Wallace Park Pavilion to be named after former councillor

At Monday’s meeting of the Council, former Mayor Alderman Paul Porter proposed that the pavilion and changing room facilities, which are to open later this year as part of the multi-million pound refurbishment scheme in the park, should be named after Mr Ivan Davis who recently stood down from the Council at the age of 74. Mr Porter’s suggestion was unanimously supported.

Mr Porter said: “Ivan has served all his time on the Leisure Services Committee and is renowned for supporting leisure and sports clubs and facilities throughout Lisburn for many years. This would be a fitting tribute to one of our longest serving councillors and for the wonderful project we’ve worked so long on.”

Mr Davis, who joined the Council in 1973, said he was surprised and delighted to hear the news.

“I find it a great honour to have the members of the City Council giving me the privilege of having the new facility named after me,” he said.“During my time on the Council I always believed in and pursued the idea it was essential the Council play an active role in the development of sport and leisure and it’s to the council’s credit we are now seeing another of the regeneration projects in the Wallace Park scheme being completed.”

Mr Davis continued: “Having spent my younger days playing football in Wallace Park along with many other sports users, I could clearly identify the poor quality and provision of the changing facilities but now sports users can look forward to a first class replacement pavilion and another part of the Wallace Park plan become a reality.”