A Good Idea? - October 1992

A group of people met, to discuss the possibility of starting a new, 'independent' drum & bugle corps in the Staffordshire area. Whilst enthusiasm was very high, the reality of the 'mountain to climb' hit home immediately. We had just over £100, we did not own a single musical instrument, and we had nowhere to even think about holding a rehearsal. However, we did have a list of possible members who had pledged support for a new corps. 

Cutting a long story short, a Management Committee was formed which drafted a constitution, and coordinated the efforts of various friends and parents to find somewhere to base the up-to-now nameless corps. The Orme Community Centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme offered us exceptional facilities, which were snapped up immediately, and the corps has been very happily based there to date.  

         The Orme Centre

A meeting was held with potential members, and a corps of approximately 30 people was recruited. Fortunately many of the horn line owned their own instruments and we were able to beg, borrow and hire the rest of the horns which were needed. The Beechmen (a Birmingham corps which ceased operation in 1989) offered a very good deal on percussion instruments, which were purchased very cheaply, and the corps was able to borrow basic pit equipment.

At a further Staff & Management Meeting there was a battle over 2 possible names for the new corps, The Staffordshire Knights and The Staffordshire Regiment. With the latter being the name of our local armed forces, and the fear of problems if we chose to adopt this name, the corps became Staffordshire Knights Drum & Bugle Corps. To be fair, there was also the slightly more dubious suggestion of The Claymen in reference to the local pottery industry, however, the person who suggested this was promptly taken outside and flogged!

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After much fundraising and many meetings, the corps purchased a set of 3 brand new Pearl FFX snare drums, some pit instruments and colour guard equipment. Many designs for a uniform were considered and in the end the colour 'Rosita' was chosen for the jackets with black trim of the Knight emblem. Black trousers with a silver stripe, black shakos with white plume and black gloves were the end result.

The staff decided to compete in the Open Class of Drum Corps United Kingdom (DCUK) and in June 1993 the corps took to the field of competition for the very first time.

1993 Repertoire      ...(more info)

	Santa Esmerelda
	One More Time Chuck Corea
	Like A Lover

DCUK Open Class - 14th Place

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The Staffordshire Knights continued to compete in the DCUK Open Class and early in 1996 received a sizable grant from the National Lottery. This enabled the corps to replace equipment in all sections, the Horn line purchased Kanstul bugles and the Percussion section refitted en masse with Premier equipment. This was a major step for the corps as it was the first time it had been able to compete with equipment which they had not had to 'beg, steal or borrow'.

SK in 1996   (Photo courtesy of DCUK)

Another major purchase with the grant money was the SK Van which replaced the existing vehicle (nicknamed the Tardis).

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1997 saw the Corps switch organisation to join BYBA in which many enjoyable and successful years were had by all ! The corps made major steps forward and these were rewarded by winning the BYBA Premier League and BYBA Finals for 2 years running in 1998 and 1999. In 2000 they were winners of the BYBA Premier League.

BYBA Premier Class - 4th Place

BYBA Premier League - 4th Place

BYBA Premier Class - Champions

BYBA Premier League - Champions

BYBA Premier Class - Champions

BYBA Premier League - Champions

BYBA Premier Class - 5th Place

BYBA Premier League - Champions

SK take to the field in 2002

 (Photo courtesy of DCUK)

The Staff were faced with a difficult decision at the start of the 2001 season, and decided that - in the corps' best interest - they should take a year out to rebuild. While the brass section acquired a few new members during the closed season, other sections remained depleted. As 2002 arrived, the corps felt that they would commit to a competitive circuit in the hope that the ranks would swell, but this did not happen. The competitive disadvantage of having 50% of the sections missing forced the corps to make the hard decision to withdraw from competition mid-season.

The Years of Uncertainty - 2001 to 2002

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2001

2002 Repertoire      ...(more info)

	American Salute
	Amazing Grace
	Hear Ye, Hear Ye
	Entr'acte & Finale from New World Symphony

The corps competed in DCUK, but because of a lack of Field Percussion and Colour Guard, they had to retire from competition mid-season. It was a sad situation because this was the only time in the corps' history that they could not complete the season.

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2003

2004

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