DetectingWales.com

As you cant have failed to notice Derek Jones Passed away last monday 27th july 2009
Derek suffered a massive heart attack while mower his lawn his wife laid him on the ground and he dies shortly afterward
Id seen Derek earlier in the day, id got him a beach permit and he,d given me a letter from the Museum.(he,d found a beautiful Roman arrowhead near his Caravan in West Wales).
I was about to tap the window then i thought nah if i call him i,ll never get anything done lol
Derek was famous for his rubbish jokes mostly as old as the hills and storys from his time as a South wales Policeman.
Derek rekindled his passion for Detecting when i moved to the close 3 years ago,after he noticed my Minelab in the back of the removal van, he hadnt lost any of his Policeman instincts lol if you wanted gossip Derek was the man to see.

One story i remember he was detecting above Abercycnon with his dog, a place known as The Gap Or the Giants tooth.
He detecting a wooden box with a brass plate on it .it was the ashes of a local miner.
with respect Derek laid the box back in the hole and covered it over,
but his dog kept digging it back up.
 Derek had to visit this spot regularly basis untill the dog died because the dog would dig this poor miner up and bring it home to Derek lol.
the moral here is if you digging a hole for ashes make it to deep for a detector to find lol.

Derek had a few story Published in the Detecting mags maybe someone can find a few copys
to post on the forum.
He was known for his bad driving and he,s always mentioned his police driver training just after he nearly killed me and Des lol
On the way to the 2nd DW rally he stopped died in the middle of the roundabout as it entered the M4 a car narrowly missed shunting us up the arse, :o the driver opened his window and waved his fist, Derek said  "he must have been in a hurry!"
Me and Des used to dread it when he used to say "I,ll drive" lol

my lasting memory of derek was when phil,des and myself went to west wales to meet derek at his caravan and go to a secluded beach near the caravan site...when we arrived he invited us in for a cuppa...his wife and one of his daughters were there,along with 7 or 8 dogs!.he bred them..king charles spaniels i think...it was bedlam in that caravan what with the dogs yapping and running around but derek stayed as calm as you like, must have been his police training...but thats how he was, totally chilled and unphased....we will miss him....byron

I didnt have a good pic of Derek at the time of him death and a few people have a problem putting a face to the name
Resently Dereks widow donated his Computer to be used for Rare club Business
It had a problem with the power supply but Karl saltmarsh sorted it out ;0)
Thanks buddy !
This pic was taken 3 months before his death

I did not know Derek Jones but he sounds like a true gentleman and a great character.
A sad loss for his family and friends.

thats a great pic phil...exactly how we remember him.......byron

i did.nt know the fella either but like debs said he sounds like great guy.

I recently come across a pic of Derek when he was a local Bobby in the Abercynon area.
After his retirment from the force he worked as a secuity guard for Clair,s and AB Electronics, in Abercynon
This pic was taken from an artical in the Western Mail

He sounded a very nice gent, great smile on that photo.
The days of the  local bobby when everyone new them and respected them.

Thanks for sharing Phil.

I didn't know him, but as it's been said, he was well thought of.