I first knew I was “different” when I was nine years old.  It was a few weeks before Christmas and I was lying on the sofa getting over measles.  My family home was always busy with my mums’ friends popping in for cups of tea and chat.  This particular time, my Aunt was visiting.  She came into the front room to see how I was.  She was followed by a little girl.  I said hello and then I started talking to the child.  My mum and Aunt looked very confused and asked me what I was doing.  My Aunt got really upset when I said that I was talking with the little girl who told me her name was Sally.  My Mum immediately told me not to be so silly and that there was no one there but I could see Sally quite clearly.  I described the little girl to my Aunt who then got really upset.  I later found out that Sally was my Aunt’s daughter who had died from meningitis five years before.  

As a child I can always remember playing with spirit children.  There used to be lots around me so I was never without company.  Looking back on that time in my life you might have thought it was scary being about spirit however I didn’t know any different.

After the incident at Christmas with Sally I didn’t talk about my “friends” to my Mum as she couldn’t see what I could see.  It was never discussed, as in those days things like this were very taboo.

Another event that really sticks out in my mind was that one day I was walking home from school and I saw a car accident right out side my house.  I could see that a lady that had been tragically killed and the mangled wreck that used to be a car.  I ran inside the house to my Mum and explained what I’d seen.  After I’d told her she said” Diane, come and see, there is nothing outside, look”  She lead me to the window and showed me the road, free from any accident.  She calmed me down and said that there was nothing to worry about.  I found this all very confusing as I was so sure of what I had seen. 

One week later I came home from school and there was a very bad car accident right outside my house.  This time there were ambulances and police cars, the car accident was very real and unfortunately a lady lost her life as a result.  As a young girl I was very mixed up about what had just happened.  I had seen the exact same car accident the week before it had happened.  From that moment on I tried to black out the children I saw and the feelings that I had as it scared me. So I suppressed my thoughts and carried on with my life.

As time passed by I had a pretty normal life. I finished school, met my husband and lead a life parreled by most people.  Don’t get me wrong, I always had feelings about things, but I didn’t know how to use the information I was being given.  For that reason I found it easier to ignore it.

When I moved into our first home, I can always remember how there was a very sweet smell in our flat.  It used to drive me mad especially as no one else could smell it!  I would clean everything to try and mask the smell that seemed to be everywhere.  In the end I learnt to live with it. 

A few months later I was asked to drive my friend to attend a private clairvoyant reading. Once inside the medium turned his attention away from my friend towards to me.  He asked me why I hadn’t picked up on the sweet smell in my home.  He told me that it was a perfume called Californian Poppy.  He went on to tell me that my Nan was with me, and that this was her favourite perfume, which I confirmed to be true.  He told me not to be frightened about my ability to talk to spirit and that I should embrace it. 

It was literally years later when I attended one of Tony Stockwell’s live shows that my life dramatically changed.  After the show I queued up with hundreds of other people to have Tony sign my programme and without warning he invited me to talk with him.  He said that I was a naturally gifted medium and with guidance and direction I would be able to us this talent.  I can always remember how he described my solar plexus beaming like a beacon.  At that time I didn’t even know what a solar plexus was!   Tony invited me to attend his studio in Wickford so that he could help me develop my natural clairvoyant gift.

I began working with Tony four and a half years ago and I have never looked back since.  Tony has given me the confidence and self belief that have made me into the medium I am today.  With Tonys' help I can now talk to spirit when I want to and not just when they want to talk to me.  If I left it to them I would be talking to spirit twenty four hours a day and everyone needs a break even if it is for Eastenders!

By learning from the best I have seen how important it is to use my gift to help people come to terms with their loss.  People should take comfort in the fact that their loved ones are now free of pain, back with the people they love and are still involved in your everyday lives.

I feel privileged to be able to deliver messages that make a difference to people’s lives.