AN 81-YEAR-OLD dowser has at long last put pen to paper to share his 34 years of knowledge and experience.

Peter Golding, chairman and founder of Slimbridge Dowsing Group, has published his memoirs of being a water diviner.

The book, Experiences of an Old Dowser, is about the many experiences he has had looking for water and has been written after years of encouragement from fans and fellow dowsers.

He said: "Always treat your dowsing gift with dignity, humility and reverence and give thanks for the reactions you receive."

A retired engineer, Mr Golding started his dowsing career while he was working as chief engineer on a Saudi Arabian airbase, where he often needed to locate underground cables beneath the desert.

He later progressed to map dowsing, finding lost objects, detailed archaeological work, health and healing and clearing negative geopathic stress, which are caused by energies emanating from the earth, due to underground water courses or geological anomalies.

During his 34 years Mr Golding has helped locate water for many people, including comedian Jasper Carrot.

He said: "I am most frequently asked by farmers, stately homes and businesses to go along and find the best place for them to sink a borehole for an independent supply of good quality water but there is a lot more to it than that."

Mr Golding is also well known locally for locating the lost 15th century Dursley Castle on the town’s recreation ground. Aided by architect John Wilkes, he was able to find the castle walls, windows, the moat and a drawbridge. His findings were later confirmed by a geophysical survey and old photographs, one of which appears in his new book.

Mr Golding started the Slimbridge Dowsing Group in 2003, as a result of a talk he gave to the Slimbridge Local History Society.

Experiences of an Old Dowser is available for £8 from The Wishing Tree, Parsonage Street, Dursley Post Office, Slimbridge Post Office, or direct from Peter Golding on 01453 890316 or via www.petergolding.net