History

In the beginning.....

1973 saw the start of a marching military band called Thurrock Drum and Trumpet Corps formed in Thurrock, Essex...

The band quickly established themselves as front-runners in the marching band world taking top honours at national championships in all classes from 1974 to 1979. In 1980 the band changed format slightly to become an American marching band and changed their name to the Thurrock Marching Brass.  Swelling in numbers the band constantly marched over 100 members and won three British Marching Band titles in 1980, 1981 and 1983. 1984 saw another change in style; Thurrock Marching Brass became a Drum and Bugle corps and entered DCUK for the first time.   Again marching in excess of 100 members the corps was regular finalist until 1988 when the corps decided to close it's doors and wrap up the Drum and Bugle corps.

 

 1981

Director, Dave Loader
Staff, Tim Buckly, Martin Buckly
Guard Captain, Vanessa Cox

 Thurrock Troopers was the name of TMB's colourguard in competition in DCUK's winterguard circuit.

The guard finished in 15^th place at Open Class Prelims Bach's toccata and the bottle dance.

1985

Director, Eddie Hendle

Staff, Tim Buckly, Martin Buckly & Carolo Halsey

Giard Captain,

 Vouge was the name of the TMB colourguard this year, narrowly missing out on finals whilst performing to Prelude to act III, Lohengrin and the Theme from the champions

 1989

Thurrock Marching Brass Colourguard
Director, John Sharman
Staff, Ken Mansfield, John Sharman & Alan Mathaie
Guard Captain, John Sharman

 1989 saw the colourguard continue on their own now that the corps had been folded.  Performing to petshop boy's and Frankie goes to Hollywood's music The guard entered DCUK winterguard circuit finishing in 3^rd place at the Open class championships in Aston Villa.

1990

Thurrock Academy
Director, John Sharman
Staff, Ken Mansfield, John Sharman
Guard Captain, Hazel Carter

 1990 saw the guards name change to Thurrock Academy, the guard not only competed on the DCUK circuit but also travelled to Buffalo, USA to compete at the world championships.  Performing to music by Madonna and from the film Top Gun.  The guard finished 5^th  in Open class at the British Championships and 34^th in A class at the World Championships.

 1991

Thurrock Academy
Director, John Sharman
Staff, Ken Mansfield and John Sharman
Guard Captain, Hazel Carter

 Gershwin was the title of the 1991 performance, performing to Gershwin's suite in F major the guard finish 7^th this year in Open class at the British Championship finals.

 1992

Thurrock Academy
Director, John Sharman
Staff, Ken Mansfield, John Sharman
Guard Captain, Darren Monksfield

 The four seasons was the title of the performance for 1992, using 4 completely contrasting pieces of music to portray the season from spring through to winter.  This year the guard finished in 5^th place in Open Class at the British Championships.

 1993

Thurrock Academy
Director, John Sharman
Staff, Ken Mansfield, John Sharman, Hazel Carter
Guard Captain, Darren Monksfield

 Enya's music was used this year for a performance that finished in 4^th place in Open Class at the Britsh Championships,

 1994

Thurrock Academy
Director, John Sharman
Staff, Ken Mansfield, John Sharman, Vicky Lawrence and Karen Thompson
Guard Captain, Darren Monksfield

 Dina Carol's music was used in 1993 to help the guard perform a show about the life of models on the catwalk, the guard finished 2^nd this year in  the closest finish, just 0.2, to date from the very first year of Winterguard in 1980. 1994 saw the guard win the Irish International Championship in Dublin. No

 1995

Thurrock Aacdemy
Director, John Sharman
Staff, Ken Mansfield, John Sharman, Vicky Lawrence, Trudy Lawrence and Karen Thompson.
Guard Captain, Darren Monksfield

 A 5^th place finish in Open class at the British Championships was gained in this year, using the music of George Michael. The guard also retained the Irish International Championships in Dublin.

 1996

Thurrock Academy
Director, John Sharman
Staff, Ken Mansfield, John Sharman, Vicky Lawrence, Trudy Lawrence and Karen Thompson.
Guard Captain, Darren Monksfield

 Kiss from a rose, sang by Seal, was the background to Thurrock Academy's first British Championship win in 1996, a title, although slow in being achieved, was a relief when we had got our hands on it. The guard also retained the Irish International Championships in Dublin.

