Challenge started 1st March 2002
Still no takers....

The purpose of spiritualism is to provide proof of continued survival after death. Here’s the chance....

Our challenge started over a year ago and was set to run initially for just three months but the silence from the psychics has been deafening. Maybe they haven't heard about it - although we did send out a press release to the media (including those dealing with spiritualist claims). We chose March as it was during this very month in 1848 in Hydesville New York, that modern spiritualism began courtesy of the Fox sisters. Back then communication was in the form of ‘rappings’ but now 154 years later we are giving their modern counterparts a chance to prove their abilities.

The challenge itself is split into two stages. 

The First Stage
The first stage is what can be described as the ‘preliminary’ round. This will comprise of a list of ten questions, supplied by ASKE members, that would be very difficult, if not impossible to answer unless given the information by someone who has died. But if you can determine the answers by using other psychic powers you are also welcome to apply. In order to have successfully completed this stage claimants will need to answer only seven out of the ten questions correctly and as most mediums and psychics claim a much better hit rate than 70% this should be pretty easy. However these must be precise answers and not vague generalizations (see also points below for more on this). You should send your answers along with full contact details to:-

Include a stamped addressed envelope if you wish to receive a written acknowledgment (or alternatively an email address) of your entry. Please note the following points:

Obviously this preliminary stage will involve very little effort on your part as all you need to do is post off your answers. When the competition closes we will identify all the successful applicants on this web site, unless you wish to remain unidentified, in which case you need to mention this is your initial letter.

Here are the ten questions?

From Dr Michael Heap
1. What was my father doing when Chamberlain broadcast the declaration of  war on Germany?

From Peter Lucey
2. What was my paternal Grandfather's family nickname?
3. What was my father's main hobby?

From Dave Rogers
My paternal grandfather had a noticeable physical injury.
4.What was it?  
5.What caused it?
Additional info: Dave Roger's paternal grandparents names were Jack and Mona Rogers.

From Prof. Bruce Evans
6. What nickname did my deceased brother and I have for my parents third born son?
7. What did we used to do when we went to see "uncle" at the bottom of our road?
Additional info: The brother Prof. Evans is referring to was called Adrian.

From Sandro Masoni
8. What nickname did cousin Giovanni Leonesio have for my deceased father?

From Tony Youens
9. What was my maternal Grandfather’s nickname?
Additional info:  His actual name was Arthur Gomme.

From Dr Scott Campbell
10. What was my late father's commonly used nickname?

The answers to all these questions have been encrypted and sent to Father Lionel Fanthorpe for safekeeping. Read on for full details.

The second stage.
This is the final test after which, if successful, you will win the prize money. This will take place as soon as possible after the closing date for the preliminary stage. You will be notified by letter and all you will need to do is complete our application form and sign it. You will also be required to attend this final stage in person. The precise format will only be decided after a full discussion with yourself, we feel it would be unfair to demand precise conditions without fully discussing it with claimants first. For example you may need special conditions in order to contact spirit guides, etc. and this will, if at all possible, be taken into account. Much will depend on the number of applicants who successfully complete the preliminary stage as to where and when the final test will take place. The order of testing in the second stage will be determined by drawing lots. The reward is for £11,000 which will be given to the first successful applicant. During this stage you will be asked another ten questions, and again you must answer seven correctly. There will be no prior notice of what questions will be asked. The ten questions will be chosen randomly from a bank of questions and therefore will not be known by anyone in advance. As in the preliminary stage answers will need to be precise.

Why have a second stage?
We wanted to make taking part as easy as possible and in order to do this we have published the questions for the preliminary stage for all to see on this website. If we kept the answers to ourselves applicants might reasonably think that we would change the answers in order to make sure nobody wins. Whilst we would not dream of doing this we do not expect people to simply take our word for it. Therefore we have given the answers in coded form to Lionel Fanthorpe (of ‘Fortean TV’ fame). At the end of the challenge (should anyone apply) we will give the codes to Father Fanthorpe so that he can de-encrypt the files and verify if anyone was correct.

In doing things this way there is a slight risk that the answers could be discovered by means other than communication with the dead. For example through very clever detective work or by someone managing to obtain the files and breaking the code. We don’t consider this likely but none the less it is entirely possible. Therefore it was decided that we would need a second stage to eliminate this possibility.

Go here to read the ASKE Challengers view of speaking to the dead.
(Includes links to various articles on 'cold reading')

If you want to see who is pledging money click here.

If you want to pledge money for this challenge click here.

To see a copy of the rules click here.