A METAL detectorist who once unearthed a relic left by 10th century Viking raiders has introduced care home residents to the joys of treasure hunting.
Lee Swallow is a clinical care practitioner at Pendine Park ‘s Bodlondeb care home in Wrexham where the pastime is now also being used as reminiscence therapy.
Tales of his exploits and different centuries-old finds have so interested residents that Bodlondeb manager Ann Chapman asked Lee if he would run regular metal detecting sessions at the home.
She said: “It has really taken off with a number of our residents showing lots of enthusiasm. On summer days in particular it is great fun for those of them who want to get outside for a while to enjoy searching for any treasure which might be buried around the extensive 12-acre grounds at Pendine.”
One of Lee’s proudest moments was finding the copper alloy strap mount or clasp made by the Norse invaders.
It probably dates back to the time of when attacks by the Vikings and the Welsh helped weaken the Anglo-Saxon power base in North East Wales.
The area was eventually taken over by the Welsh when it became part of the Lordship of Maelor.
The clasp later went on display at Wrexham Museum alongside his other finds, including four silver coins and eight medieval spindle whorls made from lead that were used to weave ancient cloth.
Two of the silver coins date back to the 14th century with another from the 15th century, while the fourth was made in 1760.
According to the intrepid treasure hunter, his adventures with a metal detector are the closest you can come to time travel and can often trigger important memories for some of the residents.
They have already gathered an impressive horde of about 200 old coins, ancient buttons and seals, which are all safely kept in their special ‘treasure case’.
Lee said: “If we unearth an old coin for instance, we will look at the date and the design, and if it is fairly recent – say from the 1930s or 40s – the residents may remember using that type of coin in their younger years and it prompts memories of going to the shops spending their pocket money or saving their pennies to buy something extra special.
“There are coins going back to the 1800s and 1700s, and even a handful before that. We have examples in silver, copper, and brass. But we’ve not found any gold yet. That’s a big one for the tick list. If we could unearth some ancient gold I’d be over the moon.”
One resident who is keen to unearth precious metals is Alan Coop who greatly enjoys the metal detecting sessions.
According to Alan, his dream is to discover a pot of gold which he would use to pay for a trip to Goa, India.
He said: “If I ever find a treasure trove of gold that will pay for my ticket.”
Ann Chapman added: “It is so nice for the staff to join in these sessions too as we all love to see everyone getting so much enjoyment of out of the activities we arrange and this is one of our most unusual and rewarding ones.”
Lee has been an avid treasure hunter since early childhood.
He said: “It started when we used to all go on family holidays, caravanning in Barmouth. We would spend long days going beach combing to see what we could find and I always looked forward to those fabulous trips.
“From there my interest gradually evolved until I took up metal detecting and it’s continued over many years now. It’s a great way to learn about our history and enjoy some fresh air too.
“I used to belong to one of the two local detectorists clubs in Wrexham but these days I find the meetings and activities often clash with my work, but I still go out on days off or with friends whenever I can.
“I also hugely enjoy getting the residents out into the grounds and introducing them to my hobby. They all have a chance to use the metal detector and it’s exciting for us all if they manage to find anything. We all gather round to see what it is.”
Lee is also an avid amateur photographer and on occasions he brings in a camera to engage residents in that hobby too.
He said: “The gardens are so beautiful here, it’s a tribute to the groundsmen who do a fantastic job keeping them pristine so I thought why not bring in a camera and those residents who want to can take some photographs of the plants and flowers which we can then share on Facebook.”
