Man, 75, reunited with ring that slipped off finger 54 years ago

Jasper King

Published August 28, 2022 3:34pm Updated August 28, 2022 3:42pm

A man has been reunited with a long lost ring which disappeared more than half a century ago.

Dave Radley, 75, lost the ring his late mother gave him for his 21st birthday while picking strawberries in his home village of Seagrave, Leicestershire, in 1968.

But in an unusual turn of events, a metal detectorist discovered the gold signet 54 years later in Peter Lovett’s field.

It was found seven inches deep in the ground with only one slight scratch, ready to be polished out.

The nine carat ring would have been an expensive gift at the time, with Mr Radley’s mother likely buying it from a catalogue and paying in installments.

Mr Radley, who now lives in Loughborough, said: ‘The ring might not have changed but its owner has – so it’s a fairly tight fit.

‘I’ve had to have it changed slightly as I can just about get it on. But none of that matters because I’m so grateful to have it back.’

Dave Radley,75, from Loughborough who had his lost gold signet ring found and returned after being lost for 54 years. Dave's mum Rhoda gave it to him on his 21st Birthday and he lost it strawberry picking. See SWNS story SWLNring. A man has been reunited with a ring he lost while picking fruit - over 50 YEARS ago. Dave Radley, 75, was distraught when the gold signet slipped off his finger as he picked strawberries in 1968. It was gifted by his late mother for his 21st birthday and the retired train engineer spent hours trying to find it. But in a stroke of luck last month a metal detectorist who received a tip-off from the land-owner about the lost item made the discovery. — Mr Radley is thrilled to have the ring back in his hands once again (Picture: SWNS)

Collect of (L-R) Dave Radley and Michael Lovett in 1968 in Spain just after the ring was lost. See SWNS story SWLNring. A man has been reunited with a ring he lost while picking fruit - over 50 YEARS ago. Dave Radley, 75, was distraught when the gold signet slipped off his finger as he picked strawberries in 1968. It was gifted by his late mother for his 21st birthday and the retired train engineer spent hours trying to find it. But in a stroke of luck last month a metal detectorist who received a tip-off from the land-owner about the lost item made the discovery. — Dave Radley (left) and Michael Lovett in 1968 in Spain just after the ring was lost (Picture: SWNS)

Remembering back to when he lost the ring, he said: ‘My family wasn’t too well off in those days and I spent hours searching for it on the rows we had been.

‘My mother wasn’t upset with me, just more upset because of how distraught I was.

‘When I got the call from Peter I couldn’t quite believe it – the joy I felt in that moment is indescribable.