notes. The instruments used by the State organization. Playing in the bands and by Steven Hars Trumpeters at numerous state occasions are practice usually took second place to the E-flat . other, and in many respects, primary,

When Steve Vickers first asked m After World War II, there were untold activities of their group. me to write the British section of m numbers of uniformed youth groups The first his monumental tome, I was throughout Great Britain including Scouts, were organized by local town councils during

flattered, eager and, well, full of o Guides, , Sea Cadets, Air Training World War II as part of the government’s enthusiasm. But that was at the o Corps, Boys Brigade, Girls Brigade, Church “spend your holiday at home” program. beginning and the more I thought Lads Brigade, St. John’s Ambulance Brigade Hornchurch contest in Essex was one of the d about this subject, the more d earliest -- probably the first. Legend has it apprehensive I became. the first contest in 1943 was finished during a

I have been involved in g Luftwaffe raid on the nearby Hornchurch marching bands since 1963 as a g Royal Air Force base! mere “nipper” and was in at the There was no governing body for the n start of the British and n bands and all competitions were run corps movement as one of the independently, each with its own set of rules. i founding directors, but I finished i The one thing they had in common is that any major active involvement the majority of their adjudicators were around 1986, although I still get supplied by the British armed forces. K dragged out of “retirement” K The competitions varied from playing

specially composed test pieces, pure occasionally to act as announcer or commentator at local marching and counter-marching and full competitions. marching routines much as we know them (photo by d This chapter will inevitably d RCoityn oDf aN Soitltvinag fhroam tDhreu mco l&le cTtriuomn poef t Corps, 1979 ). today. A major part of all competitions was contain errors and inaccuracies -- Drum Corps World the inspection, where every member of the not too many I hope -- but any and the British Legion (the U.K.’s equivalent band was marked for his or her turnout; “spit e mistakes are all mine, borne out of e of the American Legion or Veterans of and polish” was considered a paramount part ignorance and memory lapse, but Foreign Wars) to name but a few. of the military feel of these units. t not out of intention, malice or bias t All of these organizations were organized The contests of the 1950s and early 1960s i -- honest! i on quasi-military lines, with martial , were dominated by the bands of the national In many respects, the growth of marching and being of great youth groups. Bands such as 13th Coventry British drum and bugle corps over importance to their ceremonies. Scouts, Haberdashers School CCF, King n the past 25 years or so mirrors n Needless to say, all of these organizations Edward VI Grammar School Army Cadets, that of the , but the formed marching bands and most of them Brighouse St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, comprised snare , tenor drums, Greenford Girls Brigade, Romford British U

U , a and either B-flat Legion and several others all took top honors. or E-flat trumpets. Only a tiny During this period, most competitions number of bands possessed any valved were fairly localized events. The Southern instruments. These instruments were bands rarely met those from up North, but obviously chosen for economy and ease of when they did, the Northerners usually instruction. Very few members of the triumphed. This was probably due to the bands could read music. In fact, even instruction received from older members of many of the instructors -- who were, in the famous culture. Another the main, unpaid volunteers -- could read strange fact of the North/South divide was music. Most instruction was done parrot that contests in the North were often held on fashion and taught by ear. a Sunday, unheard of down South. Another factor to be taken into The junior leaders bands of the consideration is that the school system in British forces, such as the Royal Corps of (photo from the collection of BSatesviled oHna Drsr)u. m & Corps, 1963 the does not have a Transport and and the RAF marching band culture as in the United early post-war years may need some States and Canada and music is very much explaining. geared toward full orchestral, if at all. The The first thing to bear in mind is that in exception is in the Northern counties of the United Kingdom, a “bugle” is a very England where our brass bands predominate different animal to that familiar in the United and tuition on brass instruments is freely States. Our standard army bugle is a short, available to any youngster who wants it. valveless, stubby instrument pitched in B-flat, Almost all of the bands styled themselves usually made of brass and copper or silver as a “” or a “drum and alloy. It is comparatively cheap to produce trumpet corps.” All bands were and an easy instrument to play, with a comparatively small; 32 members would be maximum of six notes, but difficult to master. considered a large band (Hornchurch contest They are still used extensively in the actually had a special class for bands over 30 British ; the , -- not many entrants!). A typical line up Havering All-Girl( pChoorptos boyf DRrounm Dsa, 1S9i7lv9a, farot mth eth Ber ictioslhle Yctoiounth o Bf and Greenjackets (light infantry) or Ghurkas are would be: one (with