The history of the Vancouver Police Pipe Band reveals a local pipe band which has been in continuous existence since 1914. The pipe band which is the "Official Band of Vancouver", and its many individual members, have had a distinguished past and shows no sign of letting past tradition fall by the wayside.

The Vancouver Police Pipe Band is the oldest non-military pipe band in British Columbia and ranks amongst the most senior police pipe bands in the world. Like the band of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada formed only a few years previously, the Vancouver Police Pipe Band has during its long history occupied a special place in the hearts of Vancouverites. Its stalwart, strapping members have long been regarded in the city with great pride and affection.

The band’s humble beginning occurred in 1914 at the opening of the “new” police station on Cordova Street. A handful of pipers within the department had organized themselves to play for the opening ceremonies. Chief Constable Malcolm MacLennan was so impressed with this performance that he authorized the formation of a departmental pipe band. The founding fathers quickly took up practice and tuition. At the inaugural meeting of the band Roderick Munro was elected President; Roderick MacLeod as Secretary; Joe Shields as Pipe Major and Andrew Campbell as Lead Drummer.

In 1909 Roderick MacLeod joined the Vancouver Police Force becoming Police Constable #15. Rod was an early pupil of Donald MacIver and together with Donald was instrumental in forming the Vancouver Police Pipe Band. Roderick MacLeod described the beginnings of the band in a July 1954 article in the Piping Times as follows:

Vancouver Police Pipe Band - 1916

Vancouver Police Pipe Band - Stanley Park - 1916

Cambie Street Grounds at visit of HRH the Duke of Connaught. Pipe Major Joseph Shields, Pipe Sgt. Donald MacIver, Rod Munro, Duncan McTavish behind Munro

To begin with, believe it or not, it seems that youth is not an essential quality. Filled with fiery enthusiasm and practicing assiduously under the late Pipe Major Donald MacIver of Vancouver, ten constables of the Vancouver City Police Force averaging thirty years of age, eight of whom had never before blown a chanter and five more who had never handled drum-sticks, took up practice in October, 1914, and the following April paraded in ordinary Police uniform, exchanging helmets then worn for caps, and as a band played at the opening of a Tournament in the Vancouver Horse Show Building. The man to lead the band in its first appearance was the late James Anderson, then Police Inspector and later Chief Constable who some years before had been piper on the staff of His Excellency the Governor-General of Canada. As the band started off playing the one piece that could be mastered at the time, "The MacKenzie Highlanders", the cheers which resounded that day testified to the popularity of the first Police Pipe Band in Canada.

Chief Constable Malcolm MacLennan

Chief MacLennan would not see the band develop into its full potential. On March 20 1917 three officers answered a call from a landlord whose angry tenant was threatening his life after he had gone to collect rent money. When the police arrived, they were greeted with gun fire shot through the door window. Two officers were hit in the eye with shattered glass and so they called for backup. Chief MacLennan was there to supervise the stand off. When it was clear that the suspect was not surrendering after many attempts at trying to convince him, Chief MacLennan decided to storm the apartment. Unfortunately, he was shot in the head as he entered and died instantly. In 2007 the band adopted a new plaide brooch to their full dress uniform to honour our fallen Chief on the 90th anniversary of his death. The brooch features the British style helmet plate cap badge worn at the time the band was formed.

Initially, as mentioned in the Piping Times article, the band performed in their regular police department uniforms. A few years later from 1918 through to 1925 the band wore the Davidson tartan. In 1925 the band's uniform was changed one final time and to this day the band wears the Prince Edward Charles Stewart tartan. The full dress uniforms were patterned after those worn by the pipes and drums of the famed Scots Guards. This privilege was officially conferred upon the band fourteen years later by King George V during a visit to Vancouver.

Donald MacIver was unquestionably one of the finest pipers in this part of the country during his active years. The members of the police band were fortunate to have his skill and knowledge at their disposal. In 1914 MacIver obtained a position as custodian with the Vancouver Police. A short man, he could not be considered for a position as Constable.

It was during Donald MacIver's term as Pipe Major that a great adventure befell the band. In the article titled, "Vancouver Police Force Pipe Band", published in the "Newsletter" in the 1970's, it was written:"

In 1920 the Band was invited to Portland Oregon to play for the famed RCMP Musical Ride. It was during this visit that one of the Bandsmen apprehended a hold-up suspect in an armed robbery of a downtown bank. The suspect was later tried and convicted of the crime. As a result of this action, the Bandsman was made an Honourary Member of the Portland Police Department.

