Hundreds of tributes have been paid to Dumfries “legend” Max Houliston.
Publican Max, who took over the Hole I’ The Wa’ in 1963, died on Friday aged 86.
In a statement, his family said: “The Houliston family are saddened to announce that their dad/papa Max Houliston passed away peacefully at home this morning.
“Max is best known for his musical talent having played the accordion since the age of 10 and forming his own band – Max Houliston and his Scottish Dance Band.
“He also established Britain’s first Accordion and Fiddle Club to give young accordion players the chance to play in front of a live audience.
“His contribution to the Scottish music scene over the years is immeasurable but to his family it was all about his wit and (very) dry sense of humour.
“Max took over the Hole I’ The Wa’ in 1963 when he was 26 and, in his own words ‘would do it all over again’ if he had the choice to live his life over. Now that’s a life well lived. RIP Max 1936 – 2022.”
Tributes flowed in, including one from Terry Cullen, who wrote: “One of the nicest gentlemen I ever had the privilege of knowing, a sad day for Dumfries”.
John Caskie added: “Sad news of a great guy, great musician, and someone who was loved by so many. Thank you for your music Max, you were one of the best”.
Glenda Rome described him as a “true gent, absolute legend and an inspiration to so many”.
In an interview in 2013, Max told the Standard that he was only 26-years-old when he and brother Bobby took over the Hole I’ The Wa’ in 1963. Bobby later left to run the Steamboat at Carsethorn.
Max recalled pulling his first pint behind the bar. He said: “We had one choice of beer, a pale ale, which we sold at 5p per a pint, whisky was 10p for a half measure, very few ladies frequented Scottish pubs and the pub served no food and had no entertainment.”
It was another brother, Queen of the South and Scotland legend Billy, who advised Max to go into the pub trade and pack in his career as an engineer at Rickerby in Carnegie Street. Dumfries born and bred, Max left school at 15 and ended up in the Royal Signals Corps at Catterick.
Max said: “When I came back, I worked as an engineer and then Billy told me to get into the licensed trade. He had opened a bar on the High Street in 1949 before taking over the Nith Hotel.
“When I told my mum I was taking on the pub, she said ‘That’ll do until you get a better job’.”
Max learned to play the accordion when he was 10 and was taught by local man Alex Carter. He was the founder in 1965 of the first Accordion and Fiddle Club at The Hole in the Wa’.
Max Houliston and his Scottish Band recorded an amazing 10 albums and did a lot of broadcasts for the BBC and Take The Floor.
Their broadcasts were noted not just for the lift and swing of their Scottish music but for the innovative band arrangements of non-Scottish pieces.
Max and his band did their first broadcast in 1963.
Aware that concert parties were dying out and that young players were not getting the chance to play in front of a live audience, Max came up with the idea of an Accordion and Fiddle Club. After a few meetings a guest artiste was added and the formula was complete.
One of Max’s highlights was recording one of the LPs live from the pub in 1975.
Ten years ago, Max was recognised for his dedication to the Hole I’ the Wa’ when he was selected from 1,300 other pub operators to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award by Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars.
Max worked behind the bar of the pub until he was 65 and son Alan took over which Max was delighted about.
He said at the time: “I’d be thrilled if it was a Houliston still in the Hole I’ The Wa’ in another 50 years.
