house was eventually built.

"Many of these people died and it was this part of history that was picked up by the clairvoyant.

"I was absolutely fascinated and, after researching what we had been told, and finding it to be an actual event, it convinced me that this was something I wanted to be involved in.

"I was given a three-month trial with Ghost Hunters in the summer and I've just been given the role as location manager - so now I get to help decide which places we want to visit next.

"The demand for paranormal investigators is incredible. We are being contacted all the time from people wanting their homes, hotels or pubs checked out.

"It's getting so busy that we are now looking for new members to join the team - just to cope with the workload.

"If somebody has noticed strange things happening in their homes, they basically just want it checked to see what's causing it and maybe the history behind the spirits in their homes.

"We also pinpoint specific places ourselves, such as ruined castles and dungeons, so there is always somewhere available throughout Britain for the team."

Sharon admitted the hours are unsociable but she wouldn't swap the chance to communicate with the other side.

She added: "The last few months have been really hectic because we have requests coming in all the time.

"My normal day is work in Glasgow from 8.30am to 5pm then drive home to sort the kids' tea, then get them ready for bed.

"Normally, at least twice a week I'll meet up with other team members about 8pm and we drive to the chosen site.

"We can then be working throughout the night until about 6am. I get home, have a shower and grab some breakfast just as the boys wake up around 6.30am.

"It's usually during the week, so it's probably no surprise I take lots of caffeine.

"Stuart was definitely a non-believer until all the strange goings-on in our own house - now he's definitely a belie

New Ghost Hunters Scotland website is well on its way… we'll keep you posted!