Malcolm Brockbank understands the thrills found in treasure hunting. As an active member of the Armchair Treasure Hunting community in the UK, and who has tracked down treasures himself, it is exciting to learn he is using his experiences to create a treasure hunt for others!
The Heart of Gold armchair treasure hunt is planned to be released in the summer of 2019, with a treasure worth £15,000! Let’s learn more about this highly anticipated quest, and about Malcolm; the mastermind behind what is sure to be an amazing adventure! Enjoy!
Six Questions:
- 1Q) The thought of discovering treasure inspires us all. And you have had great success in doing so! Congrats! Will you share more about the adventure you had in finding the hidden treasure of the Isle of Wight. What did it take you to solve it? What was it like to eventually discover the prize at the end?
I’d been involved in several armchair treasure hunts over the years with which I’ve had many happy hours of entertainment but sadly little success.
Then one day I happened to spot a book, ‘The Spirit of the Stones’ in our local market. This told the story of a young pirate lad in the 17th century who sadly get shot on The Isle Of Wight. His ghost spends his remaining hours on the earth wondering around the island. He carries a pouch of diamonds and unbeknown to him the pouch has been damaged and slowly the diamonds fall out one by one.
This resulted in 40 diamonds being hidden somewhere on the Island waiting to be found by whoever could decipher the books riddles.
As the main prize there was also hidden a large 1.25 carat blue-white diamond known as ‘The great Wight eye’.
The book was written by an artist called John Worsley who has lived on the island his whole life.
My brother and I worked on this book for a total of 5 years and then one Easter I sat down and recalled an idea that I’d had and discarded a long time ago. This idea proved to be correct and I had at last discovered the books final secret. It was an astonishing feeling to see the answer revealed. I’d lost count of the number of times that I’d tried so many different ideas only to have them come to nothing. Then finally you try something and suddenly the answer’s sitting in there in front of you. It’s a very hard sensation to describe but I guess it’s a mixture of shock, disbelief, joy and above all utter relief!
During these 5 years we must have travelled back and forth to the Island a good 30 or 40 times. We’ve plodded all over the island, in rain and sunshine, bitter winds and even snow, but every time we went back for more! One morning I was woken by a phone call from my brother at 2.00 am saying he’d had a brilliant idea and was off to the island – would I like to come. By 7:00am we we’re disembarking from the ferry and setting of on yet another search!
In total my brother and I claimed 20 of the 40 diamonds. I say claimed because many of the artificial stones had gone missing and could not be located, even by the author himself. A system had been put in place so that once you had worked out the correct location you could claim the diamond by mail.
Though of course we always went to look first and only if we were unable to physically find the stone did we register a claim.
I’ve attached three pictures.The first is a gold plated map of the Isle of Wight that I made. Its studded with 40 small diamonds and a larger one to show where the Great Wight Eye was hidden just outside Godshill.
The other two show the GWE and the smaller talismans along with one of the artificial stones that they were hidden in.
- 2Q) I love how treasure hunting takes searchers to new places. While working to solve clues, via research on the internet or scouting out physical locations, so much is explored and learned. Which do you enjoy most when trying to find treasure? The solving of the clues themselves or the physical search? Or do you enjoy both? Do you feel both work together for an overall enchanting experience?
My viewpoint on armchair treasure hunting is I guess very strongly colored by my own personality.
I love trying to solve puzzles of all kinds, crosswords, number puzzles and physical ones such as Rubix cubes (which I’ve finally managed to learn how to solve after a mere 20 years on and off trying!)
I think it’s in some people nature and I guess it’s strongly fuelled by the added fact that treasure hunting is exactly what it says it is. You know without any doubt that somewhere outside lies a valuable treasure waiting to be found or dug up by the first person to work out where it is.
That alone can get you hooked. If you couple that with the excitement of suddenly thinking that you know where it is and dashing off in your car to somewhere that you’ve probably never been to before, and you have a potent mix.
