Tony Stockwell knew very little about me, and absolutely nothing about the man in the photograph in front of him. Which makes our 20-minute phone conversation all the more remarkable, writes Carl Jones.

The celebrated psychic, who brings his one-man stage show to Shropshire this month, told me things about my late father he could not possibly have discovered, or guessed.

As a taste of what’s in store at Oakengates Theatre on March 18, he’d offered me a personal reading, over the telephone. All he needed was a picture of someone who had passed away, so I sent an image of my late father – without giving any clue about who he was, whether he was any relation to me, or when the picture was taken.

And then it started.

“This is your father, isn’t it?”. Yes.

“His first name John?” Yes again, even though he went by one of his other names, Gordon.

“He passed away in hospital, halfway through some sort of corrective process or procedure.” Another yes.

“He was in hospital for some time before he died, and I’m sensing it was linked to his chest.” Correct again.

Some of these could have been educated guesses, but the astonishingly accurate picture continued to build.

Tony correctly identified, despite no helpful hints from me, that my father had a heart attack while in hospital, when he was midway through his treatment for pneumonia and kidney failure.

From a starting base of zero, I was already impressed. But then the reading entered a whole new plane when talk turned to Christmas. “Your family makes a big deal of getting all together at Christmas, doesn’t it? For the first time this year someone went a different way. Everyone was there, were they?”

Absolutely true. How could Tony know that?

“Your father wants to say that it’s absolutely right for people to do what they want at Christmas and do different things, but says it’s important to get the whole family together from time to time. He says family is important, and must all stay in touch.”

My father had huge regrets about losing touch with his brother for many years, and had vowed shortly before his death never to make the same mistake again.

By this time, I’m a believer. Tony goes on to explain personality traits in both my mother, and late father which were right on the money, and said the number seven was crucial in relation to my father’s death. The interview took place seven days before the anniversary.

So, is this a taste of what Shropshire audiences can expect from the stage show? Tony, 40, says: “I’ve been to Oakengates Theatre several times now, and I have to say it is one of my favourite places. It’s a good atmosphere, and always a great mix of people. The type of people you get to a show does make a difference.”

Even as a child Tony says he knew he was different from other children. He was aware of seeing or hearing people that others could not, and his first steps towards a career as a psychic began when he attended a spiritualist church near his east London home at the age of 16, to observe a medium at work.

He’s since made countless TV shows – he has a new series called Psychic Academy starting on The Biography Channel later this year – and appeared live in venues such as the London Palladium. He also teaches and lectures, and is currently writing his fourth book.

“I view what I do as an amazing honour,” he says.

“I love children, and some of my most rewarding work has been working with and helping bereft parents. And it also gives me great pleasure when someone comes to one of my sessions as a non-believer, just for a laugh, but leaves with a difference perspective, thinking how could he possibly have known that?”

• Tony Stockwell is at Oakengates Theatre on March 18. Tickets, priced £17.50, are available from the box office on 01952 382382. For more about Tony, log on to www.tonystockwell.com