mace), four Championships ). all famous exponents of this instrument. to eight snare drums, two to four Corps World Whereas the British infantry used the drums, two cymbals, one bass drum and up School at Halton, also competed at band B-flat bugle, the cavalry generally used the to 20 bugles/trumpets. contests. These boy soldiers also helped to E-flat trumpet. Again this is valveless in Most did not add bell lyres or push up standards, but by the end of the brass or silver, but is a more elongated and, until the mid- to late-1960s. 1960s, these excellent bands were no longer to my mind, a more elegant instrument The bandsmen (or women) were first and competing. Maybe getting beaten by giving a greater range of around nine playable foremost members of their parent “amateurs” was more than their officers 132 could bear. fantastic and the precision of the drill and The late 1950s and early 1960s percussion were awesome. It’s even more heralded the advent of a new impressive when you realize that, up until phenomenon: independent youth this time, bands generally only practiced bands. There had been independent once or twice a week for a couple of hours bands prior to this (Coventry School of at a time. Music was formed in 1947 and Romford It was around this time that Carter was Royal British Legion Boys Band in introduced to American drum and bugle 1952), but they were few and far corps. Through his contacts with Beatrix between. Essex in southeast England in Holland, he was shown film and played seems to have been the crucible that recordings of . spawned this new idea. (photo by R.W. Harris from the collection of Needless to say, the effect was awe- 2nd Brighton) .Scouts, 1982 Drum Bands that formed around this time Corps World inspiring. Carter was soon able to see DCI were (in chronological order) Romford Drum the more familiar B-flat piston instruments. in the flesh in 1977 at Denver, CO, as the and Trumpet Corps, Hornchurch Drum and Romford favored a full setup guest of DCW Publisher Steve Vickers, and Trumpet Corps, Basildon Drum and Trumpet with three-valved brass instruments as well as after that there was no looking back. Corps, The Haverettes Girls Band and woodwinds. Romford British Legion was one Basildon’s routines were soon taking on a Southwark Corps of Drums, to name but a of the first to equip with fully chromatic distinct American feel, which was picked up few. Most of these were formed by former instruments, including a couple of by many of its contemporaries including servicemen or women (National Service only . Dagenham, Mayflower Corps and more. Until ended in 1963) and had a distinctive military The march of the independents did not see then, the drill routines of almost all bands look; they could easily have been mistaken for the end of the national youth group’s bands; had been totally military in style and almost scaled down Royal Marines or Grenadier many bands just got better. In fact, the whole entirely linear. Guardsmen, except for the Haverettes, of movement was growing at a colossal rate, so Also around this time, many bands much so that by the early 1970s it was adopting the drum corps style were generally felt essential to organize some kind converting their bell lyres to the horizontal of controlling body to encompass all bands. position so both hands could be used. They In 1974, Glen Carter, of the had been carried upright for years and Basildon Drum and Trumpet Corps, marching tuned percussion instruments organized a meeting of as many likeminded were, as yet, unavailable in the U.K. The only and directors that he could alternative was for small orchestral muster at Southwark Cathedral in London. It and to be converted by was conservatively estimated that there were willing handymen. around 2,000 active youth marching bands in In 1977, Carter formed the first British the United Kingdom at that time. color guard, an independent unit called the From that meeting the British Youth Band Gleneagles, allied to the Basildon corps. The Association was born. It was a voluntary first public performance of band and guard organization to include all branches of the was at Lofthouse Road Stadium as pre-match youth marching band fraternity, entertainment for a first division football encompassing contests, training and (soccer) match. Later that year, the guard rules. The growth of marched with the band in a “march past” at Mayflower Girls, Novem(pbheort o2 5b,y 1R9o7n9 ,D aat tShielv aB rfirtoismh Mthae rching Bcoalnledc tCiohna omf pionships ). membership was rapid and to this day, BYBA Buckingham Palace in honor of the Queen’s Drum Corps World can probably still boast the largest Silver Jubilee. course, who were once mistaken for nurses membership of any single youth marching It was in 1977 that Dagenham Corps of by one of our colonial cousins. music association. Member units include all Drums was the first corps-style unit to adopt Many of the earlier independents the previously mentioned organizations, American piston rotor G bugles. Coventry struggled to find adequate instruments. drum and bugle corps, corps of drums, School of Music had already acquired G Peter Richardson and Dick Bouchard, joint military-style bands, showbands, et al. bugles, but never adopted corps style, founders of Romford, scoured army surplus It was in the middle of the 1970s that maintaining a purely traditional military stores, antique and junk shops and even made many bands were looking for new challenges outlook. their own