START talking to the people, and most, I have found, had at some time or another an uncanny tale to relate.

Perhaps the following might be of interest to readers of the Standard.

Some years ago, ITV put a general call to the public to nominate members of the emergency services, who they thought had gone out of their way to render assistance to the public.

My personal choice was the Essex Air Ambulance helicopter team, especially as they depend on public donations and support.

So I put together a short script for the programme.

Following this, ITV requested I get over to Boreham Airfield as soon as possible to meet the film crew, and people who had benefitted from the Air Ambulance rapid response teams.

Two friends from Althorne immediately put their car at my disposal and whisked me, along with my wife who accompanied me, to Boreham, where the air ambulance shared the airfield, at least at that time, with the police helicopter unit.

On completion, and leaving the film set, my wife and I were taken aside by one of the pilots and told a remarkable story.

It would appear the control tower, not the airfield itself, was haunted.

It was not unusual when on duty, we were informed, to see long-departed Second World War uniformed personnel walk through the control tower area, or come down the stairway that led to the outside observation platform above, or hear their footsteps walking around overhead, when no-one else, at least not of this Earth, was in the building.

Yet again I wonder if Maldon’s well-informed historian, Stephen P Nunn, has ever covered this particular aspect at Boreham Airfield in one of the many full-page spreads he writes in the Standard.

Or indeed if anyone else can add to this haunting story?

Alex Jennings, Fernlea Road, Burnham