A Northumberland medium who says he spoke to ghosts in Hexham Abbey’s graveyard as a child is preparing to launch an autobiography about his journey into evidential mediumship.
James Leighton, known as the “Extra Large Medium”, has developed a growing national reputation through touring performances across the UK and Ireland. His shows have regularly sold out, following a career that began with demonstrations in small pubs and clubs across the North East.
Leighton’s book launch is due to take place at Chillingham Castle on November 3. The event has already sold out, with the setting described as an appropriate location for a story centred on supernatural experiences.
A childhood in Hexham Abbey’s graveyard
Leighton said his interest in mediumship began during childhood in Hexham, where he would visit the graveyard at Hexham Abbey. He recalled speaking to “children” he encountered there and said he did not regard those experiences as unusual at the time.
“When I was growing up in Hexham, I honestly didn't think there was anything unusual about talking to the children in the Abbey graveyard. It was just something that happened and was part of my life. Looking back now, I realise those early experiences were probably the beginning of a journey that I could never have imagined.”
He said writing the autobiography had given him the opportunity to reflect on the people, events and experiences that influenced him, as well as the development of his work as a medium.
What Leighton means by evidential mediumship
Leighton describes his approach as “evidential mediumship”. He says this means offering details that a person receiving a reading may be able to recognise, rather than making broad statements and adapting them afterwards.
Those details can include dates, descriptions, names, circumstances or particular phrases connected with a person’s loved ones. Leighton said the information he gives must have meaning to the individual receiving it.
“I'm very proud of being an evidential medium. For me, it's about giving people something they can recognise. I don't make things fit afterwards. If I'm giving someone a date, a description, a phrase or a particular piece of information, it has to mean something to them.”
From North East venues to national tours
Leighton said his career had grown from early appearances in smaller North East venues to sold-out shows around the UK and Ireland. He also recalled an experience connected with the Williams II, the Blyth Tall Ship charity’s vessel, where his apparent knowledge of the ship and people who had sailed on it reportedly impressed the charity’s chief executive.
He said the book launch at Chillingham Castle would mark a fitting point in the story of his development from a child having unusual experiences in Hexham to a touring performer with a national following.
“The journey from those early days to touring around the UK and Ireland and selling out shows has been incredible, and writing the autobiography has allowed me to look back at everything that has happened. Launching it at Chillingham Castle seems pretty appropriate.”