The history of geocaching

[Bill D (wwh)]

In a Geocoins thread L8HNB has asked about the history of caching. Rather than hijack that thread I thought it better to start a new thread here.

This page gives the basics: http://geocaching.gpsgames.org/history/

But the question asked is wider than just about how it all began... I'm sure information about the first caches in the UK and Ireland, and how it all came into being and developed in its early days over here, would be of interest too...