Fred Walker, who has died in Antrim Area Hospital, was central to the major Ulster tradition of pipe bands. His vision for pipe bands was wide, as an all-Ireland and cross-community fraternity. During the dark times of the 1970s he encouraged southern bands to come North for competitions, and northern bands to go South, because he recognised no boundaries in the pipe band world. That was seen at his funeral, which members of the Irish Pipe Band Association travelled north to attend.
As an administrator, he played a big part in developing the North's pipe bands to their current high standard. He was secretary of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association in the North for 37 years, then president for a further nine. He helped build up the association to having over 70 bands, with musicians from all community backgrounds.
His house was a centre for the pipe band fraternity in the North. It was also a home which many passed through, including musicians and judges from Ireland and Scotland.
This enthusiast for pipe bands was not a piper, but had been a drummer from his schooldays. He began drumming in Legacurry Pipe Band in his home area of Co Down, which he co-founded, and drummed with it throughout its half-century of existence. A gifted musician, he also played the cornet, which brought him into Hillsborough Brass Band.
Frederick Joseph Walker was born in June 1928, the eldest of eight children to Frederick Walker, a storekeeper, in Hillsborough, Co Down.
He left Ravarnet Primary School in his early teens to work in a linen mill. As a young man he broadened his education through night classes in Lisburn Technical College. Throughout his life he worked in a variety of jobs: in textile mills, facing redundancy as the North’s textile industry declined; in factories, working for many years as a foreman in the Belfast Ropeworks, famous as the biggest plant of its kind in Europe, and as a petrol pump attendant and security guard.
He kept his enthusiasm for bands to the end. During last year’s season he attended several competitions.
He was a quiet man with a Christian faith, who lived that faith by being supportive of others.
He is survived by his wife Margaret, daughter Rosemary, son Neil, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, three sisters and four brothers.