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Where the curiosity never ends…
Day Twelve - David Wooding
David has been covering the news since he left school, working for seven national papers – and treading the corridors of power as a political editor.
He developed his career reporting on major stories around Britain and the world and then became a News Editor before moving to cover events in the House of Commons.
Liverpool-born David is a well known figure in Westminster and is regularly called upon to give instant analysis on TV and radio.
David has been Associate Political Editor at The Sun since February 2012, when he was appointed to oversee coverage in the new Sunday editions. He has also worked for other top papers including the Daily Express, Daily Mail, News of the World and The People.
During the “phone hacking” scandal, David became the voice of innocent News of the World staff who lost their jobs, making a wave of TV and radio appearances which earned him the Communicator of the Month award and the accolade of Journalism “Hero” of 2011. He was honoured by his home city in 2013 when he was unanimously elected as President of Liverpool Press Club. Despite living 200 miles away, David regularly goes home to keep touch with his roots.
His down-to-earth insight can often be heard on broadcast media, such as BBC Radio 5 Live, Newsnight, Sky News, This Morning and BBC Breakfast. Here he gives his own views on events on the political stage.
Catch up with David's latest news on social media at
The Ghost of Downing Street
POLITICIANS often talk about the corridors of power being haunted by the "ghosts" of political giants of the past - but they seldom mean literally.
Now an official has spoken of a "Lady in White" who mysteriously appeared in the oak-panelled dining room at 10 Downing Street and admitted: "It still sends shivers up my spine."
David had his close encounter within days of joining the staff in the Prime Minister's official residence.
He's a rational, level-headed bloke who until this happened believed tales of the supernatural were all fantasy.
But he tells how he went into the small dining room in the early morning darkness at 6am to prepare for an event and noticed the lights had been left on in a nearby room and went to investigate.
As he crossed the State dining room - where the daily coronavirus press conferences were held - he saw somebody walk straight past him.
David said: "I absolutely jumped out of my skin.
"I’m talking about a space of a couple of feet, but because of the darkness I hadn’t seen the person. On spinning round, the light from the door I had entered through showed I was on my own.
"What really got my attention was that I heard the sound of a taffeta dress moving/rustling, and without wishing to sound dramatic, definitely felt a presence. Nothing malicious, or otherwise, but it definitely felt like someone was with me."
Still shaken, he decided to relate his spooky experience to a colleague, expecting to be laughed at. But the response he got was: "Oh, you have seen the ghost."
His colleague then proceeded to tell him there is a lady in a white ballgown who goes between the State Dining Room and the Pillared Room.
David said: "With the short period of time I had worked at No 10, this was news to me, and as I said, I’m the kind of person who is sceptical of this kind of thing without some kind of evidence.
"Except that it happened to me. I can’t explain it. Since then I’ve read up in a few London ghost books, it’s all mentioned, so maybe, just maybe, I’ve met the Lady in White!
"The following week, I made a point of coming down to the state rooms after evening receptions when the lights were off, to try and re-create the moment, but, 13 years later he still hadn't had any contact."
Today's church door...
St Lawrence, Beeston St Lawrence
St Lawrence proudly stands alone atop a hill, its large round tower facing the nearby busy road that leads to Stalham. All signs of the medieval village from which the church takes its name are long gone and whilst the majority of the building dates from the 14th and 15 centuries, the lower portion of the tower is late Saxon.