Westbury man’s metal detecting weekend raises £80,000 for cancer services

WESTBURY metal detectorist, Gary Cook, has raised £80,000 for the Royal United Hospital Bath (RUH) cancer services, by staging a weekend rally for metal detectorists. Since beginning the annual event, Gary has raised almost £200,000 to help improve cancer services at the RUH. 

His recent rally saw over 1,000 metal detectorists from as far away as the USA and Europe gathered in a field near Marlborough for a three-day charity weekend on Friday 2nd September to Sunday 4th September. Gary set up the RCM Rally in memory of his father, Rodney Cook, who died at the Royal United Hospital Bath (RUH) after having cancer in 2017.   

All proceeds from the rally ticket sales, raffle and extras go towards improving cancer services at the RUH. Money is not raised by selling any of the finds. 

Gary said, “My dad and I were exceptionally close, we were best friends, played golf, cricket and football together when I was younger. He was even my best man at my wedding because I couldn’t think of anyone else!  

“After my dad passed, I felt compelled to try and help the people who helped me, my family and my dad because they were such amazing and kind people. It wasn’t just the people who had treated him, it was the whole experience. Dad was looked after so well by RUH staff and the NHS is incredible.”  

This year’s event was a resounding success, with many ancient rare finds, including a gold stater coin, a Roman Fibula, an Iron-age brooch, and an Elizabeth 1st silver hammered coin.  

Over £80,000 was raised on the charity weekend and Gary says, “Since its inception, we’ve raised a staggering amount for cancer services at the RUH. I would like to thank everyone involved in the organisation and running of the event, everyone who has supported us, and those that attended, please accept our heartfelt gratitude. My goal is to get to one million pounds, and I don’t want to stop until I have done that. The rally has grown so much that we sold out in two days, and we’ve already secured land for next year’s event! 

 “It’s great to see that the event is popular. I like to think of it as the Glastonbury Festival of metal detecting as we put on a three-day weekend full of entertainment and food and drink stalls; we aren’t simply just metal detecting all weekend! The tickets sell out in a flash every year, so we must be doing something right! 

“People pay to camp and use the field and that’s how we raise money alongside raffles. What we are at the mercy of is finding landowners who will let us use their field – if you own land or know someone who does and want to help us out, it would be great if you can get in touch with me.” 

Gary can be contacted via the rally Facebook page: www.facebook.com/rallyorganiser  

Gill Ford, partnerships officer at RUHX, the official NHS charity for RUH Bath said, “I’m still buzzing! It was amazing to see so many metal detectorists combing the Wiltshire countryside, and the whole event ran like a dream. The RUHX team thoroughly enjoyed attending and supporting the RCM Rally, and we want to say a huge thank you to Gary, the rally team, and everyone who attended – you’ve really gone the extra mile in supporting our hospital.”  

Professor Marc Beresford, consultant clinical oncologist at RUH, who recorded a video message for the RCM Rally added, “Gary has done an amazing job setting up this event in memory of his father. We’re really committed at the RUH to research and national trials, and we want to give the best treatment to our patients. Having the new Dyson cancer centre with its innovative design, and patient-focused approach will be a huge bonus. Thank you so much for helping us to improve cancer care for patients in and around Bath and beyond.”