side drum shells. and direction. Many had already converted to Also around this time, bands started going Joe Dennis, founder and bandmaster of full military wind sections and some, such as coed. Most of the top organizations had been Southwark, went to even greater lengths, the Basildon Drum and Trumpet Corps, had single-sex outfits (Basildon and Dagenham reputedly finding a supply of battered E-flat added baritone and alto E-flat instruments to had formerly been boys-only bands; cavalry trumpets in a warehouse, which he their after beneficial exchanges Mayflower and Havering Corps of Drums had had panel beaten and straightened. To this with the MCC Laaren band in Holland. always been all-girl bands). Adding female day, no one is quite sure how he managed to Many others, including Dagenham Corps color guards to erstwhile boys bands seemed purloin war department snare drums and sell of Drums and Mayflower, soon followed. to open the floodgates to the ladies and the them at a profit, but we have our suspicions. These top British bands were playing and girls bands were soon to allow in the chaps. With no other activities to claim their performing better than ever. The Carter’s visit to the United States opened a attention and being able to devote all their coming from the valveless instruments were veritable tidal wave of cross-Atlantic time to their band work, the (photo by R.W. Harris from the collection of exchanges. British bands were soon independents went on to dominate the Dagenham C).rusaders, 1985 Drum employing American corps instructors and contests of this era, vying with each Corps World members, mainly on an unpaid basis, to other for the various competition titles. help polish their shows, and more and Early in the 1960s, some of the more British corps enthusiasts were bands changed over from their crossing the “pond” to visit DCI and Drum traditional non-valved instruments. Corps Associates. Hornchurch Drum and Trumpet Corps Films, records and videos of DCI were even had a short-lived experiment with being copied and circulated like wildfire single piston G bugles before adopting within the embryo drum corps movement 133 in the U.K. Names like Santa Clara British awareness of true drum and bugle unstoppable juggernaut. Of course, it had its Vanguard, Blue Devils and Madison Scouts corps was growing at an amazing rate within critics; many purists were totally against the were becoming commonplace; the only music the youth band world. “Americanization” of the movement and even listened to on a corps bus would be a DCI There was still no truly national marching more were skeptical, but the show went well recording. Every British drum corps fan had band contest, although several styled and truly on the road. a favorite and longed to emulate the themselves “national.” In fact, contests had The next few years saw the corps-style Bridgemen, 27th Lancers or De La Salle been held in such prestigious venues as the bands dominating the contest scene, Oaklands. famous Royal Albert Hall and Alexandria although on some occasions they did suffer at Drum Corps World and Drum Corps the hands of some of our military News had also been discovered and copies adjudicators. Dagenham Crusaders had were passing through untold pairs of mastered their bugles; Basildon Blue Eagles hands with articles being unashamedly took delivery of theirs and so did many other copied for local band newsletters and bands. One of the main problems was the publications. lack of availability of G bugles in the U.K. In 1978, Basildon and the Gleneagles Both Basildon and Dagenham were amalgamated to become the Basildon Blue making use of every contact they had in the Eagles, and Dagenham Corps of Drums United States to help out. The cost of G adopted the title of Dagenham Crusaders, bugles and the accompanying percussion was having already formed their own integral largely prohibitive, so most units bought used color guard. Many of their peers were equipment or had to use a readily available (photo by R.W. Harris from the collection of following suit. The size of the bands was Beech)m. en, 1985 Drum Corps alternative such as the LaFleur range of growing, too. It was becoming common World forward facing B-flat instruments from for the corps-style units to march around Palace, birthplace of the BBC. However, in Boosey & Hawkes. 60-70 members including their guard. 1978 Steve Johnson, organizer of the American instructors were starting to be The march toward total drum corps style Hornchurch/Havering band contest, along imported. Dagenham, Basildon, Mayflower was further advanced in 1978 when Basildon, with promoter Larry Westland, got Dagenham and several other British bands together and created the British Marching Band Championships to be held in London’s Wembley Arena. This was the first contest to truly be considered “national,” and bands from all facets of the marching band scene were included: military style, showbands, valved and valveless, brass and woodwind and, of course, the blossoming American style drum and bugle corps. At this competition, held in November, only one organization owned G bugles -- the Dagenham Crusaders. (photo by R.W. Harris from the collection of (photo by Mike Shayes from the collection of Anchormen, )1. 