Andy Sampson is an enthusiastic metal detectorist, with many years’ experience.

He has a great affinity with the local area having spent much of his childhood holidays in the village of Orford. Andy now lives locally; with an exceptional understanding of the ancient maps of the area he is keen to pass on his knowledge and stories of the incredible artefacts found over the years from the Iron Age, Roman, Saxon and many periods up to WW2.

Leading the group each day, he will be on hand to give guidance and pass on his infectious enthusiasm for metal detecting

Suffolk born John French, has always had a passion for history, especially for Suffolk’s Anglo Saxon heritage. He has worked as a volunteer on several archaeological digs, including the Sutton Hoo ship burial excavations under Professor Martin Carver in the early ‘80s.

John started metal detecting 30 years ago and has made some significant finds which are now in local and national Museums. He has worked as a trusted detectorist for Suffolk county council Archaeological services. He recently took part in an ITV series on metal detecting ‘Great British Treasure Hunt’ around some of Britain’s stately homes with Henry Cole and his team. We are delighted to have John as part of the Suffolk Sandlands team, guiding and teaching our guests in the field. We look forward to John sharing his expertise and knowledge with our guests.

Toby Capwell is an independent scholar and leading authority on medieval and Renaissance arms and armour. Over the last thirty years he has worked with many of the world's great collections, including the Imperial Armoury in Vienna, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Royal Armouries in Leeds, and has served as curator of Glasgow Museums and the Wallace Collection, where he worked for sixteen years until January 2023. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Armourers in London. He is the author of many books on armour, weapons and tournaments, has curated numerous exhibitions, and frequently appears in film, television and online media. 

Tim works for the Ipswich Museum Service where he interprets the collections for schools and the public, with a focus on Anglo-Saxon archaeology.

He is a member of the living history group Wulfheodenas, who aim to authentically recreate the crafts and material culture of the 6th- 7th century Northern world.

Dr Richard Hoggett is a freelance heritage consultant, lecturer and writer with over 20 years’ experience in the academic, commercial and local authority heritage sectors.

As a consultant, he provides heritage planning advice and services to a wide range of clients, including landowners, developers and local planning authorities. As a lecturer, he speaks regularly on a wide range of archaeological and historical subjects to groups and societies across the eastern region and beyond. He has published extensively on heritage-related subjects in numerous books and journals, as well as more popular pieces. An elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists.

Edward Martin worked as an archaeologist with Suffolk County Council for many years, specialising in prehistory and historic landscape studies. He has written and lectured widely on the archaeology, history, landscape, buildings and gardens of East Anglia, and particularly of Suffolk. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a Vice-President and past Chairman of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History, Chairman of the Suffolk Gardens Trust, and a committee member of the Suffolk Historic Buildings Group

Angela Care Evans is an archaeologist and former Curator in the department of Britain, Europe, and Prehistory at the British Museum. She has published extensively on the Sutton Hoo Mound 1 artefacts and early medieval metalwork. Angela is an expert in early medieval English archaeology and material culture, especially the Sutton Hoo burial, metalwork including brooches and horse harnesses, and shipbuilding.

Philip is a museum curator, archaeologist and historian. For the past 25 years he has been at Colchester Museum as a Curator of Archaeology and more recently Heritage Manager of Colchester’s archaeological sites and monuments.

He read archaeology and anthropology at Downing College, Cambridge and has published extensively on a wide range of archaeological and historical subjects including coin hoards and jewellery. For many years he has been part of the research project at the Rendlesham Anglo-Saxon royal settlement in Suffolk. Philip manages the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Essex in partnership with the British Museum.