The pipe band community worldwide was saddened to learn of the death on 8th September 2026 of Harry McNulty. He was 93. During his career Harry was Pipe Major of the Grade 1 Lothian & Borders Police, British Caledonian Airways and Power of Scotland (now Scottish Power) bands.
Born in April 1933 and a native of Leith in Edinburgh, Harry grew up adopted by his grandfather Pipe Major William Sinclair, founder of the renowned and highly successful bagpipe manufacturing business – William Sinclair & Son based in Leith. Harry was initially taught the pipes by his grandfather from age seven and then lost interest in the instrument until he took it up again in 1949. By that time he had started an apprenticeship in the bagpipe-making business and his tutor was Willie Bryson, the silver fitter employed by the company.
Harry served his National Service with the Royal Scots between 1951 and 1953 based at Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh. After his initial training he was accepted into the Lowland Brigade Piping School under Pipe Major George Stoddart and by the time he left the Army was well capable of playing in a pipe band.
During his National Service he met pipers John D Burgess and Tom McAllister, both of whom were later to become Pipe Majors and major influences in his piping career. Following demob in 1953, Harry returned to the family business and completed his apprenticeship as a pipe maker.
In 1954 he joined the TA 7th/9th Royal Scots Pipe Band (known as the ‘Dandy Ninth’) and then, in December 1955, joined Edinburgh City Police. In 1956 he became a member of the famous Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band under P/M Donald Shaw Ramsay and subsequently P/M John D Burgess. Thereafter Harry served under P/M Iain McLeod and became Pipe Major himself following Iain’s retiral in 1976.
During Harry’s time as P/M the band won the Scottish Pipe Band Championships in 1979; was second at the British and Cowal, and took third at the Worlds at Nottingham. The band also took third place at the Intercontinental Championships as part of the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto the same year.
Approaching his own retiral from the police service, Harry subsequently took over as Pipe Major of British Caledonian Airways in 1982. In 1989, following a takeover of the airline, the band lost its B Cal sponsorship and became known as the Power of Scotland, sponsored by Scottish Power (and now Scottish Power Pipe Band). Under Harry’s B Cal/Scottish Power leadership until 1992, the band twice won the Scottish Championships, the Cowal Championship, and were runners-up at the Worlds.
During his time as Pipe Major he was also able to recruit some of the world’s leading pipers and drummers, including the legendary Alex Duthart. He was very proud of the fact that he was one of only three Pipe Majors to win Major Championships with two different pipe bands
In addition to his pipe band activities Harry was able to maintain his family links with William Sinclair & Son, assisting in product design and quality control. He was also well-known for his quality drone reeds. As the leader of B Cal/Scottish Power he also had the opportunity to travel worldwide for promotional and marketing activities.
He become an influential international teacher and he was widely recognised for his involvement in piping and drumming workshops in Ontario and California in particular. Many pipe bands overseas have benefited from his expertise.
Harry was also for many years an RSPBA piping adjudicator, judging at the Association’s Major Championships and minor competitions; and he was also a highly respected adjudicator in other countries. He was widely known for his affable and advisory nature.
I knew Harry for well over 50 years as a pipe band colleague in the Edinburgh City Police band, as one of my Pipe Majors in Lothian & Borders, as a fellow RSPBA adjudicator, as a friend and as his personal chauffeur on many occasions when we were both adjudicating at RSPBA competitions throughout the UK and in Northern Ireland.
I also judged with him on a number of occasions in Los Angeles and San Francisco; and at the Queen Mary contest in Long Beach, California, and Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium. There was never a dull moment.
Harry McNulty was one of the many characters in the pipe band world who have been a major influence on many people. I am sure many will join me in offering our sincere condolences to his family and friends for their loss.
Alistair Aitken OBE