986 Drum What really marks this Imperi)a. l Knights, 1984 Drum Corps Corps World competition as a milestone in the World attended the World Music Contest in birth of British drum and bugle corps was the and 2nd Brighton, among others, all had Kerkrade, Holland. At this festival, marching entrance of the 73 members of the Basildon their “pet Yanks.” I’m not sure what they bands from all over the globe compete for Blue Eagles to the arena. Whereas thought of our efforts at corps style, but I honors every four years. Dagenham had purchased their new G bugles remember when Alex Saloutos of the Madison The highlight in 1978 was the Largo Band with uniform changes yet to follow, the of Gold from Florida. Until that time, the Blue Eagles marched on sporting brand nearest thing to a drum and bugle corps most new Santa Clara Vanguard-style uniforms of us had seen was the Alberta All-Girls Band in dark blue, light blue and white with on one of their frequent visits to Britain. black slouch hats and white ostrich feather Although Largo was not strictly a drum and plumes. bugle corps, it used corps style and this The sell-out audience went wild; the further opened the eyes of many young effect of such a break in tradition and British corps fledglings. When the Band of being such a closely guarded secret was Gold had a 30-minute program devoted to phenomenal. Interestingly the top three them on British television, an even greater places were taken by corps-style units: 2nd potential audience was achieved. Brighton Scouts, Basildon Blue Eagles and (photo by Mike Shayes from the collection of Mayflower Corps from Billericay. Silver Shadows, Sc).otland The British Marching Band Drum Corps World (photo by Mike Shayes from the collection Championships was also witnessed by Bofl ue Barons, ). , 1985 many American citizens, several corps Drum Corps World having imported American talent to help Scouts came over to help out with Basildon with their progress. The contest was also Blue Eagles color guard, he was shocked to recorded by the camera of Ron Da Silva, a see the girls turning up for rehearsal in high regular contributor to Drum Corps World , heels and skirts. But all that was soon to and his pictures of this event were change. published in that newspaper. In April 1979, Dagenham Crusaders The added impetus of this contest to hosted the first drum-corps-only competition the growth of drum and bugle corps is at a local football ground and called the show incalculable, but it was now an “Drum Corps Britain.” This was an interim 134 Crusaders), Alec Powell (Beechmen), Selwyn Bottomley (Anchormen), Steven Hars (Basildon Blue Eagles), Lindsay Holcroft (Green Lancers), Andy Shaw (Pacemakers), Gill Fairhead (Chelmsford Challengers), Dave Cowstick (2nd Brighton Scouts), Andy Hicks (Mayflower), Keith Mayhew (North West Kent), Robin Bolton (Pheasey Cavaliers), Nigel Greaves (Show Stars) and Ron (photo by R.W. Harris from the collection of Gravesham, )1. 985 Drum Ashton (City of Bristol). Corps World (photo by Keiron J. Trebilcoe from the collection of Johnson was elected as the first Conquest Alliance, )1. 988 show and was judged by a member of each chairman of DCUK and Haworth was Drum Corps World corps’ staff as no judging panel was yet appointed executive director. being recruited and trained for the newly available. The Basildon Blue Eagles won. Initially the corps were playing a wide formed DCUK Judges Association and seven At this stage in our evolution, many corps range of instruments, from full chromatic DCUK regional contests were held in Bristol, were still not equipped with G bugles, but the brass B-flat through E-flat Cavalry trumpets Maidstone, West Ham, Birmingham, Elland, style had been adopted and that was what to G bugles; in fact, the only thing they had Warrington and Chelmsford. And all the mattered. Eventually all these units would be in common was a color guard. All member while, membership was growing. the proud owners of G bugles, so from now corps had, however, committed to converting The 1981 DCUK Championships were on they will be referred to as “corps” or to G bugles by 1985. once again held at “drum and bugle corps.” On September 27, 1980, the first Alexander Stadium The British Youth Band Association was DCUK Championship was held at where there were 20 doing a splendid job for the marching music the Alexander Stadium, Perry Barr, corps in prelim fraternity in Birmingham in England’s competition, including general, but the heartland. Thirteen corps Mayflower B, drum and bugle competed at this inaugural event, Gravesham, Cavaliers, corps movement including the Anchormen, Pacemakers, Dagenham was, to some Basildon Blue Eagles, Basildon Crusaders, Purple extent, being Blue Eagles B, Beechmen, Phantoms, Trojans, penalized by the Chelmsford Challengers, City of Crawley Vanguard, military style of Bristol, Dagenham Crusaders, Troopers, North West judging at Green Lancers, Mayflower, North Kent, Silver Shadows, contests West Kent, Pacemakers, Pheasey 2nd Brighton Scouts, catering to all Cavaliers and the Showstars, with Show Stars, types of band and eight going through to the finals. Anchormen, Basildon (photo by R.W. Harris corps. The corps The judging was based on the fNroomrth tehren cSokllyercidtieorns ,o 1f 985 ). Blue Eagles, Mayflower were also having DCI “blue book” and, as no Drum Corps World A, Green Lancers, an undue judging organization as yet existed, the Brighouse Royal British Legion, Beechmen influence on the adjudication was carried out by imported and Chelmsford Challengers. Incidentally, movement as a experts from Holland and the United States the Silver Shadows from Glasgow was the whole. And as well as our own emerging team. first