"Why go over the past, it’s gone and that’s that………."

We should know from experience that decisions made in our past affect everything we do today. We are the products of our past. Not that we can’t change or shape the directions we move in. In todays society the Boys’ Brigade has to be ever changing and there are always new challenges ahead. 100 days is a long time these days never mind 100 years, and with so many alternative forms of recreation and entertainment available to boys it has probably never been harder to attract and retain members. This has not been a major problem to "The BB in Birmingham", the largest Battalion in England today.

Their City’s motto and the title of the book - complete with the addition of the exclamation mark - suggests that they can, and indeed should, look FORWARD. They first took the city motto in 1927 and they don’t rest on the past and do indeed look "Forward!". They have just celebrate the centenary of the Battalion, although the first company was started here as early as 1889.

Rob Bolton is an ex-member who came up through the ranks of the 57th Birmingham (Pheasey) Company to become a Lieutenant. His Company in the 1970's was one of Britain's largest, most successful and progressive BB Companies; providing Rob with a unique opportunity to participate in the leadership of a whole range of Brigade activities. Today Rob is an "Associate Member" of the Boys' Brigade and is probably one of, if not the leading, Brigade Historian in the world today - many of the illustrations in this book come from his own private collection. He is also a keen Brigade supporter and as well as his Associate Membership he has in recent years been a questionmaster for the National "Masterteams" Competition and is an active member of both the Stedfast Association and Boys’ Brigade Collectors’ Club.

Co-author Paul Arkinstall is also no newcomer to the BB, with over 40 years service in Birmingham. He joined the 95^th Birmingham in 1963 and has come up through the ranks becoming a "Queen’s Man" and has served as officer and captain within the Battalion. He has a active and keen enthusiasm for the Battalion and is currently Battalion Archivist. He is also a member of the Boys’ Brigade Collectors’ Club, and it was his idea to produce a book to officially put on record the Battalion and celebrate the Birmingham Battalions Centenary.