Vera Martindale

[U.K. Brian]

Well they had Vera into hospital the other day as she had fainted. They decided a pace maker was called for and she went off for the operation. All seemed to go well but first thing the next morning she died aged 92.

It won't be a name you recognise as she was one of the early pioneers in the Manchester area when she was 50. I lived in Lancashire (Maghull) and we had formed a small group of detector users to share travel costs into Wales, up to Blackpool and into the Peaks.

We tried a detecting trip to Spain and followed up with visits to Portugal, France etc. As everyone was convinced detectors didn't work, you could detect anywhere. They did hardly work but we knew no better. No BBS/FBS or pulse for the wet sand. No discrimination but you could avoid much iron and some machines had a insensitivity to very small ferrous.

By 1983 Whites had opened the floodgates to shallow water detecting with the PI 1000 pulse. Unfortunately Vera was not able to take advantage as medical problems meant she could only get around with a walking frame but she followed the hobby through her friends and the detecting magazines that had started up.

Her doctor thought she would be bed bound within a few years but she was still living at home and managing most things herself right up to last week.

I'll never forget her standing toe to toe with a jobs worth park keeper who didn't want us to detect "his" park. They were sticking a huge sewage type pipe from end to end and had scraped off a bulldozer width of turf. We wanted to detect the bare soil.

"Your grass" she said pointing at the bulldozed heaps, "our park!" pointing at the bare strip. We were allowed to continue.

[bymatt666 (byron)]

i'm sure you will miss that feisty lady....rip vera.......byron

[PHIL YNYSBOETH]

Hi Brian

Im sorry to Hear about yours and Vera,s familys loss.
She sounded a true hell raiser,something our hobby need right now.
My best wishs go out to you and Vera's family as this sad time .

regards
Phil Jones
(RARE)

[U.K. Brian]

As the camper is still in trouble with its gas supply its off in the car tomorrow morning at five. Quick flog up the motorway then straight back afterwards. Bet it rains none stop !

[Spooyt Vane]

Vera sounds like she was a likable character and she is now searching that big field in the sky. God bless Vera. My
thoughts are with you and her family