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Elvis, Death and the Devil apply for graveyard shift on Sheppey ghost train

It has to be one of the strangest job shares on the planet.

After a nail-biting audition, Elvis, Death and the Devil have all won the chance to join the Graveyard Express ghost train at Smith's family funfair on the Isle of Sheppey.

Fright night for reporter John Nurden as Death, Elvis and the Devil all jostle for a job on the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey
Fright night for reporter John Nurden as Death, Elvis and the Devil all jostle for a job on the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey

Scroll to the bottom for hilarious ghost train audition videos

The crazy crew turned up at Leysdown on Saturday after fairground spooksman Carlos Christian advertised for skeleton staff to fill vacancies. Now he has put all three on the rota.

Death aka the Grim Reaper, who turned out to be 17-year-old Fulston Manor schoolboy Oscar Bennett from Warden Bay and arrived in costume and wielding a scary scythe, is down for Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Devil AKA Steve Gibbs, 38, from Hoo, whose previous jobs have included waiting on a nudist beach, has drawn Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Elvis, alias Daniel Aylwin, 46, from Sheerness is planning to get visitors "all shook up" at the weekend. He said: "Seeing Steve in costume has inspired me to sing Devil In Disguise."

All had to undergo a rigorous interview which involved on-the-job instruction from Reece Brett, 12, the youngest ghost train operator in Britain. They also had to scare the living daylights out of reporter John Nurden who was sent around the terrifying track three times before the chaps were told the good news.

All shook up: Elvis Daniel Aylwin, 46, from Sheerness creates a song and a dance on the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey, watched by the train's station master Reece Brett, 12, and guinea pigs Darcey Christian, 6, and her cousin Crystal Christian, 4. Picture: John Nurden
All shook up: Elvis Daniel Aylwin, 46, from Sheerness creates a song and a dance on the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey, watched by the train's station master Reece Brett, 12, and guinea pigs Darcey Christian, 6, and her cousin Crystal Christian, 4. Picture: John Nurden
Death stare from the Grim Reaper Oscar Bennett, 17, from Warden Bay at the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey, watched by the train's station master Reece Brett, 12, and guinea pigs Darcey Christian, 6, and her cousin Crystal Christian, 4
Death stare from the Grim Reaper Oscar Bennett, 17, from Warden Bay at the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey, watched by the train's station master Reece Brett, 12, and guinea pigs Darcey Christian, 6, and her cousin Crystal Christian, 4
Devil Steve Gibbs, 38, from Hoo practises his "Hell-o" on the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey, watched by the train's station master Reece Brett, 12, and guinea pigs Darcey Christian, 6, and her cousin Crystal Christian, 4
Devil Steve Gibbs, 38, from Hoo practises his "Hell-o" on the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey, watched by the train's station master Reece Brett, 12, and guinea pigs Darcey Christian, 6, and her cousin Crystal Christian, 4

Carlos Christian gives his verdict

Carlos said: "All three candidates were fantastic sports. They came in character although we certainly weren't expecting Elvis Presley. I suppose he will now be known as the king of shock and roll?"

Funfair boss Carlos, who is based at Iwade near Sittingbourne and who had previously asked Swale councillors to give him a hand to run the dodgems and Waltzer, said there was no clear winner but offered: "Because we are here until Bank Holiday Monday I'm going to see if all three can come on different days."

He added: "The response was very good. We had all sorts of enquiries. A guy rang saying he'd love to have a try but only had one costume which was a Santa Claus outfit. We were a little apprehensive about getting Santa involved. Santa needs to be saved for Christmas.

"We had another enquiry from a chap who wanted to bring his dog. Although I'm a dog-lover I don't think the ghost train is the right environment for any animal because there's a lot of noise.

"The strangest enquiry came from a guy who said he was made for the role and in touch with the dark side but wanted to sleep in the ghost train at night to keep him in character. Unfortunately, the job doesn't come with accommodation or bed and breakfast!"

Terrible trio: Death (Oscar Bennett), Elvis (Daniel Aylwin) and the Devil (Steve Gibbs) have all found work on the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey
Terrible trio: Death (Oscar Bennett), Elvis (Daniel Aylwin) and the Devil (Steve Gibbs) have all found work on the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey
Elvis. Daniel Aylwin, and Death, Oscar Bennett, go head-to-head on the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey
Elvis. Daniel Aylwin, and Death, Oscar Bennett, go head-to-head on the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey
Death stare from Oscar Bennett, 17, after landing a job on the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey
Death stare from Oscar Bennett, 17, after landing a job on the Graveyard Express ghost train at Leysdown, Sheppey

As Elvis slipped out of costume to try his hands on the dodgems, the first shift went to Oscar, the wellie-wearing teenage Grim Reaper.

He admitted: "This is my dream job. I am interested in horror movies, love the sights and the sounds of the fair and enjoy making models of the rides. I'd love to join a fair when I leave school."

He said his parents were "just happy" to know he was "doing something during the summer."

At least it won't be a dead-end job.

John Nurden on the Graveyard Express ghost train 'terror ride' at Smith's family funfair, Leysdown
John Nurden on the Graveyard Express ghost train 'terror ride' at Smith's family funfair, Leysdown

Audition Videos

Death audition

Devil audition

Elvis audition

Mr Nurden's 'terror ride'

Read more: All the latest news from Sheppey

Read more: All the latest from Sittingbourne

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