Who Am I?

First off, I’m Daz aka Wishful Detecting on YouTube and Darren Protheroe by birth but dad to my kids who love to support my hobby of metal detecting and who love to share the spoils when I find a ton of money on the beach so they can spend it frivolously on sweets and amusement arcade games or penny slots down our local caravan park near Swansea called Gateway Caravan park. (I tried getting permission there, but I was met with a very stern NO!) 

God loves a trier! And that trier is me. Hence why I bought a metal detector one day, and I have never looked back since hitting all the farms I can find and all the local beaches that they allow you onto down here in not-so-sunny West Wales.

Born and raised in Swansea, I was such never really much of sports fan or into Welsh rugby but I always fancied a go at metal detecting and got my mucky Welsh hands on one when I was about 20 years old, and never took the hobby seriously until I hit my early 40’s and now I can’t stop swinging my machine all over the place.

I now focus all my attention on family, metal detecting, and using my time to help change people’s lives through the love of metal detecting and having a PMA (positive mental attitude) in life. 

Metal detecting for me is a great way for me and so many others to get away from it all and unearth treasures that have been undiscovered by man and probably lost by a woman (LOL) and probably man. Let’s face it, most of us men can’t even find our socks most of the time.

Over the last few years, I have found some rather cool stuff, but also a ton of junk that you could easily turn into a junk yard. 
For me, it’s a great way to get some good exercise, show the kids how beautiful Wales really is, and I reckon it’s the best remedy for mental health. 

Having gone through so much craziness as a kid, I found something I love, and I want to share it with others and even help some of you to take up metal detecting to not only help you find a ton of amazing things but to help you find a hobby that is rewarding in so many other ways, too.

Metal detecting can be for anyone at any age, and when you find those great targets in the ground, you will thank me you taking this amazing hobby up. 

Can’t wait to share all my metal detecting adventures, great finds, much needed metal detecting tops for beginners and all round best advice on how to find the best treasures in the ground before someone else does.  

So, are you ready to share my collection of mad metal-detecting stories in Wales? I hope so coz you’re in for a right treat.

– Darren Protheroe (Winter 2025)

Note:

You can find my @WishfulThinking YouTube Channel here, and I will be kicking off a new TikTok channel and Facebook channel in 2026.