A Law Unto Himself

Introducing Pat Law and his canine friend Tizer

“Doing stuff for other people makes me feel good!”

It is a fact that among the legion of detectorists, there are some very intelligent and talented people, and in varying disciplines. I have been privileged and delighted to tell some of their stories in this blog and elsewhere. Using his special skill and talent Pat produces exquisite forms that are wonders to behold.

Stonemason

Mr. Patrick Law is the tall guy who always detects in shorts and a beret, no matter what the weather – and wears a beard during the winter months. Pat is a stonemason who has crossed the line from craft to art and uses his artistic ability to carve stone into fantastic creations … like the ‘grotesque’ shown below. I had mistakenly called it a gargoyle, but Pat advised me on the difference. Evidently, a gargoyle is a carved grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building.

As an art student, rugby coach, teacher and a stonemason/carver in the family business, Pat has a rich history on which to look back.

First, something about his hobby: he started detecting ‘seriously’ in January 2015. Previously he’d stopped because “the technology wasn’t up to it.” Translated, that means he was an impatient young man and soon tired of collecting tractor parts and assorted dross. He described the experience as a “passing whim.”

One Man and his Dog

Tizer, the Patterdale Terrier

But now, things have changed – and it’s all thanks to Tizer, Pat’s highly adaptable Patterdale terrier. All permissions are local, so when the dog fancies an outing, Pat takes along his faithful friend … along with the Minelab CTX. They are the dream team! Used traditionally for hunting a wide array of quarry, the terrier is now perfecting his detecting skills, although searching in thunder and lightening can be exciting – but not recommended! Tizer doesn’t like loud bangs! “He’s as daft as a brush”, says Pat, “runs all morning then sleeps all afternoon … then again perhaps he isn’t so daft after all!”

Yorkshireman Pat loves local history and told me in his colourful evocative language, “Hammered coins are okay, but I’m more interested in what was going on with love tokens, those juicy slices of romantic history, and also spindle whorls.

Love Tokens

Pat says: I’m fascinated for every one has such a story to tell … and I wonder why I collect so many! In my wanderings across the pastures I’ve found a few of these sad rejections of passion. Every time I wonder what transpired when the token was accidentally lost … or deliberately thrown away. Was he a philanderer? Was the girl seeing another? We will never know for definite!”

Metal Micky

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He’d been stuck indoors for over 10 years with aching legs and associated health issues and just had to get out of the house. Things were about to change.

Preston based Michael Brady is about 45 years old and, like a lot of us, rather overweight and battling depression. But, in Michael’s case he was born with rheumatoid arthritis and didn’t start to walk until six years old.

Michael was motivated and inspired when a friend showed him a detecting  magazine and, as a result, he went and bought a detector. In no time at all he says, “I was hooked”. The good news is that the hobby encouraged him to get out and walk more. As a result, he’s gradually losing weight and friends now call him ‘Metal Micky’.

On one of his early forays using his Garrett Ace and searching on wet sand, he made a rather special find, a pendant with the following words: BLACKPOOL CARNIVAL JUNE 1923. None were believed to still exist. Michael had struck heritage gold. So, a rare piece of Blackpool history was discovered on the beach after almost 95 years.

The pendant found and donated by Michael. Courtesy of the Blackpool Museum Project. The pendant will be displayed in the Local and Family History Centre in Blackpool’s Central Library from February 2021.

Blackpool is soon to get its first museum – telling the story of Britain’s first mass seaside resort and its place in the history of popular culture. The museum is due to open in 2021 and will be named SHOWTOWN.

Michael offered to donate his find to Blackpool’s Heritage Collection as they didn’t have one.

A spokesman for The Blackpool Museum Project said:

“Blackpool began what it thought would be a new tradition, holding an annual Carnival in June. The 1923 Carnival was such a greatsuccess that another even bigger and longer carnival was arranged to take place the following year. Unfortunately the 1924 carnival was set to be the last of its kind Blackpool held … although the crowds were equally as immense as the previous year, drunkenness and violence were rife.”

So, the find was rather significant. In 1923 Blackpool organised its first Carnival and in 2017, the year Michael found the pendant, the Carnival was re-launched.

A LITTLE WHIMSY

Fake news?

I’ll start with some fake news seen last night on Auntie Beeb and sent to President Tweety for verification. I understand that Rudy Ghouliani is on the job. What a relief!

Interesting pictures made from belly button fluff … and more!

Because of FaceAche and other social media, metal detecting forums have taken a bit of a bashing. Some (not all) use different ways to attract new and current members.

In an effort to remedy the situation, the Administrator on a forum you might know, made the decision to change some of the games members could play in the ‘arcade’ section. People were invited to suggest exciting activities. Here are some of the more sensible of those suggestions.

1. a fishing or noodling page
2. a page where transvestites can hang out
3. another one for people with an OCD with an OCD with an OCD with an OCD
4. hints and tips for whittlers and gardeners
5. workshop for all those interested in duct tape art
6. a place where all those taphophile enthusiasts can meet up
7. workshop for toilet roll knitted cover collectors
8. Pooh sticks … or Scrabble competitions for the not so energetic
9. killing and eating your own food-but you can share with others
10. Yoga with special emphasis on the Kama Sutra
11. making interesting pictures with belly button fluff – involve others
12. taking pictures of yourself playing dead and perhaps starting a lurkers section
13. making a collage from finger and toenail clippings
14. snoring in tune with Abba’s greatest hits
15. a section where old farts can hang out

Sad to say that some suggestions were considered frivolous and impractical. The one chosen isn’t even on the list. The venerable Texan Dick Stout was the inspiration : in one of his popular Brain Farts he said,” I finally figured out the real reason for the . . . spade.  It’s for taking photos of your detector leaning on it.“

And that’s all you had to do – take a memorable picture of your spade resting on the detector. This has proved to be a resounding success on many sites. Thank you Dick.