Much of Eric Hatton’s life story would have been lost to us had it not been for the encouragement of Susan Farrow, when she was Editor of Psychic News, to commit it to paper and share it with a wider audience. Here’s how it happened: His commercial skills – he was a successful businessman – were also in demand within the Spiritualist movement. Eric was president of Stourbridge Spiritualist Church for almost half a century, from 1963 until he stepped down in 2011, but had held other posts at the church since 1948. At the time of his passing he was honorary president. The subject was first raised by his older brother, Bert, when home on leave from the Royal Air Force. He told Eric and their sister, Laura, that whilst working on Catalina and Sunderland flying boats he and other crew members had “seen” colleagues who had been killed in aircraft accidents. They even experienced these phantom airmen walking straight through them. Laraine Killarney, president and acting minister at Stourbridge Spiritualist Church, said: "They've all done more than 25 years and they've all worked on committees or as healers - giving service to the church to keep it going. That's an awful lot of experience and dedication."

Stourbridge Spiritualist Church members commended for long Stourbridge Spiritualist Church members commended for long

Their long and happy courtship culminated in marriage at the Stourbridge church on 27 Dec 1955, after which they produced two children, Lisa and Jonathan, and began giving energetic support not only to that church but also to other Spiritualist bodies.Jamie Beech, his grandson, wrote: “So sad to lose my grandfather this weekend but knowing he is free of pain and suffering makes this all a lot easier. Words can’t describe what he was to me so I will just say, he was my inspiration, hero and best friend all at the same time.” For the last few years of his earthly life I was profoundly privileged to share a home with Eric as his companion and helper. Those years were beset by health problems, some extremely serious and debilitating, yet all borne with the gracious, patient and indomitable spirit that so epitomised the man who became known as Spiritualism’s elder statesman. Some time later, Eric and Laura went to Stourbridge Spiritualist Church to hear a medium who had just come out of the Army. His name was Gordon Higginson and the remarkable evidence he provided impressed everyone, though Eric and Laura were not among the recipients. A few weeks later, however, a letter from the secretary of Longton Spiritualist Church, near Stoke-on-Trent, arrived at their home.

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It brought enormous comfort to the Hattons and Eric later described the message as “the cream on the cake” because “from that point on I became absolutely convinced of the continuity of life”. Join us at Stourbridge for an evening's demonstration of mediumship with the superlative Chris Drew! As a result, those aged 50 or above, as well as 18-49-year-olds who are clinically vulnerable are being encouraged to receive their first inoculation before supplies start to dry up. As Modern Spiritualism moves into the 21st Century, we continue to be excited by and dedicated to the excellent work of the spirit carried out within our Church and its neighbouring communities. It is impossible to express my feelings on the physical loss of my beloved companion. I know only two things: that we shall never see his like again, and that I have been more fortunate and blessed than I could ever possibly have imagined or deserved.”In addition to all his dedicated services, most of them performed in the public eye, Eric and Heather were both trustees on a number of charities, most notably the JV Trust which gave millions of pounds for renovations to the Arthur Findlay College, also known as Stansted Hall, and financial support to numerous churches. One can only imagine the greeting he would have received in the spirit world from those he worked with for decades in promoting the truths of Spiritualism: mediums, healers, speakers and, above all, his wife Heather (pictured with him, right), who had made the same journey eight years earlier, following her death in June 2007. As a hub for Modern Spiritualism in all of its many facets and forms, we welcome anyone and everyone to come along to one of our Demonstrations, Services, Workshops, Healing sessions and all other manner of activity and events, to share in the love and light of our affirming, inclusive religion. Eric, who by then was involved with local orthodox churches, was highly sceptical but Laura was open-minded, having met a young man who told her of his regular visits to a Spiritualist church on the outskirts of Birmingham. She met her brother’s scepticism with this retort: “Well, you challenge it, and find out whether it’s really true that people who die continue to live in another dimension.” It was at Stourbridge Spiritualist Church that Eric Hatton first saw Gordon Higginson demonstrating mediumship