Darren Branstone
Q: Darren, how long have you been detecting ?
I've been a metal dectorist for 50 years starting back when the hobby was in its infancy. My first metal detector was a BFO that had just two buttons, a very basic machine however I made many finds with it. In the early days I mainly detected on my own, sometimes with my dad but mostly it was a hobby I did on my own after school. I was very fortunate because I lived close to a common. I joined my first club about 20 years ago and it was then that I began to detect as part of a group
Q: What make is your current detector and why that machine ?
My current machine is a Minelab X-Terra 705. I chose the machine because it had good reviews, it can be used on land or on the beach.
Q: What's your best find to date ?
My best find so far is a Roman Brooch.
Q: Do you have any advice for someone wanting to get into the hobby of metal detecting ?
My advice to anyone who has an Interest in metal detecting joining a club would be beneficial. It would give you help to gain more information.
Just a few of the wonderful items that Darren has found whilst metal detecting.
Glenn Church
Q: How long have you been detecting Glenn ?
I originally started detecting in 1977 with my Father, we both had C Scopes. l sold mine a few years later and gave up the hobby after getting married. Fast forward to a drunken night in the Elephant pub in Faversham in 2017 after telling my good buddy Ed l would love to get a detector and start detecting again so we started looking on eBay, l popped to the gents and on my return he told me he had ordered two mine detectors ( well we had been drinking). After a few weeks with little success we joined the Swale detecting club, the members thought our detectors were hilarious and constantly took the piss. We soon upgraded to modern machines and haven't looked back.
Q: What make is your current detector and why that machine ?
My current machine is an XP ORX. l chose the machine because of its simplicity and its light weight
Q: What's your best find to date ?
My best find to date is a silver medieval ring, currently with the Kent Finds Liaison Officer for research & evaluation
Q: Do you have any advice for someone wanting to get into the hobby of metal detecting ?
My advice to anyone thinking of taking up the hobby : buy the best detector you can afford, join a club and get out digging.
Found by Glenn as they came out of the ground L-R Silver medieval ring. Gilded bronze crucifix. Cartwheel Tuppence
Steve Dean
Q: How long have you been detecting Steve ?
A: I bought my first detector about 20 years ago, a Viking VK30. Unfortunately I didn't have a clue about metal detecting and didn't know anyone who did so after a few goes on the beach it landed up in the garage. I decided to have another go just before lockdown, so I bought a Nokta Simplex and teamed up with a friend of my son who had some idea about the hobby and a permission. On our first day out I found a gold ingot, believed to be of the Viking era and I was hooked.
Q: What make is your current detector and why that machine ?
A: I use a Deus 2. I love the fact that its a lightweight machine, important when your getting on a bit, it's compact, there are no wires or cables and its a quality maching.
Q: What's your best find to date ?
A: Obviously it's nice to find gold, but probably my most exciting find is a medieval ring. It was found not far from a known Knights Templar location and has a templar type cross on it so my imagination is running away with me on this one.
Q: Do you have any advice for someone wanting to get into the hobby of metal detecting ?
A: Buy the best detector you can afford, join a club and listen & learn.
As they came out of the ground, a few items found by Steve