Scottish drum and bugle corps and the anyway, the The judging team included: marching first to compete at the DCUK Championships. drum and bugle and maneuvering -- Leo Schaeffer, Paul The judging panel was once again an (photo by R.W. Harris corps craze was Nfroomrth twhe sct oKllencti,o 1n9 o8f5 ). Rawlinson and Paul Litteau; percussion -- international affair with our own judges and gaining such Drum Corps World Franz Weland, Mervyn Murray and Jim imports from the United States and Holland. momentum that many corps directors wanted Mallen; and brass -- Lee Packham, Paul Of the 20 corps in prelims, eight went to be able to compete against “like for like” Wilkinson, Eddie Hendle and Ian Lyall. through to finals (prelims and finals were and felt it was time for their own The results were: first, Dagenham held on the same day, finals being under organization, competitions, rules and judges. Crusaders (68.25); second, Basildon Blue floodlights in the evening). The results were: In January 1980, John Johnson of the Eagles (67.35); third, Mayflower (63.95); Show Stars (35.25), Anchormen (66.75), Dagenham Crusaders, Alec Powell of the fourth, Green Lancers (61.20); fifth, Mayflower A (67.65), Gravesham (67.80), Beechmen and Trevor Haworth called the Anchormen (59.25); sixth, Pacemakers Basildon Blue Eagles (69.85), Green Lancers directors of 12 British drum and bugle corps (55.25); seventh, Show Stars; and eighth, (73.30), 2nd Brighton Scouts (76.90) and to a meeting at a school in West Bromwich, Pheasey Cavaliers (51.90). champions for the second year running, near Birmingham in the Midlands, to discuss The 1981 season was hectic. Senior Dagenham Crusaders (79.65). topics of mutual concern -- a plan that I instructors and former corps members were There were similarities to the names of believe was hatched earlier at DCI in Atlanta. (photo by R.W. Harris from the collection of ). American corps, because until the That meeting witnessed the birth of Drum Purple Phantoms, 1985 Drum Corps World advent of drum and bugle corps, Corps United Kingdom. most units just carried their town The directors originally wanted to ally the name and description (i.e. association to DCI and call the organization Dagenham Corps of Drums). Drum Corps International UK. Needless to Now, everyone wanted a more say, DCI was less than enthusiastic about this dynamic and glamorous title. idea, so DCUK it was. Music was also being imitated DCUK also set up its own winter guard and copied. Old American circuit, which proved very popular with corps were being bought members during the winter months. This, or outright plagiarized by the however, is outside the scope of this history. British corps; anything Garfield The founding member corps and directors Cadets could do we could do -- of DCUK were John Johnson (Dagenham well, nearly. 135 spanning the country from Sussex in the South to Glasgow in Scotland, and from Essex in the East to Bristol in the West. The DCUK Championships had quickly (photo by Mike Shayes from the collection of ). outgrown Alexander Cavaliers, 1984 Drum Corps World Stadium and on September 25, 1982, the persists to this day; however, the lessons third British Drum Corps Finals were held at learned and experiences gained were and are West Bromwich Albion Football Club (The invaluable. Hawthorns) in West Bromwich, which was to The 1983 season was one of the most be the home of the contest for the next exciting in British drum corps history. Not (photo by Mike Shayes from the collection of Masquerade, 1985) . couple of years. only did we now have 38 member corps and a Drum Corps World This was also the first DCUK event that contest circuit of 10 regional contests, but And uniforms! I’ve already mentioned the had a totally home grown judging team on Dagenham Crusaders were going to be the Blue Eagles’ Santa Clara-style outfits, and the field. Many of them had been first British drum and bugle corps to tour the Dagenham Crusaders had opted for an United States and compete at DCI World elegant -style uniform reminiscent of Championships. British officers mess dress in black with red John Johnson, director of Dagenham, had facings and black with white plumes. visited the States a couple of times to set up And the Beechmen from Birmingham, his trip. Their grueling two-week tour West Midlands? Well, Powell’s covered 4,000 miles and 14 states and predominantly black encompassed many contests where their corps had gone Beatles-based show was extremely well- completely “bananas” received by American fans. by copying the The Crusaders encountered many Bridgemen’s long unforeseen problems during their trip, not yellow coats including the least of which was the great distance they the black floppy hats. had to travel -- we Brits just have no For many of us, our conception of what a vast country America is (photo by Mike Shayes from the first contact with a real 3cordll eGcltaiosng owf Boys Brigade, 198)6. -- but adversity was overcome with typical American drum and Drum Corps World British fortitude; the Dunkirk spirit lives on. bugle corps came in adjudicating for some time and the crew at Dagenham Crusaders placed 34th in open 1982. Boston this contest, headed by judges chairman class, just nine places from DCI associate Crusaders were invited Eddie Hendle, had many years of instruction member status. to perform at the and judging experience between them. As if that was not exciting enough, International Festival Twenty corps competed in prelims