 1997

Thurrock Academy
Director, John Sharman
Staff, Ken Mansfield, John Sharman, Vicky Lawrence, Trudy Lawrence and Karen Sanders
Guard Captain, Darren Monksfield

Ironic, this was the title of the performance this year. Using the song Ironic sung by Alanis Morrisette.

1998

Thurrock Academy Performance Ensemble
Director, Ken Mansfield
Staff, Ken Mansfield, John Sharman, Vicky Lawrence, Trudy Rowlatt and Karen Sanders
Guard Captain, Darren Monksfield

1998 saw a change in Directorship and a slight change in name, Performance ensemble was added to the name in recognition of the newer performance style adopted from 1989 onwards.

The show this year was entitled ‘TAXI' and was performed to the Harry Chapin song of the same name.  The guard finished in 3^rd place this year.

1999

Thurrock Academy Performance Ensemble
Director, Ken Mansfield
Staff, Ken Mansfield, John Sharman, Vicky Lawrence, Trudy Rowlatt and Karen Sanders
Guard Captain, Darren Monksfield

Copa Cabana was the name of the game in 1999, a big production which helped us finish 2^nd at the British Championships.

2000

Thurrock Academy Performance Ensemble
Director, Ken Mansfield
Staff, Ken Mansfield, John Sharman, Vicky Thurston, Trudy Rowlatt and Karen Sanders
Guard Captain, Darren Monksfield

Earth, Wind and Fire, performed to music by jean Michel Jarre, Holst and the New Wave Indian Band.  The guard finished in 2^nd place this year.

2001

Thurrock Academy Performance Ensemble
Director, Ken Mansfield
Staff, Ken Mansfield, John Sharman, Vicky Thurston and Trudy Rowlatt
Open Guard Captain,  Lisa Darton
Junior Guard Captain, Natalie Sheraton/ Sinead Marron

Blue was the title and the Blues was the music, the guard finished 3^rd this year.  2001 also saw Thurrock Academy's junior group make their debut finishing 2^nd in their class.

2002

Thurrock Academy Performance Ensemble
Director, Ken Mansfield
Design Team, Ken Mansfield, Dale Powers and Rick Subel
Staff, Ken Mansfield, John Sharman, Vicky Thurston, Jo Hamer and Trudy Rowlatt
Guard Captain,  Lisa Darton
Junior Guard Captain, Charmaine Mansfield and Laura Sharman

In 2002 TA Open used American staff for the first time, dale and rick designed a show entitled ‘The Artist's Pallet' telling the physics of colour mixing from primary through Tertiary to multi coloured.  Performed to Eva Cassidy's version of Over the Rainbow, the guard took their 2^nd British title to a standing ovation.

The juniors captured the Junior British title in this year also, performing ‘Thriller' by Michael Jackson, another title taken to a standing ovation.

Thurrock Academy is very proud of this unique double.

2003

Thurrock Academy Performance Ensemble
Director, Ken Mansfield
Design Team, Ken Mansfield, Dale Powers, Rick Subel, Kristen Whiting and Chard Gonzalas
Staff, Ken Mansfield, Lorraine Gray, Greg Ovenden, John Sharman, Vicky Thurston,
Jo Hamer and Trudy Rowlatt
World Guard Captain,  Lisa Darton
A Class Guard Captain, Angela kavanagh and Rachael Agombar
Junior Guard Captain, Amiee Agombar and Lucy Sharman

This year we retained our British title with the highest score ever scored at not just a WGUK event but a DCUK as well, the performance titled ‘State of Independence' was received with another standing ovation.  Also this year took the World guard to WGI and finished 19^th.

2003 also saw the inception of out new A class guard, this group of talented people were promotional champions and were moved from Class A to compete against their older group in Open class.  Their show ‘Somewhere' was well received at championship finals.

The juniors continued to grow with them receiving a promotion championship and moved to class A.  Performing a show titled Black and White with music by Barbara Streisand.