Detectingwales.com Rally 61 - "It all went a bit Frank Spencer!"

[Neil]

Detecting Wales Rally 61 – “It all went a bit Frank Spencer ”

Dawn had barely broken, and I was happily in my world of lucid dreams when a beeping noise entered the vision.  Fumbling for my phone, my eyes slowly focused on the message “I’m outside – Taff”.      What?    Where?    When?    Who?   Were the first words that entered my sleep induced  brain. The fuzz dissipated, and looking out the window, I realised I was late for the first time in over 100 trips with the Treorchy One Armed Bandit.

Ten minutes later, with a coffee in hand, we were en-route to Wookie with a wide awake Taff babbling about a number of detecting related topics, including the deliciousness of palak paneer  and the trouble with remembering film names.

Newport was a vague memory, and I think the answer following some deep thought was 42. The English Stones flashed past, and in no time at all the Sat Nav was informing me in its seductive voice that we are less than 15 minutes away from our final destination. Taff hasn’t stopped talking the whole way – I don’t recall speaking a single solitary word!

We arrived, and met a lovely farmer, who’s aging sheep dog, as a bit of a welcome, promptly bit me just below the left buttock!  By now I was hoping on the only leg that works, as the other one has a minor fracture and is awaiting surgery on the cartilage.

The farmers taken care of, so we head off to the stubble field by about 8.10am, where I promptly manage to get my Chelsea Tractor stuck in mud a few feet from the gate. The motors not going anywhere – Taff can’t push as he only has one functioning arm, I can’t push as only one leg works! God, I wish more than ever that I still smoked!

Thankfully ten minutes later the early arrivals turn up from Manchester,  Hereford and Mold and set about laying boards under the tyres – once we are up to about six members a colossal effort sees me back on the road and parked up. Well done guys – I owe you one!

DW members new and old start to arrive and huddle together attempting to avoid what is truly the coldest rally venue I have ever attended - shortly after 9.30 we are off into the fields that today consist of a mixture of stubble and freshly seeded. All of this is taking place under the shadow of the remnants of an 11thCentury castle. Going by the finds though, this could have been 30 miles away rather than 30 metres away!

Into the fields and I learn shortly after the start that DW’s founder and guiding light has had a slight accident – thankfully Geoff is okay, but he did have to be pulled out of a ditch by a passing farmer. Glad you were okay mate – farm roads can be treacherous, but it wouldn’t be a normal DW rally without your van getting pulled or pushed by someone!

The first finds started to appear in the shape of coppers, buckles and musket balls from the past two hundred years, including a nice mount and a few milled silver.

The best early find I saw fell to our Master Locksmith and Mole Hunter – Deadlock, who not only had a Bun Head Vicky sixpence, but a bomper of an inscribed crotal bell.  I am unable to reprint the words that uttered from DW stalwart Chef’s mouth at this point, but it had some biblical context regarding ”Going forth and fornicating” – not quite sure what that meant.

Next finds of note were in the grubby hands of DW’s own male model  (whom  I might add is available for swimwear shoots and supermarket openings) the one, the only (thank God), Rambo!  In fairness, he had found a Tudor buckle, a Victorian paste brooch and a T-Bar in hallmarked silver from an Albert Chain. Well done matey – always love catching up with you, and I hope the cat is on the mend – I can relate to it mate.

Shortly after I saw the American God, Zeus with a very unusual and most likely beauty of a Georgian (not cap badge) military hat/helmet insignia for the Somerset Volunteers. A cracking find that has a value to it.

The last finder I spoke to before my leg gave way was Proconsol who had found a 1700’s coin weight that needs a bit of cleaning and weighing to see what it was actually weighing.

Shortly after this my leg gave up on me,  just as Taff’s arm also stopped working, so we headed home at 2.30. We managed to hear of other finds coming up,  so don’t be shy, feel free to  add what you found to this post.

Well done all that attended what is now officially DW’s coldest ever rally! Also a quick nod to the numerous newbies – hope you enjoyed yourselves. In particular well done to British Beef who whilst parking briefly upset one of the neighbouring house owners, but then charmed her so much that she asked him to park in her drive! Well done matey – that’s what it’s all about. We may need to change your name though to the Silver Tounged Cavalier!

See you all in hopefully a warmer field soon.

Keep the Faith!
Neil

[Neil]

More photos

[Tafflaff (Rob)]

Heeeeeey, wait a minute that report makes be sound like a babbling verbally  diarrhitic loon! Oh wait............... you have a point   

[Mike]

great report as usual , enjoyed the day but finds for me were a bit thin on the ground for me but i managed a few pics of others finds , the clod shot is gijans and the rest are deadlocks , hammerds, joel  , jan and another

[WeCan-Octavian]

Twas cold but enjoyed it as per usual, ill post what finds i have tommorow when the hyperthermia has subsided

Cheers all for another good day

Nick

[handyman [Alan}]

Well done everyone for getting out and about. It's good to see that crotal bells do exist in Chefland!

great report, sorry we couldn't get there.

[proconsul]

Well done Neil, a highly entertaining report. Well done to everyone who braved the cold weather. An eventful day for me. Sadly it's not the first time I've had to be pulled out of a ditch... (thanks to Da Monkey for his assistance and the man in the tractor who actually did the pulling).

[charles price]

Gijans finds for today

[gijan]

yes guys n gals ur seeing double,,charles posted twice.... ..fab day once again guys,,,lots of chats with all my diggers in grime,,,,plenty of fresh air,,,loved the crotal bell deadlock,,weldone 2u,,,,cracking finds 2 all....cu on the nxt...gi.jan x rollingstones63.xx

[Zeus (Joel)]

Thanks for a great day out once again. Here are my best 2 and will post the rest tomorrow

[Val Beechey]

Nice finds Jan, well done. Which one was mine

Lovely Half crown Joel. 1945 the year I was born.

Val

[charles price]

My finds for today 

[DEADLOCK]

Will post mine tmoz cleaned crotal bell out all in tact well happy with it cheers guys fir a nippy rally. And cheers nick and mark.

[Jeff The Wizard]

Nice finds Joel.
That Half Crown is in really great condition, but pitty it wasnt a little earlier. Say 200 years 

[relichunting]

 A very disappointing rally considering the location.

The fields were full of rubbish and foil, with a few georgian and modern coins mixed in

Its a toss up what was find of the day.

The crotal bell dating to around 1760 or the Somerset Volunteers badge which looks to date around 1880-1890