Vancouver Police Pipe Band, 1920 -
Portland, Oregon Rose Parade

The bandsman mentioned was Side Drummer Allan Hoare who later served with distinction in the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War. Following the War, he returned to the Vancouver Police and was later wounded in a gunfight in 1947 in the Flats of the East End, when two officers, Ledingham and Boyes, were shot and killed.

  
Stanley Park - 1923  Vancouver - 1928

Duncan McTavish from Ayrshire enlisted in the Vancouver Police Department on March 25, 1911 and became a First Class Constable (P.C. #113) in 1914. A founding member of the band, Duncan took over the Pipe Major duties from Donald MacIver in 1921 and remained Pipe Major until his retirement in 1936. He set a very high standard and twice, in 1923 and 1926, led the band to win the Stewart Trophy.

He was given a grand sendoff after his retirement, when he was escorted to the CPR station just prior to a trip across Canada and Scotland. He stated at that time that he would take up residence in Scotland but it seems that he followed the entreaties of the band who played, "Will Ye No Come Back Again", as the train pulled out of the depot. Not long after, McTavish returned to Vancouver.

The band has long been closely tied to the piping fraternity in the North West. In 1932 the British Columbia Pipers Association held its inaugural meeting at the police station. Band member Roderick MacLeod was elected as the first president of the association.

MacLeod and Ed Esson, Pipe Major of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, also created the MacCrimmon Cairn trophy in 1933. Band member Alex Johnson was the first recipient of the Cairn and would later go on to become Pipe Major of the band.

Vancouver Police Pipe Band, 1930, Stanley Park

On May 12th, 1937, the citizens of Vancouver celebrated the Coronation of King George the Sixth by holding a massive parade in the downtown area. Taking part in the parade was the Vancouver Police Pipe Band under the leadership of Pipe Major Roderick Munro and Drum Major J. Stevenson. The band, which was by this time the official band of the city, had already begun to be recognized as one of the leading pipe bands on the continent. Later that year it was to be awarded "best pipe band" trophies at every Scottish Festival it entered. The bandsmen's achievements were recognized at a banquet held in their honour at the Hotel Georgia.

A native of Stornoway, Rod Munro, enlisted in the Vancouver Police in 1907. As a founding member it is believed that Munro was one of Donald MacIver's early piping students. Rod Munro became Pipe Sgt. under Duncan McTavish and succeeded him in 1936. Munro led the band when it won the Stewart Trophy at the Vancouver Games, yet again, in 1937. Rod Munro remained Pipe Major until 1939. One of the highlights of his term was in 1937 when he took the band on a visit to San Francisco. During this trip the pipe band played at the opening ceremonies of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge.

Alex Johnson, one of the most successful solo competitors in Vancouver during the 1910's, 1920's and 1930's, had been a member of the Vancouver Police department since 1917. He succeeded Pipe Major Munro in 1939. That year the band made one of its longest trips to date when it attended the International Police Convention in Mexico City. The police band was part of the Canadian representation and along with other bands and drill teams from throughout North and South America, it gave a fine demonstration of its art and skill.

Stanley Park - circa 1940

The band's golden years, insofar as competition was concerned, occurred while Johnson was Pipe Major. During his seven years as Pipe Major the band won the Stewart Trophy six times: in 1939, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1944 and 1945.

During this period, a fine Drum Corps under the leadership of Jack MacKinnon, contributed greatly to the band. MacKinnon was not an "army manual" style of drummer but rather an orchestral drummer, having played with the famous Gene Krupa. He introduced a style of drumming ahead of its time, his rhythm and musical ability being outstanding. Also in the Drum Corps at that time were Side Drummers John Gillies, Jim Mundie and Allan Hoare; Tenor Drummer Duncan Ferguson; and Bass Drummer Charles Creighton.

The next Pipe Major of the Police Pipe Band was Pipe Major Malcolm Nicholson, CM. Malcolm was accepted by the Vancouver Police Department in 1929 and at the same time joined the band. Malcolm recalls that he gained considerable experience from his various associations in this band, and during the next few years thereafter, furthered his piping knowledge by studying with Donald MacIver, Archie MacIndewar and William Barrie.

