Dave Rogers BEM

About the man | In memory

Dave Roger BEM

Dave Rogers was the highly acclaimed bandmaster of the Bristol Unicorns Youth Marching Band from its very foundation in January 1979 until the day it finally ran its course in 1991. In that time Dave far exceeded his dream of creating a British Championship winning band. During its twelve-years in existence the Bristol Unicorns won four British Championship titles, two European titles and a World Showband Championship title, making it the most successful organisation of it's kind in the history of the British Marching Band movement. Even to this day no other band/corps has achieved as much.

The road to success was never easy and Dave often conceded that he could not have done it alone. From the beginning he was able to call upon his brother Keith to help establish the band and relied on the promotional skills of Tony and Pam Fuller before Dave and Judy Fear took on the responsibility. He acknowledged the hard work put in by the band members, instructors and supporters, recognising their dedication and commitment was "almost" equal to his own! Perhaps most importantly for him though, he knew he could count on the unconditional support and encouragement of his wife Bet.

Dave was a fighter. He battled against serious illness and won. Such was the magnitude of the man. This same dogged determination of his was expressed through the band and was never more prevalent than in the early years when he was striving to achieve his ultimate aim. He encountered many setbacks on the way, but never appeared daunted or phased by any of them. In fact, these obstacles made him even more resolute. Even in the band's final year of competition in 1990 when the odds were stacked against us from the start of the season, Dave maintained his enthusiasm.

Dave has undoubtedly had a profound influence on the direction many of our lives have taken. His high standard of discipline, dedication & overwhelming desire to succeed has been embedded into us all. Without even realising it, we have probably used these attributes in our everyday lives at one time or other.

As members, supporters and associates of the Bristol Unicorns we should all feel extremely proud of everything we achieved over the years. It is a legendary organisation recognised worldwide for its professionalism and unrivalled successes.

We will all take away some fantastic memories from our experiences with the band and these experiences are all part of the legacy Dave Rogers has left for us. He was a truly great man.