The Pacemakers Drum and Bugle Corps

The Pacemakers Drum and Bugle Corps is a Division 2 marching band currently competing in BYBA (British Youth Band Association. The Pacemakers is based in The Temple URC

History

(from The Pacemakers Official Website, see below)

The Band was originally formed in the early 1950's as the 13th Chislehurst and District Boys' Brigade Band, playing Bb bugles.

On April 17 1952, band instructor Ron Eden agreed to commence bugle lessons for the Company members.By July 2 of that year, a drum class had also been started.

On February 8 1953 the Company band made its first appeaance at the monthly Church parade.
December 13 saw the band lead the Boys' Brigade Battalion Church parade.

By the late 1950s and early 1960s the band had grown in numbers and standard, taking part in many local and London District BB Competitions. It was in 1965 that the name of the 13th Bromley Company first appeared, when the Greater London Boroughs changed their names and the old Chislehurst District became the new Bromley Battalion.

Saturday May 11 1968 saw the combined bands of both the 13th Bromley Boys' Brigade and the 1st St Mary Cray Girls' Brigade play together for the first time at the BB London District Display at the Royal Albert Hall.The following year(1969) they were also asked to play again at the Girls' Brigade Annual Rally.

During the summer of 1971 the band entered its very first non-BB competition: "The Kent Band Championships" in Maidstone. This required a completely different concept of drill and music than the corps was used to. To everyone's surprise, however, the band won that first contest.

1975 saw the band take part in the Lord Mayor's Show in the City of London.

In 1977 the band participated in the Queen's Silver Jubilee display in Windsor Great Park and the Queen's Parade in Central London.

Between 1976 and 1980 the band was a regular competitor at the Boys' Brigade National Band Championships, winning the Webb Ivory Trophy for the best Bb band five years in a row.

In the '80s, some major changes were put in place. The traditional Bb bugles were switched for American 'G' valve bugles.

In 1980 the Pacemakers became one of the founding members of DCUK (Drum Corps UK) and to the present date are the only one of the original corps still performing.The first ever DCUK Finals saw the Pacemakers take 6th place.

During this period, the band also became members of BYBA (British Youth Band Association) and still continue that membership at the present date.

In 1990 the Pacemakers returned for the Royal Family's benefit once again, playing a fanfare for HRH, the Queen Mother at the re-opening of the Imperial War Museum in London.

Since 2000 the band has seen an increase in playing members and improving performances. This was demonstrated in promotion to BYBA Division 2, winning the Division 3 finalsand the Boys' Brigade National Championships for the third time, in 2003.

Every year since 2004 the band have performed for the Chelsea pensioners at the Royal Chelsea Hospital, as part of the BB London District Display.

By 2005 the Pacemakers had returned to the BB national Band Championships in Stoke-on-Trent and were competing in Division 2 of BYBA.

In 2007 the Pacemakers undertook some major fund raising, enabling it to refurbish the pit line and purchase a brand new brass line, in Bb once again.

The corps now competes in BYBA Division 2.

ections

"This listing is of 2008"

Horn Line
The current horn line consists of 18 members including 7 sopranoes, 5 mellophones, 4 baritones, 1 euphoniums and 1 contrabasses.

Battery Percussion
The current drum line consists of 2 snare drums, 1 tenor drum and 5 bass drums.

Pit Percussion
The pit has 5 playing members. The instruments in the pit consist of 2 xylophones, 1 marimba, 1 glockenspiel, cymbals, 1 bass drum and gong and a drum kit plus other small percusion instruments.

hows

2008 - Bohemia2009 - TBC

2009 Tour

The shows will be added as they are performed.

The Uniform

The current uniform consists of black shoes and socks followed by black trousers. The jacket is white, with black wavy stripes, and purple waves buttoned over the black. The horn line also wear black gloves, and the percussion and horn line wear gauntlets on the arms.

The headgear is black stetson hats with long purple plumes.

ee also

* British Youth Band Association
* Drum Corps Europe
* Marching Band

External links

* [http://www.thepacemakers.co.uk The Pacemakers Official Website]