Tributes paid to ‘inspirational’ former principal of Wallace High School

Staff and pupils of the school, past and present, have flooded social media with comments about the former headmaster, calling him ‘a lovely, lovely man’, ‘inspirational’, ‘a wonderful man’, and ‘a fantastic principal’.

Wallace High also paid tribute to Mr McCallan, who led the school from 1988 until 2000.

As part of a tribute on the Wallace High website, a spokesperson for the school wrote: “Mr McCallan was born in Carrickfergus, educated at Belfast Royal Academy and graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a first-class honours degree in Mathematics.

"It is little wonder that Regent House School in Newtownards snapped him up as a young recruit to the Mathematics department.

"His move to Wallace saw him entering middle management as he was appointed Head of Mathematics.

"Pupils in his classroom were challenged but always supported, and he is remembered by many past pupils for his willingness to offer individual help as needed.

“Following promotion to the role of Vice-Principal, Mr McCallan began to establish a framework which he would build upon as Principal.

"Mr McCallan placed the pupils and their welfare at the heart of everything he did.

"He succeeded Mr Noel Gilpin in 1988, becoming the fifth Principal of the “modern era” in the school’s history.

"Mr McCallan had a clear and well-developed vision for Wallace and he set about making it a reality.

"He was a huge fan of school sport both because of his love for the games themselves and because he believed they were invaluable in building character and cementing bonds between pupils.

"Mr McCallan was the school’s leader but he was its servant. From playing Eric Morecambe in the staff pantomime, to seeing pupils off in the early hours to their Pyrenees expeditions, to making a point of speaking to individuals after games on Saturdays, to visiting after-school clubs, to designing the PTA treasure hunt route, there was nothing he did not do to show his interest in the pupils and the life of the school.

"He was utterly dedicated to Wallace life in all its facets.

“Following his resignation in 2000, he put his professional experience to good use by contributing to the Professional Qualification for Headship programme, he expanded the time he could devote to his private interests such as music, theatre and travel, and he remained a concerned supporter of, and advocate for, those less fortunate than himself.

"The greatest evidence of his seeking “a newer world” came with his marriage to Betty in April 2001, when he became a devoted husband and stepfather to John, Jill and Lisa.

"In the fullness of time he embraced the role of grandfather to a brood of eight.

"Over the last quarter-century his affection for, and pride in, Wallace High School never diminished.

“Until very recently he remained a familiar spectator at rugby matches, and he was overjoyed when Wallace finally won the Schools’ Cup on Saint Patrick’s Day 2025.

“Mr McCallan was both a man of his time and ahead of his time. The phrase used most amongst ex-staff to describe him is ‘a true gentleman’.

"To his friends, his family and his trusted trio of ex-Vice-Principals the school offers its condolences.”