Metal detectors out in force to help newly weds find ring lost in snowball fight

Published on Thursday 31 December 2009 10:00

WHEN newly-wed Kiwi couple Minpreet and Arjan Jongkees indulged in a snowball fight to mark their first white Christmas it seemed like a romantic way to work off the turkey dinner.

Minpreet and Arjan Jongkees with metal detector enthusiast Alastair Hacket

But the loved-up husband and wife's celebration in the Meadows quickly turned cold when they realised Minpreet's hand-designed wedding ring had slipped off her finger during all of the fun.

Since Christmas Day the pair have been searching through the snow tirelessly for the missing piece of jewellery – with the help of Scotland's metal detector club and some kind-hearted strangers.

Several local enthusiasts with metal detectors have braved some of the coldest weather seen in the Capital for a decade to scour the large stretch of land but so far there has been no sign of the precious white gold band.

Now time is running out for the globe-trotting couple, who are set to move to Holland in just five days' time.

The treasure hunting team, led by club secretary Alastair Hacket, offered to brave the icy chill and help out after the desperate couple emailed the club details of their plight.

Minpreet, 26, who lives with her husband in West Newington, said: "We decided to take a walk through the fresh snow on Christmas Day and couldn't help getting into a snowball fight because it was the first white Christmas we had ever seen. We were throwing snowballs and I kept on going because I was losing.

"But when we were walking back from the quarter mile I noticed that the ring wasn't on my finger. I had hoped that I'd left it on the bench at home, but I hadn't. We traced our footsteps back to the children's playground on the eastern side but the area is huge.

"I guess I didn't notice it wasn't there because it was freezing and I couldn't feel my hands. Your fingers shrink in the cold so it must've slipped off. It did ruin Christmas a little bit although we tried to stay positive."

The couple returned to the scene on Boxing Day with a rake to search through the snow, but so far have had no luck in spotting the gem. Minpreet, who is a dental hygienist, said: "We're really grateful for all the help we've had, and some strangers we met the day before even came back with a rake as well.

"We're desperate to find it because it has a lot of sentimental value. We designed it together in New Zealand and it is a unique piece. It would be nice to get it back before we move away."

Metal detecting enthusiast Alastair, 60, will be back on searching duty in the Meadows today with a number of his team to give finding the ring one last shot. He said: "We always try to help in situations like this, and we usually get about half a dozen similar requests every year.

"This year I've found two wedding rings and so you never know. However, given how large the area is it will be very difficult. Hopefully if we don't find it somebody will hand it in."

Minpreet and Arjan are offering an undisclosed reward to anybody who returns the ring to Newington Police station.

It is a white gold band with a blue stone, in a Celtic style.