Metal detecting enthusiasts converge on Chester

Aug 10 2011 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

A RETIRED plumber and metal detecting enthusiast from Wirral was among those displaying their finds at an exhibition in Chester Town Hall last weekend.

Phil Moy, 70, from Leasowe, has been metal detecting for 40 years and is chairman of the West Kirby Metal Detecting Club.

Over the decades, he has found many items, including gold and silver coins, Roman and medieval artefacts – as well as lots of bottle tops and ring pulls.

He said: “One of the most interesting things I have ever found was a silver ring which I found in Ince on the banks of the River Alt.”

Mr Moy, who is married and has two daughters, four grandchildren and one grandchild, said: “I sent it to the British Museum in London but they couldn’t work out what it was so they sent it me back.

“But I showed it to the TV historian Mark Olly who said straight away that he was 95% certain it was Viking.

“That made sense as the river where I found it was said to be where the Vikings sailed up on coming into this area.”

The item was on display as metal detecting enthusiasts from across the North West descended on Chester Town Hall for the Treasure Chest Exhibition – an Exhibition of Metal Detecting Discoveries.