In his eightieth year, Lord Rowallan has finally completed this autobiography. This is a book both moving and modest. He shares with us his joys and sorrows alike, keeping nothing back, yet never causing us embarrassment. He has inspired many people, especially the young, by his life, his unswerving standards, and his indomitable faith; and this, his testament, will surely do the same.

Born into privilege in Glasgow, Scotland, Lord Rowallan was a prominent figure in the Scottish armed forces. He didn't just inherite wealth from his parents, but a strong social conscience as well. A keen leader of the Scout movement, Rowallan trained his youths on tough but imaginative Boy Scout lines, so that his Battalion became much more than a show piece in history.