Black Watch

The Black Watch was a drum and bugle corps formed in 1966 by a group of parents led by two men, Robert McGowan and Paul Bresnan, based in Willingboro. They were named after the official 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland and their uniform consisted of black and red Scottish kilts. Among their supporters, they received sponsorship from the Police Athletic League and the Hamilton Township American Legion Post 31.

The corps performed as a parade and exhibition unit during its first two years and in 1967, sponsored their first annual “Willingboro Invitational” contest. They entered the field of competition in 1969, participating at the VFW Nationals held in Philadelphia, placing 58^th and competed at their first of many Eastern States championships, finishing in 10^th position. In 1970, under the direction of John Wolfrom, who remained in the position until the corps’ last performance in 1984, the Black Watch finished once again in 10^th place at the Eastern States and participated at the NJ American Legion (AL) championships, placing 12^th.

The next season saw the corps remain competitive locally, joining the Garden State Circuit for the 1972 season, placing 4^th at the championships. In 1973, they returned to the Eastern States circuit after a two year hiatus, placing 8^th and a 9^th place finish at the NJ AL championships. In 1974, the corps competed at their first regional championship, the World Open, placing 12^th in the “Class B” prelims along with a 10^th place finish at the Eastern States. The following year saw the corps finish 13^th at the World Open “Class B” prelims and participated at their first DCI “Class A” championship, placing 12^th in the preliminary round and ended the season finishing 4^th at the Eastern States and 7^th at the NJ AL.

In 1976, the corps toured for the first time with appearances at the US Open and American International Open (AIO) “Class A” championships, placing 15^th and 20^th respectively in preliminary competition. They returned to the DCI “Class A”, placing 23^rd and closed the season with a 7^th place finish at the Eastern States and 9^th at the NJ AL. With the purchase of new instruments and a new uniform consisting of a green tunic, a Steward plaid kilt and white spats, in 1977, the corps had built a new foundation that would bring great success over the next few years. Out of the gates, they were finalists at the World Open “Class B” championships, placing 3^rd and added the US Open and AIO “Class A” to their impressive list, with 5^th and 6^th place finishes respectively. They also competed at the DCI North regionals, placing 14^th in prelims and concluded the season with a 4^th place finish at the Eastern States.

In 1978, the corps reached new heights as they were crowned the World Open “Class B” champions and competed the following day in the “Class A” prelims, placing 14^th. They left on tour for appearances at the 3^rd place finish at the US Open finals and a rather disappointing 10^th place at the AIO prelims. They managed to bounce back with a 3^rd place at the Eastern States and a 4^th position at the NJ AL contests. In what would arguably be the corps’ most successful year, they won the 1979 DCI “Class A” and DCI Canada “Class A” championships along with a 3^rd place finish at the DCI East “Class A” competition, a 12^th place at the World Open “Class A” prelims and topped the season off by capturing the Eastern States title. By the end of the 70’s the Black Watch color guard, under the direction of “Lady” Claudette Wolfrom, John’ wife, held the distinction of having one of the finest competing guards in the East Coast.

In 1980, the Black Watch finished in 3^rd place in defense of their DCI “Class A” title and were a “Class A” finalist at the US Open (3^rd) and the AIO (5^th), qualifying for the DCI Canada “Open Class” finals, placing 9^th as well as being the top “Class A” corps at the DCI East championships. The following year, the corps moved up to “Open Class” competition with results of 43^rd place at the DCI prelims and 16^th place at the US Open before returning to the “Class A” division in 1982, a rebuilding year, where they managed a finalist spot at the AIO (4^th), a 12^th place finish at the US Open prelims, finishing the season with an 11^th place at the DCI championship preliminaries.

1983 proved to be a strong year for the corps, placing in the finals of the AIO (3^rd), the US Open (7^th) and the coveted DCI “Class A” championships, their last appearance, with a 4^th place finish. In their final season of competition, the Black Watch returned to the AIO finals in 7^th position and closed out their long storied history with a 3^rd place finish at the 1984 Garden State Circuit championships.

The Color Guard is still in existence as of 2024, competing as a Winter Guard International “World Class” unit and are credited as being the oldest competing winter color guard in the activity. 

DCW, 6/29,90, p.8; Paul Legault (DCX)

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