Whilst working on a hunt called simply ‘Treasure’ I once drove to Scotland and back in a day to look for it –that was a round trip of over 900 miles.
So take heed, armchair treasure hunting can be addictive! But the rewards can be great.
3Q) I’m so looking forward to the release of The Heart of Gold. The brief glimpses into the book and golden prize on your website (TheHeartofGold.co.uk) are stunning. What inspired you to create a treasure hunt of this type? What might we expect in this upcoming hunt? Can you tell us more about this adventure to find the lost Heart of Gold?
I’ve had many years involvement with these kind of treasure hunts and it’s been in my mind to write my own book for at least ten years.
I’d always been impressed by Kit William’s Masquerade and others such as ‘The spirit of the stones’ and Cadbury’s ‘Conundrum’ where ten golden enameled eggs were hidden across the UK. But it wasn’t until about three years ago that what I considered to be a suitable idea came to me.
I wanted an idea that would totally self-contained within the book. If you have the book then you have all that you need to find the hidden burial spot (although a few sheets of paper and a sharp pencil will probably help!)
As always you can use the net to research ideas and facts, and while it may be of some limited use it’s not essentially required to discover the solution. What I’m hoping is that it will open up people’s minds to different ways of thinking perhaps and provide them a lot of fun. There’s nothing like having an idea pop into your head and you suddenly think ‘This could be it!’ Where’s my pencil and paper!’
In order to allow the hunt to be followed outside the United Kingdom a postal system will be implemented to allow anyone to claim the heart by emailing the correct solution to theheartofgold@yahoo.com.
The story of ‘The Heart Of Gold’ is basically one of friendship and adventure. Logan, who is 10 years old has a close bond with his Godfather (AKA Sarge) and they spend a lot of time together. Sarge does everything he can to encourage his godson to think outside the box and spends a lot of time inventing various contraptions, some more successful than others.
His latest creation, a time machine in the shape of a giant boot, has led him to misplace his beloved golden locket given to him by his late mother. So when Logan pays him a visit they set off on a journey back and forth through time in search for the lost heart.
They travel to ten separate locations, each one linking them to the next until they eventually locate the heart and return home safely, just in time for tea!
- 4Q) It should be mentioned there is first a crowdfunding event to be launched on March 18th for The Heart of Gold. Can you share ways we as searchers can help support this project? And what are some of the benefits for becoming a supporter of the hunt during this event?
I honestly believe that the crowd funding project is the crux of the matter. I’ve done everything I can to ensure the success of the book and that:
A) The hunt itself and the associate book are functionally sound and will work as planned
B) The heart will be made to highest quality achievable to a budget of £15,000..
C) Everyone will be able to take part on an equal footing.
D) The story in the book is interesting and hopefully entertaining.
As far as the crowd funding project is concerned I’ve made every effort to promote the book to raise public awareness. This has proved to be the most difficult part in some respects, not to say the most critical.
All of the above comments about the heart, the book and the story will lose all meaning if no one knows about them so advertising and promotion to as many people as possible are key the potential success or failure of this hunt.
For my part I’ve contacted clubs such as yours and the UK based Armchair Treasure Hunt club.
I’ve built the website ‘theheartofgold.co.uk’ and have tried to promote this through all of my friends, acquaintances and family.
I’ve also set up a Facebook page and am actively promoting it there.
So if everyone who hears about this project can be encouraged to pass it on via friends and family and even more importantly through social media then this will definitely help.
Really the more advertising the better!
As for the potential benefits for supporting the funding project these are detailed on theheartofgold.co.uk website and for convenience are listed here.
I should say that all pledges large or small will be welcomed but here are the proposed rewards:
£20 Pledge:
A free 90 day trial membership of the Armchair Treasure Hunt Club (ATHC).
This is one of the UK’s top clubs for book related treasure hunts.
PLUS free entry into ‘the Treasure Chest’ raffle
£30 Pledge:
This reward provides a free copy of the book ‘ The Heart Of Gold’ for UK residents.