Malcolm was made Pipe Sgt. of the very busy police band in 1942, and in 1945 succeeded Alex Johnson as Pipe Major. He led the band on many trips, parades, concerts and competitions during years when it was a first rate competing band. Malcolm retired from the Department in 1961 holding the rank of Sergeant. Malcolm also retired as Pipe Major of the band at the same time having been the P/M for the previous 16 years.

The text below was taken from the 1978 Citation for the Order of Canada (CM). This honour was not only the first awarded to a member of the British Columbia piping fraternity, but is unique among Canadian pipers. These words and the award itself, identify the uniqueness of Malcolm Nicholson, the piping teacher par excellence.

Former Pipe Major of the Vancouver Police Pipe Band. He has spent his life directing boys and girls in various bands whose consistently high caliber won them awards in Canada, Britain, the United States and Europe.

Pipe Major Malcolm Nicholson,
Jane Powell, Drum Major Duncan Ferguson
Los Angeles, 1951

Dolores Del Rio, Drum Major Duncan Ferguson
Los Angeles, 1951

Wallace Beery, Dolores Del Rio and Band
Los Angeles, 1951

The first band that Nicholson organized was the Templeton Junior High School Boys Band. Around 1950 he became the instructor for the Vancouver Ladies Pipe Band which was a relationship he would continue until 1967. Malcolm organized the Vancouver Optimist Junior band in 1956, the band later becoming know as the White Spot Junior band. In 1958 he formed the Kiwanis Boys band, once again teaching all of the pipers, and developing the band into a competing unit. In 1967, it won the North American Junior Pipe Band Championship at the Maxville Games in Ontario and the Dominion championship at the Halifax Centennial Games.

To accommodate the very young players, Malcolm organized the Highland Laddies band in 1964, and they too became active in the local competitions. He also organized the Army, Navy and Airforce Veterans band and the Burnaby Ladies Pipe Band, both in 1967.

Since 1934, Malcolm and his family have lived on Triumph Street in Vancouver. His home became a centre for the art for so many years with lessons, distribution of equipment, alteration of uniforms and many unforgettable parties taking place on the premises. It was therefore fitting that a group largely made up of his ex-pupils, who were organizing a competing band in 1971, used the street name as the band name. The Triumph Street Pipe Band has succeeded beyond all their expectations and served as another lasting tribute to their teacher and mentor.

Vancouver Police Pipe Band, 1951, Stanley Park
Back Row: Stewart Robertson, Donald Bellamy, Bill MacArthur, Bert Dawkins, Les Harbord-Harbord, Jack Baillie, Fred Menzies, Drum Sgt. George Palmer, Donald MacDonald. Front Row: Pipe Major Malcolm Nicholson, Gordon Sinclair, Jim Sharp, Alex Waterton, Cliff Meade, Andy Perrie, Gib Renwick, Bill Baird, Pipe Sgt. John McHardy, Drum Major Duncan Ferguson

Gordon Sinclair

One of the saddest functions performed by any police band has to be that of playing at the funeral of a policeman killed in the line of duty. The very saddest had to have been the funeral of Gordon Sinclair, who in December of 1955 was slain investigating a break and enter. Active as a piper, competitor, piping teacher and a piper for Highland Dancing as well as a fine police officer, Sinclair was active as President of the British Columbia Piping Association at the time of his death. He had been a member of the Police band since 1941 and Sinclair's loss for the community of pipers was immense. The Vancouver Police Pipe Band took a leading role at the Civic Funeral at St. Andrew's Wesley Church in Vancouver. To this day, the band plays several musical selections arranged by Gordon, a testament to his musical abilities.

John McHardy served as Pipe Sgt. from 1946 until 1961 when he retired from the department. For several years he lead a police quartet in competition which won many awards in the Northwest. It consisted of Donald MacDonald, Gordon Sinclair, Bill Baird and himself. After his retirement, McHardy expanded his basement store to a large downtown outlet which operated until 1975.

Donald MacDonald served in the band for many years and was Pipe Sgt. following McHardy. He served for nine months as Pipe Major until his retirement from the Police Department in 1962.

In the band since 1947, William Baird had been a Pipe Major of the Seaforth Cadets and the Irish Fusiliers of Canada. He became Pipe Major of the band in 1962. During his years the band enjoyed some successful trips. These included the Seattle World's Fair in 1962, visits to Hawaii in 1962 and 1963 where they competed in the Honolulu Highland Games, and a trip to San Francisco in 1967.

