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We all like to think that our own Company is unique, and rightly so too, but the 83rd Birmingham really is unique. Why? Because the Company was enrolled at 8.00 pm on the 4th October 1983, exactly 100 years to the minute

after The Boys' Brigade was originally founded at 8.00 pm on the 4th October 1883 by Sir William Alexander Smith in Glasgow, and as far as the records show, no other Boys' Brigade Company was started on that special day

(or time), anywhere in the World.

Unique also, because our location is outside the Birmingham city limits, and we should really be part of the Coventry Battalion, (Solihull does not have a

Battalion). But because Birmingham is much nearer to our Solihull H.Q than Coventry, the Coventry Battalion gave us permission to apply for membership to the Birmingham Battalion.

After this was agreed, we were then asked what Birmingham Company

number we would like to take on. As the Birmingham Company numbers were way up in the high 90's at the time, we thought it very appropriate to choose '100' to represent the exact 100 years difference between the founding of The Boys' Brigade in 1883 and the formation of our Company in 1983. Sadly, the Birmingham Battalion Executive turned down our request, so we reluctantly settled for the number '83', after the 1883 / 1983 dates.

Compared to most other BB Companies, we are still a young Company and relatively small in membership numbers, both with boys and in particular adult staff. But looking back over our short history, we have achieved many things within our Division and Battalion, bearing in mind that Birmingham is the

biggest Battalion in England and Wales. They include boys representing

Birmingham in Athletics, Football, Cross-country and Swimming, taking part in many other events and even winning a few along the way, including; - Art

Competitions, Chess, Craft, Figure-Marching, Indoor Cricket, Hockey (four times), Model Making, the Battalion Squad Drill Competition (twice), "Top of the Form" quiz (three times). And in our classification, the Birmingham Battalion Band Competition (four times). Not to be outdone, our Anchor Boys have won the Divisional 'Potted Sports' on seven separate occasions.

Not bad going for a small and struggling Company - but a Company that is proud to be called the '83rd' Birmingham.

MR A JONES.

COMPANY CAPTAIN