The beginnings: Walton Chasers began at Walton High School when Peter and Marlene Palmer moved up from the south to work at the school, bringing the new sport with them. The very first event put on by Peter and Marlene was in 1967 and started and finished at their house in Brocton with 52 competitors.

Urban myth has it that the pupils of Walton High School wanted Walton Chasers so that W.C. would be the contraction, but Peter reported that it was a conversion that he had with Al Reed that first brought the name up. So, in 1969, with orienteering on the rise and interest around Stafford increasing, Walton Chasers Orienteering Club officially came into being. Other early stalwarts included Eric Johnson, Norman and Marjorie Day, Laurie and Barbara Bradley, Dorothy and Sid Clayton, Norman and Diane Hall. Chris Boycott and Doug Peel, I understand, missed out on being founding fathers by only a few months. Apologies for missing out anyone else!

Celebration: To celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Walton Chasers, we extended our club dinner to members past and present. The response was tremendous with over 100 people in attendance. We will also be putting on an urban event in Tamworth on 13^th July and would invite everyone to bring along a picnic as the weather will be brilliant (possibly) and cake will be supplied (definitely).