This includes Postage & Packaging
PLUS free entry into ‘the Treasure Chest’ raffle
£35 Pledge:
This reward provides a free copy of the book ‘ The Heart Of Gold’ for NON-UK residents
This includes Postage & Packaging
(The extra £5 is offset increased postage costs)
PLUS free entry into ‘the Treasure Chest’ raffle
£40 Pledge:
A free copy of the book ‘The Heart Of Gold’
This includes Postage & Packaging
PLUS Free 90 day trial membership of the Armchair Treasure Hunt Club
PLUS Free entry into the ‘Treasure Chest Fund’ raffle
- 5Q) I can’t go without asking about your secret talent, or I should say genius craftsmanship, of puzzle box making! They are truly sensational and very impressive. I love them! What inspired you to produce such extraordinary containers? How long does it take to make one? Do you ever offer any for sale?
Trying to achieve a sense of inner calm and peace came very hard for me but over time I’ve found that an excellent method is to absorb yourself in a creative art. For some its painting or writing, for others it might be music or reading. For me it’s in the making of physical objects that I get a lot of pleasure from.
The box idea was based on my family. The box in the centre has an M on it for my wife Mary and her zodiac sign on the front. She’s the centre of our family in all honesty and this is reflected in the box.
Counter clockwise around the box there are smaller boxes for my children and finally one for me.
So its (J)ulie, (L)ouise, (A)dam and yours truly (M)alcolm
I would guess that in all it probably took 3 – 4 years to decorate the large box and then to make the 5 smaller ones. I had such fun doing it!
In answer to your final question in this section, I never offer them for sale because I genuinely think that they are not good enough. A lot of my friends disagree I know, but whenever I look at my work I always have a nagging thought – “I could have done that better”. This is not false modestly, please believe me. It’s what I really think.
The closest I ever came to producing something that I would be proud to sell was ironically the only item I’ve ever made that I can’t actually sell! This was the copy of Kit Williams golden hare from his Masquerade book.
I put everything I could into that and scrapped two attempts that were half completed due to mistakes.
So it took me three tries but in the end I was very happy with the result (although now I look at it in hindsight a thought occurs ….. “I could have…..”!
I guess I’m stuck with it but that’s OK. I don’t consider myself an artist in truth, just someone who has sufficient patience to keep trying.
- 6Q) Besides treasure hunting and puzzle making, what other hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time; if there is any time left after filling your day with such awesome endeavors? Do you have any other projects planned in the future?
As for other hobbies, I love reading and am trying to acquire one or two first editions of some of my favourite books.
I like cycling and whilst I’m not very good at it I like to go out for a few hours. It’s very peaceful on your own if you can find some quiet country lanes, especially if it’s sunny.
On top of which I have a granddaughter who’s 2 and a grandson who’s 6 – That’s Harlee and Logan!
So all in all I’m not short of things to keep me busy!
Have added a few marquetry pictures
If you are or know any Terry Pratchett fans then they will recognize my marquetry pictures of ‘Death’ and the ‘Three witches’
A picture by MC Escher
Last couple are just a golden Magpie and my attempt at a Faberge style egg.
Best wishes
Malcolm Brockbank
What inspiring projects! Thanks so much for sharing your adventures with us, Malcolm, and helping us to get to know you more.
As you say, Treasure Hunting can be addictive- but it is such an awesome way to work the mind and keep it in shape.
I have to laugh….my husband and I have been like you— traveled miles to look for treasure and return home right away. While other people might not understand, we sure do! We love exploring and haven’t ever regretted our adventures in treasure hunting.
Again, thank you. Looking forward to working on The Heart of Gold!
I’m impressed and somewhat jealous-
Very interesting. I hope you get the funding and can see this through, Malcolm.
By the way, I think that puzzle box is really cool.
What an impressive set of treasures! Great job with the Masquerade hare, envious indeed. Best of luck with the hunt and its launch – will it be on Kickstarter? I’ll try and spread the word where I can.