The Chaplaincy
Hellesdon Hospital
Drayton High Road
Norwich
NR6 5BE

10th October 2001

Dear Jeremy

In my capacity as a Hospital Chaplain, I attend the meetings of the Norwich Diocesan Advisors, with whom you have had some correspondence. Gill Bridges mentioned your worries about the subject at our last meeting and I offered to respond. Gill has passed onto me your letters to Bishop Graham and to her.

Please be reassured that demonic possession is extremely rare and does not happen to people who want to live their lives in peace. It would only be a possibility when somebody had made a deliberate attempt to invite evil to take over his or her life. I am confident that you are not in such a position because if you were, you would not have gone to the trouble of writing to the Bishop: you simply would not care about your situation.

In your letter to Gill Bridges, you raised the question of confidentiality. I gather Gill attempted to explain the confidentiality  policy of the Deliverance Advisors. I find that many people who have had contact with the psychiatric services worry about other agencies passing on information to psychiatrists. If this is your concern, please be reassured because I have seen nothing in your correspondence to suggest that it would be sensible for the Advisors to contact anybody else.

I think it was wise for you to bring to the Bishop's attention the fact that a staff member at NORCI made those comments to you. If you would like the Mental Health Care Trust to investigate the matter so that the people concerned can be helped to gain a better understanding of the issue, you could write to:

Mrs Paula Bourthis
Corporate Services Manager
Drayton Old Lodge
Drayton High Road
Norwich
NR8 6AN

If you would like to come and talk to me about your concerns over a cup of coffe, [sic] you would be very welcome. Should you wish to do so, it would be best to telphone to make an appointment, so that I can arrange to be in the office. My secretary is at Hellesdon from 9am to 5pm every week day and there is an answering machine also (telephone 01603 421345).

Yours sincerely
...signed
Mair Talbot

Well. Interesting to get another view on the matter. Not sure quite what she means by 'inviting evil to take over one's life'. Presumably, Devil worship or some such. Rather makes you wonder what was supposed to have gone on at Salem, if the alleged witches were put to death for it, if I recall the story correctly - perhaps I don't - are there any experts on witchcraft out there that might be able to explain? I was under the impression that the Salem 'witches' were supposed to have inflicted the demons upon their victims.

Glad to see that she noticed that I wasn't worried that I might be possessed!

The policy of 'confidentiality', as far as I can tell, appears to be completely worthless. Yet another unsolicited letter, this time containing the clear suggestion that they _would_ refer people to psychiatrists.

Interesting view on explaining the issue to 'the people concerned'. Seems to suggest that she (if no-one else) disagrees with Alan Holland's view, though presumably, if she thought it was actually dangerous, she would have done something by now.

Curious view some of these people appear to have of themselves. As if, somehow, I would like to go into Hellesdon Hospital for a cup of coffee. I mean, would _you_ want to go back to a _dentist_ who held you captive for four months? No! Nor would I. The more so a psychiatric hospital. Curious similarity between the social stigma of the patients and the staff, in that respect.

TTFN JJ.