AFTER reading the review on Derek Acorah's Grand Opera House appearance, I write to disagree with Beth Dale. I attended the Thursday sell-out performance.

If, as Beth Dale says, she counted 100 people coming in late, then she wasn't paying attention to what was happening on stage.

It was the audience who held up the performance by not taking what Derek was giving. He was far from rude, it was the audience.

It must be very annoying when there is a message for someone in the audience from the other side but they will not take it.

I felt great sympathy for Derek and know I would have reacted the same way if it had been me on the stage relaying the messages.

What is the point in going to see a medium if you are not prepared to take part? The audience held up the show, not Derek.

It was a shame for people new to mediumship that they chose to go the same night as the time-wasters and sceptics, but, as always it seems to be the minority who spoil it for the rest.

There are always the sceptics in an audience who don't understand and maybe Beth Dale is one. If so, it makes her unsuitable for reviewing a show such as this.

It was unfair to give Derek a bad review. He was excellent and accurate when the messages were eventually claimed, and they all were.

There is a spiritualist centre in York which holds private sittings, Sunday services, courses on mediumship, open circles and much more. Formore information go to www.yorkspirits.co.uk - it's worth your time, especially if you were left a little disappointed at the Derek Acorah show last week.

I hope Derek gets a better audience next time.

Claire Bevan,

Wilton Rise,

Holgate Road, York.

Updated: 11:13 Monday, December 20, 2004