Lancers History

Position:
DCUK "A Class" FINALS - Runners Up

Music:
Spirit
Meadowlands
Troika
Russian Easter Overture (featuring Great gates of Kiev)

Drum Major(s):
Jason Howard & Helen Riley

The prospect of the 2004 season was looked upon with much anticipation for it was the first time since 1998 that the World Showband Championships were to be staged in the UK and the Corps would have new fresher look!

The programme that had been chosen "Images of Russia" was again to be another evolution and big themed production. It was to be the fist time that the Corps had ever attempted a full classical score show. In keeping with its Russian theme all the pieces were selected by Russian composers, Rimsky Korsakov, lev knipper, pretroikiav and Mussorgsky all composers that had wrote great pieces in different turbulent times of Russia?s history.

As we started to learn the pieces the membership and supporters started to really get into the music for although being classical the choices we had made were accessible and entertaining to both play and listen too.

Things were looking good in terms of membership with the 95% of the Corps looking forward to the new season and with a few new faces and stability across the line the development of the Corps was moving forward considerably across the board. The one area of concern being the frontline which come March was down to the bare bones due to no direct leadership, however with music instructors from other areas chipping together this was built up in time for the new season.

The Corps had set itself up once again to do both DCUK & BYBA circuits and indeed had originally been hosting the BYBA Individuals & Ensembles before the venue was moved up North at the last minute which left a bitter taste in the mouth of our organisation after putting in so much hard work to secure Graham Balfour School for the event. Subsequently at the next Management Meeting a decision was taken to take a year break from the BYBA circuit mainly due to financial reasons and focus totally on DCUK the World Championships and our new uniform all of which was to cost a considerable amount of money to achieve. Corps Director also resigned he position as chair of BYBA Midlands region and his seat on BYBA Council leaving him sitting as a trustee on the DCUK board of directors.

After a lot of hard work grants were received form various sources but significant sums were forthcoming from the ?Award for All? and the ?Local Network Fund? along with donations meant that we could achieve all our aims for the season!

After many meeting the design for the new uniform was chosen and we commissioned a superb uniform maker to produce them and the wonderful Guard outfits reflecting our Russian theme. The uniforms were worn for the first time at the Dress Rehearsal at the end of May and they looked resplendent; absolutely fantastic from top to toe!

The after performing in Stafford Town Centre it was on the road one again up and down the UK opening at the first DCUK comp of the season at Leicester. ?A Class? was much stronger this season indeed eight Corps was to battle it out for the crown and at the first show Lancers had to settle for third place but went on from there to finish Runners Up in all other shows leading up to DCUK Finals behind last years Champions "Phoenix Coventry" who had elected not to go up to Open Class as many had expected!!!

The highlight of the year was always going to be our 5 day stay down at the World Showband Championships in Bournemouth and our bass in Southampton. The main difference between the 1998 Championships and this one is that this one was bigger three day of heat and then a day of Finals as opposed to the one day in 1998. We were in heat three and as we lined up in march-on formation it was time to remember just how proud it was to be representing not only our town but also our County and what it means to be a Lancer, this was our moment here at the 2004 World Championships and we were going to take it!

Nothing could stop us putting on an electrifying performance, right from the opening moments it was clear it was going to be a performance far beyond what the new Stafford Lancers had ever put out a performance that set a new standard on which to measure ourselves.

It was emotional just sat in the stands watching it happen, as our hoards of supporters with all the staff and support team along with the whole of the stand who rose as one to acclaim what they had just witnessed. This feeling could only be topped by those who had just marched that show and indeed as they came off the arena the buzz from each and every member enveloped and overwhelmed all of us! Tears were shed yes but they wear tears of joy, everyone knew they had literally rocked the house and that was all that mattered, a new marker had been set!

The only thing left to do now or so we thought was to go back on the field for retreat and get our score which was an 82.6 and a Silver Medal, then came the cherry on the icing on the cake as they announced the Bands that had made World Finals the words ?Stafford Lancers? echoed round the stadium. Disbelief turned into realisation, realisation turned into ecstasy an ecstasy turned into realisation that we were back to perform again in the Final which we did with another outstanding performance, the whole week had been great even the weather was sunny and fantastic all week and the other performances we did like playing on Bournemouth pier, congratulation to Katakura from Japan who where worthy winners!

Major strides were also set with the 2nd Annual 'Brass Explosion Championships' we record attendance and more Bands the only thing that out a dampener on it was the lousy weather but at least it didn?t rain, we also were proud to secure Royal Bank of Scotland as sponsors for the event! This was the only BYBA show we entered and how different a year is with the Corps taking most Captions and winning the Div Two Class against some stiff opposition.

At DCUK Finals the weather was worst conditions of any Finals we had been to cold wet and windy not great for anyone to put on a perfect show but we rocked the place even so! On the results we new our fate and although we had not managed to win 'A Class Championships' we had finished Runners Up for the second year running with a score of 66.7 points.

This is significant in number of ways: firstly right at the start of the year Dave had said that he believed that this show could top our famous Mack & Mabel show from 2000 and it would be great if we could better our score of season which was a finals score of 66.1 points well guess what guys you did it a new DCUK Lancers high score of 66.7 points!!!!!

Secondly the score of 66.7 is 8.9 points better than our 2003 finals score, which just goes to show how much we are improving year on year.

Plus finally it meant that you would make history by being the first Lancers Corps to perform in DCUK Open Class Finals under the lights which we did just one hour later a fitting end to a fantastic year!

So to 2005 and our Tenth Anniversary, it seems like only yesterday it all began and here we are about to celebrate 10 years of Stafford Lancers!!