Barry Peplow, a metal detector enthusiast, has found a pocket watch belonging to his father which has been missing for 60 years

Shropshire man Barry Peplow spent much of the 1950s playing football with his friends on a county green.

He has fond memories of the times when his father John would referee, keeping time with his with his pocket watch. Father and son enjoyed hours of fun at their home at Ragleth Gardens, Monkmoor, Shrewsbury – until one day in 1953 when John lost the watch while officiating.

Despite a search it could not be found and was consigned to history never to be thought about again . . . until now.

Barry, now a 67-year-old grandfather, had his memory jogged about the incident while dropping off a friend who still lives in the area after a night at the pub.

And the metal detector enthusiast thought he would go and search for the object – taking less than an hour to unearth the elusive watch.

Barry, who now lives in Clive Road, Monkmoor, said: “I can’t believe I’ve found it after nearly 60 years.

“I remember my dad losing his pocket watch because we were all looking for it at the time.

“All the young lads around Ragleth Gardens used to play and there would be as many as 25 people playing football there. My father used to have a game now and again when he was fit enough but he used to referee the friendly games.

“I imagine he lost it after it fell out of his pocket and someone must have trod on it and it’s been buried under the ground.”

Barry said he believed his father, who passed away 10 years ago, would be amazed that the watch has been found.

He said: “He loved his football and he was a big fan of Shrewsbury Town FC. He was quite a character and most people would know him from walking his dog down to the betting shop and down to Gay Meadow to talk to the players.”

The watch is not the first unusual item Barry has found while out and about with his metal detector after he once unearthed a silver penny which was minted in the 13th century.

John Ellery, Coroner for Mid and North West Shropshire, last year declared the coin was treasure believed to be part of the Baschurch hoard – the biggest find of silver coins made at the Shrewsbury Mint.

By Russell Roberts