A Warm Welcome To All!
The club was formed in the early seventies by Jeff Short who also started Jeff's Detector Shop in “The Walk” Ipswich. Many will remember the treasure chest in the window overflowing with coins and artifacts. The first committee consisted of Jeff (Secretary) Tex Butler (Chairman) myself as (Vice Chairman) Paul Finbow, Roger Rackham and other founder members. The club meetings have always been run on a similar format as now with a guest speaker usually talking on a related subject.
Find of the month was and still is an important part of our club activities. This is divided into two categories, best coin and best artifact each receiving a splendid trophy. This year we have a special award donated by Mrs Grimwood in memory of her late husband Albert, who worked so hard to promote the hobby. This award for the best Roman Artifact is known as “The Albert Memorial Shield”. Reaching back to those early days a diploma was the prize. Bob Cornish who is competitions Secretary tells me he has attended virtually every meeting over the last 17 years and has polished this event to a fine art.
The club raffle has been an integral and important way of funding the club. This is vital as it lowers the membership fee to an easily affordable amount. In those salad days the raffle depended on members contributing prizes, these days though we finance the raffle and Sarah and Gary with the help of young Samantha do an excellent job in selecting good prizes and running the raffle.
There has always been a monthly newsletter that originally consisted of a single page. This has always kept members in touch with club activities, of course now thanks to Tom Knights it is something more and become a news magazine. This clearly takes a lot of effort to produce and has to reach a monthly deadline. The club can be proud of the fact of having won a national award for best content. It has also become an international magazine with copies posted to U.S.A. and Australia.
Our secretary, Trevor Southgate perhaps requires the patience of a saint for it is he who finds and books guest speakers covering a wide range of subjects, this is not an easy task and we are always looking for speakers covering associated subjects. All our committee members work hard to ensure the smooth running of the club and this year we are truly entering the 21st century with John Brine setting up this Web page and Paul Odell photographing finds, this I feel will be of great value to newcomers.
Every month we have our friends from archaeology who help to record and identify finds. They are also a link for recording items covered under the new treasure act and will save you having to spend your time approaching the right people.
We have always been a family club encouraging youngsters into the hobby. This is highly educational, will broaden the mind, and give you fresh air and the beauty of the countryside with good comradeship.
All Welcome
Dave Cummings.