and, as Haworth had contacted Channel 4 National of Marching Bands in in previous years, eight went through to the (photo from London in July. They floodlit evening finals. The placings for this tShuen crioslelersc,t io1n9 9o7 f ). Drum Corps were hosted primarily year were once again Dagenham Crusaders World by Mayflower Corps of (86.05) in first place, followed by 2nd Billericay and Basildon Blue Eagles, both Brighton Scouts (84.65), Green Lancers towns being just a few miles apart and 25 (81.75) Anchormen (73.76), Beechmen miles from the capital. (73.30), Gravesham (71.85), Northern While in the U.K., the Crusaders gave Skyriders (71.60) and Mayflower (70.10). several exhibitions and helped with All this while, piston rotor and two-valve instruction at Basildon and Mayflower, among G bugles were finding their way across the others, and made contacts that were to last pond by fair means or foul, and tuned percussion instruments were also being imported. Most corps at this stage imported directly from the United States, many setting (photo by Mike Shayes from up their own little import agencies, a Bthreig choolulescet ioRno yoaf l British Legion, 198).6 veritable self-help cottage industry. Drum Corps World One problem the movement was Television -- in fact, he virtually hijacked experiencing was lack of instructors and them from BMBC -- and negotiated for them senior members in late July and August. to film a series of seven one-hour programs There was a exodus of marching featuring an overview program, regional members across the Atlantic to visit drum contests, Drum Corps Holland, Dagenham’s corps shows and DCI, some (photo from the collection of tour of the States, DCUK Finals even getting to march for a Squires, 1990 ). and DCI. few weeks with an Drum Corps World The programs proved American corps. This extremely popular, especially (photo by R.W. Harris from the collection of Show Stars, )1. 985 Drum effectively created a closed with drum corps fans. The Corps World season in Britain during main “bug bear” with the many years. these months as no British corps members is that Thirteen regional DCUK-sanctioned contests could be staged the production contests had now found their way onto a very when corps were missing insisted on calling the series busy calendar and membership was growing their most experienced “Bands of Gold.” They felt faster than ever. We now had 33 member members. “drum and bugle corps” corps, not including cadet or B corps, This is a situation that conveyed little or nothing to the 136 British audience, probably with some realized there was of the situation and justification. buck or two to be any controls appear The program was hosted by Northern made. to be have been Comedian Tony Capstick and co-hosted by The summer of half-hearted and yours truly as technical advisor. 1984 saw 40 corps ineffectual. The It was a shame that, after swingeing in membership, all problem persists to budget cuts, Channel 4 could not repeat this sporting G bugles, this day and can exercise. one year ahead of only be solved The 1983 DCUK Championships were schedule. There when there is a real once again held at West Bromwich Albion’s was a regional will to do so. football stadium and 23 corps from across the circuit of 18 Corps (photo by R.W. Harris from the collection of United Kingdom were filmed competing in shows, but, alas, Green) . Lancers, 1986 Drum Corps membership of prelims. As in previous years, the highest no TV coverage. World DCUK seems to scoring eight went The DCUK Championships were moved on have peaked in 1984; never again were we to through to finals. September 22 to another football stadium, reach 40 member corps. One of the reasons This time we had the Molyneux ground in Wolverhampton, has been listed as intensity of competition a new national home of Wolverhampton Wanderers football leading to burn out by marching members champion. The (yes, I really mean and another that Green Lancers soccer!) team. the “winning at any from Warrington, The finalists on cost” syndrome had Cheshire (85.65) this occasion were taken a lot of the had wrested the Imperial Knights fun out of crown from (83.1), Dagenham corpsdom. Dagenham Crusaders (82.7), We also started Crusaders (85.42), Green Lancers to see corps who came second. (82.4), Blue folding, merging Imperial Knights Barons (79.1), and amalgamating. (76.05) were third; Basildon Blue But whatever the Blue Barons Eagles (76.6), causes of the (photo by (71.95), fourth; Silver Shadows decline in the RSo.Wm.e Hrfaorrdis S foroumnd t,h 1e9 c8o5l lection of ). Anchormen (70.3), Beechmen number of British Drum Corps World (photo by R.W. Harris from the collection of (70.70), fifth; (68.9) and Blue S).tars, 1985 Drum Corps corps, Northern Skyriders (67.70) sixth; Silver Mayflower (67.8). World performances were Shadows (66.80) seventh; and in eighth place One thing generally considered improving by leaps and bounds. was Brighouse Royal British Legion (64.15). detrimental to the British corps activity, and A new class of competition was started in Thanks to the TV recording, DCUK was copied virtually wholesale from the United 1985. The A class was intended to encourage able to produce its first record of the finals States, was movement of members between new and smaller corps and avoid them being and a long playing album of the top four corps. This had overawed by the big corps went on sale at £3.50 including been happening boys. I should postage. since virtually the point