John Warren moved up an age class in orienteering this year as he celebrated his 80th Birthday on 19th January. John has been a mainstay of WIM for many years having acted as Chairman, Secretary, Mapper and Coach not to mention being a Grade 1 controller.

John and his family were introduced by myself to orienteering at the Boxing Day Canter in 1976. I felt therefore it would be appropriate for the club to celebrate his Birthday. A dinner was arranged at The Three Legged Cross pub at Woolsbridge being close to John's beloved Moors Valley Country Park. On Wednesday 25th January 34 club members attended the evening. We were allocated a private area within the pub and we decorated the room  with 80th birthday balloons. A large Birthday cake was decorated with an edible map of Moors Valley and a generous slice was enjoyed by everyone after John had cut the cake at the end of our meal.

Our Chairman, Kevin Pickering, presented John with a gift of Bradshaw's Railway Guide and John then spoke of his long standing love of orienteering and in particular the friendships he had made in the sport.

Trevor Bridle

Photographs by Becca Ellis