Seattle World Fair - 1962

During the band's second visit to Hawaii, on November 22nd 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. To mark the occasion the band played a wake at Kapiolani Park. This consisted of a full retreat ceremony with the U.S. Marine Corps in full ceremonial dress. As a sign of gratitude for this spontaneous gesture, Governor Burns presented to each band member the Hawaii Silver Star - medals struck especially for the occasion. The medals presented to the Pipe Major and Drum Major were gold; the others silver showing the head of King Kamahemeha. These awards were the highest Hawaian honour available to civilians. As a consequence of this performance the band was to perform for President Lyndon Johnson on a visit to Vancouver in 1964.

The 1967 trip to San Francisco, mentioned earlier, was extremely interesting in that together with the Canadian Guards, the band performed a miniature version of the "Changing of the Guard" ceremony. As a representative of the Canadian government, the Vancouver Police Band was there to publicize Montreal's Expo to be held later that centennial year.

San Francisco - 1967

Gilbert Renwick DCM, remembers well a visit to Vancouver during the Royal Tour of 1939, a time when he had been working as a faller in Duncan. Gib saw the Vancouver Police Pipe Band performing in a parade. The sight made a lasting impression and he remembers wishing at the time that he could play the bagpipes.

Gib went overseas with The Queens Own Cameron Highlander of Canada from Winnipeg. During the Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942, he was wounded and taken prisoner. Along with most of the other POW's from the Camerons, Gib was taken to Stalag VIII B in Ober Silesia. In April of 1943 he escaped from a coal mining company at Dambroya, a mining village on the outskirts of Katowice, in Poland. He was captured and returned to Stalag VIII B. He then went to a work party in Marchendorff, Czechoslovakia. Later he was moved to a rock quarry in Oberlangeneau from which he again escaped. After six days of freedom Gib was again picked up, received 38 days of solitary confinement, and was then again returned to Stalag VIII B. Here he had the good fortune to meet his old boyhood friend, Stanley McLeod. Stanley, a piper, suggested instead of running around Europe Gib might be better advised to do something useful such as learning the practice chanter. He thought that this might be good advice and began eagerly to learn the scale and exercises. Suddenly the world started to look better! Progress was made until March of the next year when Stanley was moved to another camp. Before he left, Stan introduced Gib to another piper, Angus MacLeod, a Seaforth from the Isle of Lewis. Angus took over teaching him until the end of hostilities.

Gib joined the Vancouver Police Department in the spring of 1946, made contact with Pipe Major Malcolm Nicholson and started taking almost daily lessons from him. He was accepted into the police band in 1947 and remained involved until 1964.

Alex Wateron, Gib Renwick -
Vancouver Police Pipe Band - circa 1950

Pipe Major Baird led the band for the final time on October 27th, 1967, at a passing out ceremony of the police academy at the Agrodome. He was succeeded as Pipe Major by Andrew Perrie.

After finishing school in 1947, Andy worked at a number of jobs until 1951, when he joined the Vancouver Police Department and the Pipe Band. As a former pupil of Malcolm Nicholson, he worked his way through the ranks of the band becoming Pipe Sgt. in 1962, and Pipe Staff Sgt. in 1967. Andy became Pipe Major in the latter part of 1967 and served as such until his retirement from the force in 1984.

Although Andy is now retired, he still plays with the band. He also belongs to the Gizeh Temple Pipes and Drums. In recent summers Andy has been an instructor at the Western Academy of Pipe Music at Camp Hurlburt near Vernon. Andy has not only been the longest serving member of the band, but was also the longest serving Pipe Major, 17 years one year longer than Malcolm Nicholson.

Vancouver Police Pipe Band - circa 1975

It should be mentioned that until the disbandment of the Irish Fusiliers of Canada in 1960, a very close relationship had existed between it and the Vancouver Police Pipe Band. Many members of the Police band served with the Irish. These included Bill Baird, Andrew Perrie, Don Bellamy, Garnet Snow, Tom Markham, Ken Stewart, and Jack Baillie. During the years, many members had progressed from Seaforth Highlander Cadets to the Police including John McHardy, Albert Whyte, Bill Baird, Les Harbord-Harbord, W. MacRae, Andy Perrie, Ian Sinclair and Duncan and Don MacInnes.

Pipe Major Perrie led the band on several interesting trips. In 1976, another California event took the band to Santa Barbara, where it performed daily at the Santa Barbara National Horse Show. This occasion honoured Canada and the 1976 Olympic Games.

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