Over the decades, many Blue Peter presenters have had literary careers independent of their direct association with the programme. Sometimes their works have been autobiographical, occasionally authoring children's fiction books, or sometimes non-fictional books in the style of Blue Peter publications.
This small softback book, Go Metal Detecting, published by EP Publishing Limited in 1981, was written by Val Singleton and Marguerite Fuke. There is no biographical introduction to Marguerite Fuke but reading between the lines she is the experienced expert of the two co-authors, even though the book's front cover only displays Val's name as the author.
Val does provide a well-written Part One to the book in the first person, describing how her interest in metal detecting started, connected to her love of history and fascination with classic treasure "gold, diamonds and sunken galleons". She describes her first go with a metal detector, unearthing a collection of cartridge case butts, bullets, tractor bolts and broken horseshoes. Her more exciting finds included a 1917 penny and several military buttons.
Part Two of the book is written in the first person by Margueritte Fuke and is a much more detailed and lengthy description of metal detector equipment, how to search a site, digging techniques and how to plot a find. Also some of the legal advice about where you may and may not dig and how not to run foul of the law and archaeologists. The book also includes many photos and drawings.
Forty years later, without doubt this remains a really useful guide for people wishing to take up the hobby of metal detecting. Truly an interesting find!
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