One of Dundee’s best-known publicans over the past 25 years, Michael (Mike) Halford (62), has died after a lengthy illness.
He passed away at home, surrounded by his family.
He had been ill for 18 months and came home from Royal Victoria Hospital last week to be with his family, as he had wished.
Born in Dundee, and educated at Logie Secondary, he became an ambulance driver with the Scottish Ambulance Service. He then trained as a painter and decorator, and moved with his young family to work in Pretoria, South Africa, from 1976 until 1982.
A few years later Mr Halford changed career and opened his first licensed premises in Dundee, Tally Ho, in Old Hawkhill.
In 1990 he took over the former church in Ward Road, transforming it into Deacon Brodies. It became one of the busiest city centre pubs, popular with office staff, lawyers, journalists, Saturday night karaoke singers and clubbers alike.
During his time at Deacon Brodies he also opened up the upstairs room, firstly as the Mission nightclub then as a live music venue, On Air East, where bands like the fledgling Snow Patrol and Biffy Clyro performed.
One of the local licensed trade’s most respected figures, he often spoke out against the price wars of the 1990s and early 2000s that saw nightclubs and some pubs slash prices in the city centre, a move he said had led to more instances of drunkenness in the area.
He left Deacon Brodies in 2006, and was away from the pub trade for two years.
He then took over the Old Horseshoe Bar (formerly The Mercantile) in Commercial Street, which he ran with two of his daughters until his illness became too severe for him to carry on.
The family left the pub trade at that time and had been caring for Mr Halford 24 hours a day until he passed away.
He is survived by his twin sister Anne and brother Bert, his daughters Tina, Angela, Suzanne and Karina and his seven grandchildren.
Mr Halford’s funeral will be held at the Crematorium in Dundee on Tuesday at 12.30pm.