LONG before York was officially branded the favourite destination of the undead, far-sighted entrepreneurs were spinning the spirits.

Peter Broadhead launched the city's - and Britain's - first ghost tour in 1972. Then Trevor Rooney set up the second 13 years later.

Trevor's flair for self-publicity, and his Victorian undertaker's outfit, soon established him as York's face of the phantoms.

A few years ago, however, he ghoulishly vanished. It turns out he had passed to the other side. Of the world.

He took himself off to Australia and from there went on to various haunts around the globe.

So what became of our Trev?

Today the Diary can reveal the answer.

Having settled in mainland Europe, the former ghost walker, photographer, magician, sculptor and graphologist is launching his own band.

But Trevor has not forgotten his paranormal past. Scarily enough, his band is called Spoook - and they have just set to music the prophecies of legendary Knaresborough soothsayer Mother Shipton.

Mr Rooney, who was born in Liverpool, also told the Diary that he has a famous relative. Everton and England striker Wayne is a distant cousin.

Having lost none of his talent for self-promotion, Trevor wrote to broadcaster Jonathan Ross, who has made fun of Wayne Rooney on his radio programme.

Would Jonathan be willing to make amends for the family insult - by playing the music of another member of the Rooney clan on his show?

"I have not had a reply," Trevor said.

STILL with spin, well done to Colin "Super" Storey, manager of Asda, Monks Cross, York.

As we reported yesterday, a thunderstorm knocked out Asda's electronic tills for several hours. Keeping a store full of shoppers waiting for a "reboot" could have sparked a riot.

Instead, Colin told people to pay what they guessed their shopping was worth. In an instant, a nightmare was transformed into a publicity coup. May we suggest that the FA hire Mr Storey as its head of crisis management?

THE Diary was dismayed to hear about the walking wounded at York Brewery.

Last Friday boss Tony Thomson was off work with a bad leg from playing cricket.

And brewing director Andrew Whalley has suffered so many rugby injuries he has been forced from playing to coaching at his club, Malton.

At least these knocks were sustained in sporting contests, and have nothing to do with sampling the goods at the Toft Green brewery.

Nevertheless, the casualty list makes their latest creation somewhat ironic. York Brewery's summer beer is a tribute to the Olympic movement, called Chariot Of Fire.

SO it's goodbye to "Have A Break, Have A Kit Kat" and hello to "Make The Most Of Your Break".

You may think that the new slogan is the most boring in the 69-year history of the Kit Kat, but not necessarily.

In its earliest incarnation, as "Chocolate Crisp - nicknamed 'Kit Kat'", the slogan was "A Two-Course Meal For 2d". The two courses were the chocolate and, er, the wafer.

This was later expanded in a press advert which featured a well-to-do couple travelling by plane.

"The biggest little meal they can buy - the biggest little meal in the sky - The Biggest Little Meal In Britain".

Then in the Fifties, to emphasise the creamy quality of the new, two-finger version, a character called Kitty The Kat was invented.

If "Make The Most Of Your Break" is the best modern advertising agencies can do for York's legendary bar, the Diary has one response. Bring back the Kat. Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty...

Write to: The Diary, Chris Titley, The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN

Email diary@ycp.co.uk

Telephone (01904) 653051 ext 337

Updated: 09:37 Tuesday, August 03, 2004