David Thompson

[[File:David Thompson.jpg|250px|thumb|right|David Thompson with [[ectoplasm]]. Only it isn't ectoplasm, just cloth.]]
{{Paranormal}}
'''David Thompson''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[spiritualist]] medium. He claims to have become aware of his mediumistic abilities around age of six and has been professionally active since the mid-1990s, starting in the UK and then moving to [[Australia]] in 2004.<ref>[https://circleofthesilvercord.net/?page_id=20 Circle of the Silver Cloud] About page, accessed February 10, 2025</ref> He is best known as a "materialization" medium.

==Background==

Thompson works as a physical medium. It is alleged that he exudes [[ectoplasm]] during his [[séance]]s, so that [[spirit]]s can materialize and speak to sitters.<ref name="Stemman">[https://web.archive.org/web/20111005144542/http://paranormalreview.com:80/articles/20110816 Let's get physical … or did we?]. Roy Stemman.</ref> Thompson hosts séances with the Circle of the Silver Cord, a spiritualist group in Sydney, Australia.

He is gagged and tied to a chair with "plastic cable ties" during his séances which are hosted in total darkness.<ref name="Stemman/> It is well known that these are easy to escape from.{{nofact}}

He claims to have frequently talked with a spirit guide called William Charles Cadwell, born in London in 1830. However skeptics claim there is no evidence that such a man existed.<ref>[http://www.spiritualismlink.com/t2193-who-or-what-is-david-thompson-s-william Who or What is David Thompson's 'William"?], "Lis", SpiritualismLink.com, Wed Apr 09, 2014</ref><ref>[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/222097087/william-charles-cadwell]</ref> Another report mentioned a child called Timmy, who played with a trumpet and luminous ball.<ref name=farrow/>

==Fraud==
Thompson has been described as an outright fake by [[Skepticism|skeptics]].<ref>[http://moh2005.proboards.com/thread/245/david-thompson-physical-medium David Thompson Physical medium]. BadPsychics.</ref> Whilst not actually being caught with his trousers down committing fraud ''directly'' in the act, like fellow medium [[Gary Mannion]], he has been suspected of it. 

Suspiciously, Thompson has rejected infrared filming of his séances.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180103231231/http://www.psychicnews.org.uk/articles/Psychic-News-TRUTH-campaign Time for action. Campaign for thermal testing of physical mediums]. Psychics News.</ref> He is opposed to cameras. There appears to be only one photograph taken of his ectoplasm; it resembles cloth.{{efn|See the image on the article.}}

Spiritualist Roy Stemman attended a séance with Thompson and noted, "the medium controlled everything. He knew who would be attending because we were required to provide our details in advance and bring with us photo ID to prove we were who we said we were."<ref name="Stemman"/> Stemman suggested that: 

{{quotebox|A red light would also have confirmed that Thompson did not have a way of getting out of the restraints, impersonating the spirits who were supposed to be walking among us, before pulling the cardigan over his head and then putting it back on, the wrong way round, and then slipping back into the straps. He and his supporters will argue that what I am suggesting is impossible, but a competent [[Magic|stage illusionist]] can easily accomplishes [''sic''] such trickery, as Thompson should know since [[Harry Houdini]] is said to be one of his regular séance visitors.<ref name="Stemman"/>}}

Thompson later replied to Stemann's criticisms accusing him of bias against physical mediumship. He declined to engage further, stating: 
"I have chosen not to answer your questions, why should I? I am only answerable to the spirit world, not you or any other person."<ref>[http://www.paranormalreview.com/index.php/david-thompson-replies-then-refuses-to-give-answers/ David Thompson replies — then refuses to give answers]</ref>

A friendly account from the editor of ''Psychic News'' noted that Thompson requires all guests to be searched with a metal detector, which would make it much harder to catch him out with smuggled lights, night vision equipment, or recording gear.<ref name=farrow>[http://www.psychicnews.org.uk/articles/PNEditorattendsDavidThompson], Sue Farrow, Psychic News, accessed 15 March 2018</ref>

==See also==
*[[Warren Caylor]]
*[[Kai Muegge]]

==Notes==
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==References==
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[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Psychics]]

Categories: British people, Living people, Psychics