In the early days the drum corps was taken to camp to do the necessary job of parading the troop on Sunday mornings as well as playing the Reveille and Lights out. It was, noted from the records before the fire that the corps won one of its first contests in 1921 at Rhyl. During the annual camp in 1921 the corps entered the Rhyl Carnival Band Contest and won 1st prize, a silver bugle! During the years between the World Wars the Scouts led all the main parades in the area and helped to finance the local hospital. The Scouts always led the parade, marching and then changing into training equipment to give a PE display. During the Second World War the group survived with younger members as everyone over 17 was away on service.

A great fire destroyed the HQ in 1960 along with all the band instruments. We were not insured; however the band rose out of the ashes and borrowed drums and bugles from the North Staffs Boys Brigade. Due to the availability of cheap Eb trumpets, at £1 each, the corps changed over from Bb bugles to Eb trumpets. It is worth noting that in 1962 John Swindells (the present Corps Director) paraded with the Madison Scouts at their State Fair (click here for a picture from the Milwaukee Sentinel). By 1964 a regular band practice had started to formulate. The Corps strength at this time was 1 bass drum, 5 snares and 12 trumpets.

By 1965 we were ready to enter the first Scout Nationals, but got cold feet and planned to enter the year after. However we found out that the 2nd Scout National competition was to be held in Brighton - a million miles away in those days - and we could not afford the transport. In the 3rd Scout Nationals of 1967 we marched onto the field of competition for the first time for some 40 years. With 13 members - 1 bass drum, 4 snares and 8 trumpets - needless to say did not win (we actually placed 13th). The first success was achieved in 1968, a 2nd place in the Novice Class and so the Kidsgrove Scout band became a name recognised nationally. In 1970 top three statuses was achieved alongside 13th Coventry, 1st Atherton and 31st Warrington by beating 31st Warrington into 3rd place.

In 1972 Kidsgrove Scouts were crowned National Scout and Guide Band Champions. The years between 1968 and 1976 were very strong and Kidsgrove Scouts travelled all over the UK playing in competitions with a Corps strength of 24 Eb trumpets, 4 bells, 10 snares, 2 bass drums, 4 tenors and 2 drum majors.