Introduction

We were all, at one time or other, questioned and perhaps even criticised by friends outside of the movement for the amount of time we dedicated to the Bristol Unicorns. "Can't you miss it, just this once?" they'd ask as they told us how great it would be to go and see Rovers thrash City! To many people our age it must have seemed a sad way to spend our spare time. They couldn't imagine getting up at 6am on a Saturday or Sunday for an all day rehearsal at Colerne, only to be shouted and bawled at if things didn't quite go as expected. It must have seemed really masochistic to go back for more every Tuesday and Thursday evening!
These people however, would later see the obvious benefits of belonging to an organisation such as this. With the hours of hard work and commitment came the rewards of travel, championship titles and consequently all the accolades and publicity. No one could ever say it was handed to us on a plate, because we all, members and supporters alike, had to make sacrifices to achieve the successes we did.


The thing about the Unicorns was that it didn't matter where you came from or what your background was, everyone was welcome. Whether you were from the council estates or the more salubrious areas of Bristol, it didn't matter. No one was discriminated against so long as you were able to commit yourself, and perhaps most importantly, enjoyed what you were doing. As soon as any of that was lost, you knew it was time to leave. Speaking with past members and supporters, they remember their time with the band with great fondness, and they've all got a tale or two to tell.
One of the many unique factors separating the Unicorns from similar associations was that our year wasn't dedicated solely to rehearsing a fifteen minute championship show. Evidently this meant that we were able to spend more time rehearsing and performing full concerts and parades, thus maintaining the band's versatility and interest in music.
Being associated with the band was a release from the everyday monotony of school or work, and for some it was a welcome break from home life. I am truly grateful to the Bristol Unicorns for the time I spent away from home and to the friends and families that helped me in whatever way they could. They all know who they are, and it is to these people, some of whom are sadly no longer with us, I am eternally indebted to. Without them I have absolutely no idea where I would be now. They have taught me the true value of friendship, and whilst I appreciate that my personal circumstances were by no means unique, it would be wrong of me not to thank them for their continuous support back then.
It was often said that belonging to the Unicorns was like being part of an extended family, and no matter how much of a cliché that sounds even now, for some of us it was "family". It is because of these people that I feel no sense of shame or embarrassment when I say that I am extremely proud and privileged to have been a member of the Bristol Unicorns.


I first hit upon the idea of writing this memoir come historical diary during the bands summer break of 1990, when sadly I realised this would be our final competitive season, unless someone suitable came forward to take over from Dave. After over 10 highly successful years as bandmaster of the Bristol Unicorns, and 22 years on the marching band scene, he decided to retire and concentrate on the dance band and concert band. Realistically we all knew that under new leadership it would be impossible to emulate the past achievements of the Unicorns, mainly because many of us felt that we wouldn't be able to show the same level of commitment to anyone else, and questions were asked about whether any new bandmaster would show us the dedication Dave had.
I started this work by writing down a list of all the band had accomplished over the years, including the championship titles, the trips overseas and other memorable events. I soon realised that a couple of sheets of A4 paper could never do justice to all we had achieved.
The end result was finally completed without anyone ever reading it, because I left Bristol in 1991 to join the Royal Marines Band Service at Deal in Kent. It was here that I somehow lost my final copy along with some fantastic photos accompanying each year and major event. However, I still had the original handwritten, notes and when I was informed that plans were underway for a reunion in April 2003, I brushed off the cobwebs and revised most of the information I'd recorded over 12 years ago! Regrettably, I don't have the same photographs as before, but with the help of others I've been able to delve deep into their archives, and subsequently retrieved some more. I soon discovered that these people were every bit as passionate as me about their time with the Unicorns as they told me some of their own fantastic stories. I realised then just how big a part the band played in their lives. It has been great catching up with some of the familiar faces and voices of ex-Unicorns and reliving some of the wonder years, but perhaps the thing that will stick in my mind most when I've researched into this book are the recent conversations I have had with both Dave Rogers and Tony Fuller. Even to this day, they tell their stories of years gone by with great enthusiasm, so much so that it is evident their love and pride for the Bristol Unicorns and all its members still lives on.
Unfortunately I didn't join the band until the summer of 1982, so I've had to enlist the help of various people and past magazines to explore those dates prior to my joining. I am obviously disappointed that I wasn't able to cover in more detail the events from 1979 to 1982, but those of you who were members of the band during those dates no doubt have memories of your own and I couldn't possibly have tried to relive those years without risking some of the details being inaccurate.
Finally, when I first set about writing this account I was determined not to turn it in to a "personal" diary, although admittedly it has been difficult not to reflect on some of my own experiences and thoughts. I have included a few of these, but my overall intention remained, and I have tried as far as possible to stick to the facts. My sincere hope is that all those involved with the Bristol Unicorns may use this work to jog some wonderful memories of their own.
ENJOY!
Karl Colman