out at this Interestingly, the Imperial Knights were beginning of stage that I don’t formed from the famous 2nd Brighton Scouts DCUK and is believe any corps in who had broken away from the Scout something that the U.K. marched movement and become totally independent. very rarely anywhere near the In fact, many corps had already broken from happened 128 allowed by DCI. their parent organizations. previously. It was One or two got over The Anchormen were formerly a Boys very difficult, the 100 mark, but Brigade band. One of the reasons for going it especially for the around 60-70 was alone was the stringent rules enforced by smaller corps, more the norm for some of the national youth groups regarding when a senior the bigger corps. uniforms, but each corps may obviously have member who may The 1985 (photo by R.W. Harris from the collection of had other criteria. have been with Thurrock Marching) .Brass, 1985 championships Rule changes in the United States were that corps for Drum Corps World were held at, yes, also adopted in several years decamped for a larger, more you’ve guessed it, another football stadium. the U.K. and 1983 successful unit just to get a finals or winners The venue was Sheffield United’s ground in saw some corps patch. Sheffield, Yorkshire. using the pit for Also town loyalty was undermined and it Blue Barons from Glasgow were the first the first time. It was well nigh and only Scottish was normal for impossible for a corps to take the the U.K. just to corps to perform DCUK title with an copy DCI, but in out of the DCUK impressive score of one respect we season. 93.1. No doubt were way ahead of Periodic many a wee dram America: DCUK attempts have was supped that had already been made to night. (photo approved the use control this Another first bCyh eRlm.Ws.f oHrda rCrish afrlolemng tehres ,c o1l9le8c5t ion of ). of three-valve G problem, but, to occurred at finals Drum Corps World bugles, which be honest, the in 1986 when were proving immensely popular. more successful Conquest Alliance Several British instrument dealers had corps were happy (photo by Roy Leamon from the collection of from Yorkshire tied “cottoned on” to this growing market and to take advantage Caledonian Regime). nt, 1994 for first place with Drum Corps World 137 Dagenham Crusaders corps, but also the judges and there was from Essex (82.4). This no way the United Kingdom could certainly put an end to sustain two rival organizations for long, the so-called North/South but 1988 did see two separate drum divide. corps circuits operating in almost direct This was a very competition to one another. Both were difficult period for British competing for the same fans and, in drum and bugle corps. many cases, the same judges. There was much But in many ways, the factional dissatisfaction problems aside, 1988 was a vintage year. throughout the The Basildon Blue Eagles toured the movement, especially in (photo by Paul United States and competed at DCI in BWlaecsktf aKlln firgohmts ,t h1e9 9c6o llection of the upper echelons. As ). Drum Kansas City with a show set around usual, it was politics and Corps World Lionel Bart’s “Oliver.” Dagenham personalities that were to throw a Crusaders also toured the U.S. that spanner in the works. Many of the year under the pseudonym of the aforementioned problems were British Crusaders. Both corps coming to a head and storm clouds were extremely well-received and a were brewing. lot of lessons had been learned The winter of 1987 saw a split in since Dagenham’s last trip to DCI. the movement and 13 corps broke But the Atlantic takes two-way away from DCUK to form a rival traffic and in 1988, British corps organization, the British Drum fans were to get the treat of their Corps Federation. The reasons were lives. None other than the mighty manifold, but the following quote Madison Scouts toured Europe and from Peter Friend (former treasurer co-sponsored two shows in the of DCUK), one of the founders of the U.K., one in Birmingham and one federation, goes part way to explain in Luton. Not only did the British it: “There is no purpose dwelling on fans respond wildly to the Scouts, how and why the federation came but the Scouts also obviously into being. It is sufficient to say profited from the experience. That there was a desire among corps to (6pth oHtoo vbey SPcaouul tWs, e1s9tf9a8 ll from was the year they won DCI! the collection of bring a sense of enjoyment back into ). Drum Corps The 1988 DCUK the activity. The number of young World Championships, held people taking part in drum corps has fallen on September 24 in the last five years. One of the main again in West reasons for this decline must be the Bromwich, was won intensity of competition. The activity has, by Southern Knights perhaps, lost sight of its prime aim, which (92.55), with is to develop well-balanced young people Dagenham Crusaders with a sense of discipline and direction. We (91.95) runners up want to bring back the element of fun to and Basildon Blue drum corps.” Eagles (89.1) third. The British Drum Corps Federation ran This contest was to be its own championship, held in Leicester at Dagenham Crusaders’ the Cyclodrome on September 19, and the “swan song”; sadly, results were as follows: Concord (90.8), later that year they Beacon Sunrisers (86.9), Poynton folded. Commodores (72.1), Blue Stars (71.5), The Federation’s (photo Mayflower (70.0), Free Spirit (65.2), bPyo yPnatounl W Ceosmtfmalol dfrormes t,h 1e9 c9o8l lection of championship