IT started as an idea to help discipline some boys in a Sunday School class, but 125 years later the Boys' Brigade is still going strong.

IT started as an idea to help discipline some boys in a Sunday School class, but 125 years later the Boys' Brigade is still going strong.

The organisation, founded by William Smith, is the oldest uniformed children's group in the world ... and it all began in Glasgow.

Smith was a teacher in the North Woodside Mission Sunday School. The boys in his class were a bit of a handful and he asked others if they had any ideas to help him keep control of them.

He was a lieutenant in the 1st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers and someone remarked a bit of his 'Army discipline' might be what was needed. That gave Smith, later to become Sir William, the inspiration to start the Boys' Brigade.

That group in the North Woodside Mission Halls became the 1st Glasgow Company, and today there are companies and battalions all over Britain and as far afield as Malaysia, Nigeria and South Africa.

As well as camping and working towards their Queen's Award - the organisation's highest award - members today are involved in a wide variety of activities, from snowboarding in the Highlands, swimming in the Mediterranean, and playing football, to helping numerous charity projects.

The organisation still has a Christian heart - its motto Sure And Steadfast comes from the Bible - but the BB attracts people from all faiths, places, schools and backgrounds.

In Glasgow, more than 4000 boys and teenagers swell the ranks of its companies, and in its celebration year the organisation wants to attract more.

During 2008 there will be parties, marches and events across the world to celebrate its 125th birthday.

To mark the occasion, the Evening Times has created this celebratory pull-out, available as a PDF download, including photographs of dozens of companies.

You will also find contact details on the back page for the organisation, where your nearest company is and where and when they meet.

See below for a selection of Boys' Brigade images from our archives