It wasn’t easy for the first few months. Chelsea showed a bit of interest in the cats to start with, but Sebrena worked out that leaving ones claw embedded in poor Chelsea’s nose was enough to finalise the pecking order once and for all. Peace and harmony was then the norm in the Peacock household. And then an advert appeared in the Braintree & Witham Times, posted by a female dog walker asking if anyone wanted to join her for a dog walk at Notley Country Park and thus, “Greyhound Walks” was born.

To start with only a few dogs brought their owners out to join us for the monthly walk. Then The Times ran a news article about the plight of greyhounds post racing. Greyhound Walks instantly took off, and its numbers increased rapidly. But throughout the growth, Chelsea still held her position as the ambassador of Greyhound Walks.

Even though she was regularly borrowed for test drives at walks and shows, she’d always make time let people make a fuss of her or accept yet another treat ... how she stayed so thin, we’ll never know !

For several years she spent many weekends being driven to and from walks, shows and meet & greets. But not once did she mind, and took it all in her stride.

The time came when she had to take retirement from Greyhound Walks and it was very difficult for us to leave her at home. It never seemed the same not taking her with us to a walk, or being at a show without her. But she’d earnt her rest, and liked nothing more than stretching out on her duvet, or if weather was to her liking, laying outside sunning herself. The nicest thing was that people would always ask after her when she wasn't out and about.

With old age came illness, which she battled in true the stubborn Chelsea way. Arthritis, bad teeth, Canine Vestibular Syndrome and a couple of strokes were tackled head on with her usual understated and gritty attitude.

But with sadness, on the 22nd March 2011 the very hardest but kindest decision was made to let her sleep in peace - the gift given to Greyhound Walks became a legacy. We are so very proud of you, thank you Chelsea for 6 wonderous years.

Dave & Janet Peacock

From that day we were together almost constantly. Mo would go to work with me and basically everywhere else I went. She was very well known and had her own plate and menu at the pub we used to visit!

While I was Kennel liaison for Greyhound Walks, we would travel miles together, visiting kennels and all those lovely people and hounds.

Every day we would walk, with Mo off the lead and she would hide behind bushes and dash out past me in a burst of speed! She would run in huge circles passing within inches of me, with what I am sure was a huge grin on her face.

Later that year we found out about Greyhound Walks and she became a staunch supporter going to shows, events and even carnival processions!

I hope Mo will always be remembered for her gentleness and sensitivity with children. She would allow them to pat and hug her and of course, walk her. She was always busy giving 'test drives'!

Mo had a beautiful face with very expressive eyes, which really were the windows to her soul. She entered many shows where she either did very well, or got a 'thanks for coming' rosette! I was so proud of her when she won 'Best in show' at the RGOA show in 2009 and again in 2010. Though she never won the only class I really wanted her to - girl with the most expressive eyes!

If you ever need cheering up, just remember Mo's antics whenever the liver cake was brought out! Who says Greyhound can't sit! She would sit there waving her paw around and getting very excited!

Thank you Mo, for your unquestioning love and devotion.

Paul Deeprose

A nightmare on walks – either standing on his back legs baying at the local wildlife, or pulling you over (and his collar off) to run away from any men he met.

Slowly over time, this sharp but scared boy learned to love home life, love and play with small breeds of dog (his best mate being a mini schnauzer ) and to trust men.

One of the very early joiners of Greyhound Walks – he loved to meet with all of his mates: greeting all new dogs like an ambassador, and was very steadying on new or nervous dogs.

When the display team started, Wagger was one of the original team and loved strutting his stuff (so long as the grass wasn’t too cold or wet!) and was not too happy to lie on the sidelines once it was time for his to gracefully retire. He loved going to shows, giving test drives and being cuddled by grown ups and children alike (he even had his own fan club at one local show who came every year just to walk him).

He passed over the bridge in February 2010 aged twelve after a fall from which he could not recover.

We miss our big gentle giant dreadfully - trotting along with Marc and the electric wheelchair, snuggling with the other oldies in the greyhound walks tent and barking every night at 7pm for a tripe stick.

We are very proud of what he did to promote hounds everywhere.

Marc Window & Kris Owen