Jeff Spencer, HER officer for Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) has written a short piece about his volunteer Rod, who after almost four years as a volunteer has decided to move on to pastures new. Rod has worked with Jeff recording artefacts for the PAS from Wrexham Heritage Society and independent metal detector users in Powys and Shropshire.
Jeff Writes:
Rod started volunteering with the PAS in 2007 and as a direct result of his work the annual totals of recorded artefacts by CPAT have virtually doubled with each successive year;
80 in 2007/8,
150 in 2008/9,
260 in 2009/10
and up to August in the 2010/11 financial year his total was already
266!
In addition his enthusiasm for meeting people and talking to them about finds and the PAS have been vital in helping build a strong and positive working relationship with the Wrexham Heritage Society, its members and also local independent metal detectorists, to say nothing of his excellent photographic skills.
Before working with us he had successful careers in the RAF and in banking in the Far East, from which he had to retire due to ill health.
The following are good examples of some of his records on the PAS database:
PAS record number: CPAT-446CE7 Object type: Seal matrix Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL County of discovery: Powys Stable url: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/236047
PAS record number: CPAT-E87263 Object type: Harness Fitting Broadperiod: IRON AGE County of discovery: Shropshire Stable url: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/238280
PAS record number: CPAT-FE6537 Object type: Token Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL County of discovery: Shropshire Stable url: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/238299
PAS record number: CPAT-5486C1 Object type: AXEHEAD Broadperiod: BRONZE AGE County of discovery: Denbighshire Stable url: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/399510
PAS record number: CPAT-227A56 Object type: Coin Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL County of discovery: Powys Stable url: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/259849
Both Jeff and I wish Rod a very happy second (or is it third) retirement and thank him most sincerely for all his hard work for the PAS. His commitment has made a huge difference to the PAS locally and he will be missed.
Jeff Spencer and Peter Reavill
A full list of finds recorded by Rod can be found here
https://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/recorderID/00146B1E1CE0181E/
which can be mapped here
https://finds.org.uk/database/search/map/recorderID/00146B1E1CE0181E