It all started on the last weekend in November. Geoff and Lesley were detecting in a field local to where they live which is bisected by a footpath. A group of ramblers passed Geoff, who was nearest to footpath but the last two ladies of the group stopped and asked Geoff for help as one of them had recently lost a ring which happened to be a family heirloom.
The lost 18 carat gold signet ring, whilst not of great monetary but great sentimental value had belonged to Margaret’s grandfather who had been born in1884. He had received it as a gift for his 21st birthday in 1905. He had lost it himself on one occasion whilst planting potatoes but had dug it up again six months later when harvesting them! The ring had originally had Margaret’s grandfather’s initials engraved on it but they had long since rubbed away and Margaret had had her initials placed on it but they too had rubbed away over time.
Margaret was unsure when she had lost the ring but had been gardening and bowling on the day she found it missing from her finger. The ring had not been handed in at the bowls club so that left the garden. The chance meeting with Geoff on the field prompted asking for help from a detectorist.
Geoff and Lesley made arrangements to try a search of her small garden this morning (7th December). Lesley started searching with her Deus but there were a large number of signals, as usual for a garden! Geoff opted for assisting with his probe assuming that if no signal was obtained by the probe then it was too deep to be the lost ring. Having covered the small patch of grass, the next possible option was the compost bin which was unfortunately located right next to the re-inforced concrete garage, an absolute no go for the Deus!
Lesley was about to give up after picking up her last aluminium milk bottle top but Geoff was busy by himself ‘probing’ along the edge of the concrete garage ….and ‘Eureka’ he found it amongst some ivy far too close to the garage for the Deus!
Margaret was needless to say delighted and Geoff got himself an impromtu hug! Margaret was so pleased that she instisted that she will be making a donation to either her local Ellinor hospice or to St. Christopher’s that the detector club supports.