was Couriers (53.2), Phantasy Force (50.9), ). held October 1 at Anchormen (47.5), Drum Corps World Oldham Athletic Pride of Bristol Football ground and (46.9), Mirfield was won by 3rd (46.2) and Glasgow BB (91.2). Tornadoes (34.1). Second was Beacon The DCUK Sunrisers (85.0) and Championships third was Free were once again Spirit (97.4). back at The Fortunately, the Hawthorns, home of madness of (Top to bottom) (photo by Keiron J. Trebilcoe); 1987-1988 was Concord, 1(9p8h9o to by Keiron J. Trebilcoe); West Bromwich (photo from the collection of ). West Coast Cad(eptsh,o 1to9 9b0y Paul Westfall); (photo by Albion FC. The Cadence, 1997 Drum Corps World resolved and the SPtaautel Wsidees,t f1a9ll)9;8 (photo by PaGuhl Woset,s 1tf9a9ll)8; (pEhontcoo brey, A1l9a9n8 H owells, all photos from thPe ride of results for the finals in 1987 (and this is the two organizations got back together under Bcorilsletoclt,i o1n9 9o3f ). last time I will list them completely) were the auspices of DCUK. Many lessons had Drum Corps World Conquest Alliance (88.3), Dagenham been learned, hatchets were buried and the Crusaders (87.0), Valley Sound (81.3), only way was forward. Basildon Blue Eagles (81.2), Silver Shadows The main route of British drum and bugle (80.9), Warrington (78.1), Blue Barons (77.4) corps now follows that of the United States. and Beechmen (74.3). The corps virtually adopted anything that was Unfortunately, the rift not only split the advocated, the rules and judging system are 138 similar and the instrumentation is precisely the same. The subsequent years of DCUK were dominated by the Basildon Blue Eagles, who won every finals from 1989 (when they achieved the highest score (Left to right) (photo by Keiron J. Trebilcoe); (photo by www.drumcorpsphotos.com/Paul Westfall); ever recorded at a DCUK Final of 94.85), Statesmen(p, h1o9t8o9 b y www.drumcorpsphotos.com/PMaaugl iWc, e2s0t0fa2ll ); (photo by through 1996 except in 1993 when the wSowuwth.derrunm Acuorroprsap, h2o0t0o2s. com/Paul Westfall, all photos from the collection of Northern Star, 20).02 Senators from Eastleigh, Hampshire, took the Drum Corps World crown from them. forged here, in Europe and the United States, corps, whose parents have long aged out or Once again burn out comes into play as have been paramount to a significant number moved on. the Blue Eagles, arguably the most successful and led to lifelong friendships. The The numbers may be down, but witness British corps to date, folded in 1997. opportunity for travel has been opened up to the number of Web sites dedicated to drum The corps that won DCUK Finals untold numbers of young people. Inter-corps and bugle corps and the number of alumni or thereafter were 1997 Senators, 1998 romances and marriages have become reunion corps springing up. There’s life in Sunrisers, 1999 Cadence, 2000 Senators, frequent, and we are now seeing the second the old dog yet! 2001 Senators and 2002 Southern Aurora. generation of children performing in drum In my humble way, I hope you have found It’s unfortunate that I don’t have space to this chapter of interest. If I’m inaccurate list every corps to have existed in the United or incorrect in any matter, please let the Kingdom, but the total number to have publisher know and we will try to marched at least one season is 165. improve our efforts for the reprint that is Admittedly, some of these were junior or bound to be needed. cadet corps and some are the result of I must, at this stage, acknowledge the mergers, but it is sad to say that of the 12 help and advice of several people, each corps competing at the first DCUK Finals in far more knowledgeable in their 1980, only three or possibly four are still in particular era than me. They are the existence. Friend brothers, Peter and Keith; Trevor The important thing is that untold Haworth; Richard Adam; Pauline thousands of young people have gained Scanlan; Steve Vickers (who was the only knowledge of music and marching hitherto person able to furnish me with 1982 unavailable to them, and the standard of results); and my wife Gillian for her professionalism achieved by some is amazing. patience over the past few weeks with The (photo by www.drumcorpsphotos.com/Paul Westfall my frustrations and general bonds Tfrohme Fthrees chomllenc,t io2n0 0o2f ). grouchiness. Drum Corps World (Clockwise from below) (photo by Tony Gore); (photo by PSatauflf oWrdesshtifraell )K; nights, 1994 (photo Kbyid Ksgeriroovn e Steve Hars was born in JS.c Toruetbs,il c1o9e9)8; (photo by BPaasuilld Wone sBtfluaell) ,E aalgl lpehso, t1o9s8 f9ro m the collection Basildon, Essex, England, in of Senator)s. , 1995 Drum Corps World 1952, the year of the Queen’s accession. He joined the Basildon Drum & Trumpet Corps in 1963 as a wee recruit and stayed with them after aging out in 1974, first as an instructor and then as . When founder Glen Carter left to work in Kuwait in 1978, he took over as director of Basildon Blue Eagles, a position he held until 1982. During this period he was a founding member of DCUK. In 1982, DCUK appointed him publicity , a function that also coralled him into co-hosting Channel 4 TV’s “Bands of Gold” series. He retired from active participation in DCUK around 1986, but occasionally grabs the microphone at local contests as announcer. Hars works in London in the reprographics industry, still lives in Basildon and has been married to Gill (her younger brothers marched in the corps) for 29 years. They have two daughters, Emily and Verity. 139