Our Story So Far
“Tommy Coleman, the founder of the group, initially wanted to start his own club. However, after attending a few digs with other groups, he sought to do things differently by creating a family atmosphere with friendly members. When Surrey Metal Detecting held its first event in 2019, it had only 60 members. Remarkably, some of those original members still attend every dig to this day.”
In 2020, Surrey Metal Detecting experienced significant growth, expanding our membership to nearly 500 enthusiastic members. This growth allowed us to secure access to some truly remarkable and diverse detecting sites, offering our members new and exciting opportunities to explore. With the increase in participants and activity, we recognised the need for better organisation, and so we expanded our team.
We brought on four dedicated team members to help with the logistics, including managing parking and overseeing the safety and conduct of our members while out in the fields. Their involvement has been invaluable in ensuring our events run smoothly and efficiently, allowing everyone to focus on enjoying the hobby in a well-organised and welcoming environment. This expansion marks an important milestone in our journey, as we continue to grow both in size and in the quality of the experience we offer to all our members.
Growing the Surrey Metal Detecting Club in 2022
In 2022, the Surrey Metal Detecting Club experienced significant growth, with our membership soaring to over 1,500 people. As the popularity of metal detecting went through the roof, we welcomed many new faces to our fields.
This exciting growth meant we spent more time than ever sharing our knowledge. We focused on teaching new members the best ways to detect, as well as how to properly identify and handle historical artefacts and coins. We believe that every day is a learning day, and we’re committed to helping everyone improve their skills.
To keep up with this increased demand, we expanded our team of dedicated helpers from two to five. This fantastic team ensures that all our events run smoothly and that everyone gets the support they need.
We also celebrated the birth of “The Digger’s Den,” a project lovingly managed by Donna and Paul. This popular spot allows us to offer members a warm drink and even a hot dog during our detecting days, providing a great place to take a break and socialise.
2024: A Year of Continued Growth and Community
As we move into 2024, our club continues to thrive. Our team of dedicated helpers has now grown to between 8 and 10 members, allowing us to better support our ever-expanding community.
The trend of metal detecting is still on the rise, and we are proud to now have over 3,000 members. We’ve built a reputation as one of the best metal detecting communities around, and this is a testament to the passion and commitment of everyone involved.
In the past year, we’ve also had the opportunity to help new clubs get started, sharing our knowledge and learning many valuable lessons along the way. We are committed to fostering a supportive community, not just within our club, but across the wider metal detecting hobby.
We will continue to grow each year, and we’re excited to see what the future holds. Watch this space!
COMING SOON
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Thanks for today Tommy. Rich and I had a great time even though we found mostly iron on our very first dig. Great group of very knowledgeable, helpful people. Would love to join again sometime
Thank you Tommy for the dig today, and Donna and Paul for the refreshments. Nice to see some really good finds come up off the fields. Three bits of silver for me. Vicky sixpence, crescent brooch (thanks Sami) and a now straightened out sterling silver possible sweetheart brooch?
Thanks Tommy Coleman and all for a great dig 5 at Orpington on Saturday. Another crotal bell for me as well as a Napoleon 111 coin and a Metropolitan Police button.
Benefits Of Joining SMDC
Welcome to the Surrey Metal Detecting Club! Our community hub is a place where members can come together, enjoy a coffee or tea, and occasionally treat themselves to a hot dog—perfect for both kids and adults. We ensure a warm welcome for everyone, from start to finish.