“This new book, like history itself, has been a long time in the writing, both for the three authors and the many other important people who dedicated their time and efforts to ensure we can say, 'I was there!' We should all study history not to be clever in another time or place, but to be wise, always. It seems to me that the greatest challenge facing the teachers and communicators of our history is not to teach history itself, nor even the lessons from history, but to convey why history matters so much. Why does it matter? What is so important about events that happened so long ago? The answer is that history is inescapable. It studies the past and the legacies of our collective past into the present and beyond. Far from being a 'dead' subject, it connects things through time and encourages its students to take the long view of such wonderful connections. All people, and indeed all groups, are living histories. To take a few obvious examples: communities speak languages inherited from their ancestors. They, like us, live in modern societies with complex cultures, traditions, and even religions that have not been created on the spur of the moment or even in recent times. People like us use technologies that they have not themselves invented. Understanding the clear links between the past and present is vital for an informed understanding of the condition of being human. That, to me, is why history really matters. It is not just 'useful'; it is essential to us all. Bernard of Chartres in the 12th century said, “We stand on the shoulders of giants.” Never before has that statement rung more true than it does today, as we gain the Royal Charter and see paramedicine coming of age and stepping into its well-earned inheritance.” — Tracy Nicholls, OBE, FCPara, and CEO of The College of Paramedics.