It is true that we follow in the footsteps of others. As we look forward to the Official Opening of the Titford Pumphouse as our Society Headquarters on Saturday, July 13th, we recall that it is only the efforts of society members and other interested parties, particularly the late County Borough of Warley, that there is a building there at all. Without those sterling efforts of over a quater of a century ago, the Oldbury Locks and the local canal infrastructure might well have gone. More recently British Waterways have shown the greatest commitment in their superb restoration of the Pumphouse.

Mike Miles, Rally Chairman at the time of the 1974 Titford Canal Restoration, wrote, in describing the work done by Warley on the Titford Canal, 'an imaginative piece of planning that will add greatly to the leisure and pleasure of its citizens and its visitors.' The same can now be said of BW and its work at the Pumphouse as the building becomes a focus for both the local groups and visiting boaters.

As a guide for newer members of the Society and for visitors to our Opening weekend, included in this issue are some memories of the 1974 Titford Restoration and information about the canal. We are much obliged to Dr. Ian Langford for his maps and the guide from the original Restoration Rally Programme.