Ex-Pace boss quits civic posts Move follows shock sacking
The former boss of Pace Theatre Company has quit two leading community organisations.
The community was shocked by the news that respected Pace founder David Wallace had been sacked amid an investigation into the group’s financial affairs.
A huge figure in the town’s cultural life, Mr Wallace was also a trustee of Paisley Community Trust, which is delivering a cinema and theatre venue as part of Paisley’s Heritage Asset Strategy and Paisley’s UK City of Culture 2021 bid.
And yesterday, its chairman Gary Kerr confirmed that Mr Wallace had resigned from the organisation yesterday morning.
He said: “David Wallace has resigned from Paisley Community Trust and is no longer involved with it.”
Mr Kerr would not comment on why Mr Wallace had resigned.
Mr Wallace was also vice-chairman of business organisation Paisley First.
And yesterday, the group confirmed that Mr Wallace resigned last month.
A spokesman said: “David Wallace tendered his resignation as vice-chairman and director of Paisley First in August, which was accepted.
“We have a strong team of directors in place who are working hard to confirm Paisley’s reputation as a business location and further enhance Paisley town centre as a visitor destination.
“We do not comment on the individual circumstances of former directors.”
An actor by training, David Wallace has been a central figure in the town’s cultural life for 30 years.
He founded Pace Youth Theatre, which is one of the biggest of its kind in the UK.
He has also played the dame in the Paisley Arts Centre panto for decades, and has written the show every year as well.
Donald Urquhart, chairman of Pace, told the Paisley Daily Express earlier this week that several weeks ago staff at Pace raised concerns about irregular transactions within the organisation’s budget accounts.
He added: “We are carrying out a further investigation to protect the future of the organisation.”
Mr Wallace has received numerous messages of support on the Paisley Daily Express Facebook page.
Brian McGuire wrote: “David is a gem of a man.”
The Paisley Daily Express received no response from Mr Wallace to our request for a comment yesterday.