HOW A DIVINER SAVED VILLAGE

Evening Star, Issue 22383, 6 July 1936, Page 12

HOW A DIVINER SAVED VILLAGE

The power of Mr Geoffrey Shakespeare, M.P., as a water diviner was mentioned at a Norwich inquest on James Hall and Theresa Mary Hall, says the ‘ Daily Telegraph.’ Mr and,Mrs Hall were asleep when their house collapsed. They were buried in a deep shaft. The coroner (Mr W. L. Liddell) said that Mr Shakespeare visited the scene of the tragedy and exercised his gift as a water diviner. The yew twig he used strongly indicated tho presence of water in the old chalk workings in tho district.

Mr Shakespeare, Mr Liddell added, had telephoned to tho Ministry of Mines, who would send down an inspector to advise the city authorities. The only witness, Mr Scarlett, a builder, of Merton road, Norwich, said inhabitants in the area were worried, and he hoped there would be a full investigation. The inquest was adjourned sine die to enable the inspector of mines to investigate the ne’ghbourhood. Mr Geoffrey Shakespeare, M.P., in an interview, said that bo discovered his powers as a water diviner while staving with a friend.

The friend was also a diviner. “ f was mvited to make a test.” said Mr Shakespeare. “ I was led to a soot where water was known to exist. The twig almost jumped out of my hand. “ Soon after I discovered my gift,” he continued, “ I told my brother, Major IV. Shakespeare, who is with the 11.A.M.C., all about it.

“ We made tests and found that he also was extremely sensitive to water.

“ Naturally he found himself in great demand when ho was in India.

“ In one case tho well which supplied a whole village wont dry, and ruin stared the inhabitants in the face.

“My brother was asked to help. He took a twig and discovered that the course of the stream which supplied the well had shifted. A well was sunk at

the spot lie indicated, and water was duly found. “ So strong is the water sense in my brother that ho is able to tell at what depth it will bo found.” Mr Shakespeare concluded by saying that be felt nothing when the twig started to move. He sometimes, however, had to struggle hard to retain his hold.