Schedule of Events

Wednesday, 23 July 2008 - GOOD GRIEF!!!  After printing out dozens of posters, hundreds of leaflets and sending out email notification to everyone we could think of...we (read "I") forgot to post the information concerning our fundraiser music evening on our website...mea culpa!!!

 A Live Music Evening fundraiser for the Portencross Castle Fund will take place at South Banks House, Portencross, on Saturday Evening, 26th of July 2008 from 7:30 pm until 11 pm.  Music will be provided by the popular local group, "The Banned", who play modern classics with a jazz flavour.  Tickets at £10 per person will be available upon entry (sorry, no "under 18's").  A buffet will be available and a Pay Bar will be open during the above-cited hours.  That's this Saturday!!!  Be certain to bring your dancing slippers!  Drop-off and pick-up acceptable at the gate, but please park your car at the car park a few dozen yards down the road.

Saturday, 28 June 2008 - The 8th Annual Portencross Harbour Art Exhibit will take place on Saturday, 28 June (from 11 AM until 5 PM) and on Sunday, 29 June (from 10 AM until 4 PM) 2008,

This year, the exhibit venue will be at Farland House, Portencross, adjacent to the public car park.

The cost of general admission remains at £1.  Tea, coffee and homebaking will be available.

Proceeds from this charitable fundraiser will be donated to the Portencross Castle Fund.  We encourage your continued support.

EXHIBITOR INFORMATION:  Exhibit set up will be between the hours of 3PM and 5 PM on Friday, 27 June 2008.  Please bring your exhibits (maximum of 3) to Farland House. 

All exhibits must be strung for hanging and have a string-attached label with the following information:  name of exhibitor, medium, title and price of painting/exhibit.

Preference will be given to new work.  There will be be a hanging charge of £3 per item (payable in advance).  There will be a 15% commission charged on each item sold, with all proceeds going to the Portencross Castle Fund.

Unsold exhibits must be picked up between 4 PM and 5 PM on Sunday, 29 June 2008.

For further information, please call Ann at (01294)823799 or Audrey at (01294)823949.

The organisers, Friends of Portencross Castle (FOPC), reserve the right to change or modify the guidelines should circumstances (e.g., weather, space availability) dictate.

Sunday, 25 May 2008 - A Portencross Castle fundraiser Car Boot Sale will be held at the foreshore adjacent to the Portencross Car Park between the hours of  12 Noon and 4 PM.  Vendor set-up will begin at 11 AM.  Fees:  Cars - £5, Vans/Trailers - £7.  Tea/coffee - quality snacks - homebaking will be available.  All entry fees and refreshment proceeds go to the Portencross Castle Fund.

Saturday, 19 April 2008 - Saturday, 19 April 2008 - The Friends of Portencross Castle (FOPC) will hold their first fundraiser coffee morning at South Banks House, Portencross, between the hours of 10:30 AM and 1 PM.  Just the occasion to shake off the chill we have experienced over the past few months!  As usual, a £3-pound donation at the door will lead you to coffee, homebaking and visiting with friends and neighbours who may have been hibernating...just waiting for an opportunity like this to come out!  All profits will be donated to the FOPC Portencross Castle Fund.  Please use the driveway for drop-off and pick-up only...we would love to accommodate your parking here, but unfortunately space is limited.  The public car park is but a few yards down the road.  

Saturday, 08 December 2007 - The Friends of Portencross Castle winter coffee morning is upon us!  The year seems to have flown by, and it is as though we just had our first coffee morning of the year just a few weeks ago!  Anyway, the rain and cold have arrived!  The pre-Christmas coffee morning will be held at South Banks House, Portencross, starting at 10:30 AM and concluding at 1 PM on Saturday, 8 November 2007.  A £3-pound donation at the door leads you to coffee and homebaking.  After that, you have the opportunity to make last-minute Christmas gift purchases.  Do all this at your leisure, while visiting with friends and neighbours and enjoying an open fire.  As usual, all profits will be donated to the FOPC Portencross Castle Fund.  Join us, please!  We value your support.  Drop-off and pick-up only in the driveway, please.

Sunday, 25 November 2007 - Friends of Portencross Castle (FOPC) will have a table at the Farmers Market at Fins (Fairlie) from 10 AM on Sunday, 25 November 2007.  Homemade delicacies!  Much loving work went into preparation of these fine morsels (they make excellent presents)!  All profits will go to the Portencross Castle Fund.

Thursday, 06 September 2007 - Friends of Portencross Castle will soon be submitting applications to the North Ayrshire Council for Planning Consent, Listed Building Consent and Scheduled Monument Consent for the project "A New Life for Portencross Castle".

Members of the public are invited to attend a public meeting in the West Kilbride Community Centre on Thursday, September 6th, 2007 at 7:30pm, when there will be a short presentation describing the proposed work, with an opportunity to ask questions and present comments.  We hope to have the principal architect and the professional project organiser present, as well as the directors of FOPC.  (Please note that the above date is subject to change.  If it does, notification will immediately be placed on this website.)

Saturday, 21 July 2007 - FIRST FOPC FUNDRAISER EVENING -  Enjoy the first evening fundraiser in support of Portencross Castle on Saturday evening, 21st of July 2007, between the hours of 7:30pm and 11pm in the marquee at South Banks House, Portencross.

Listen to the "cool" sound of  "The Banned", a popular local group featuring some familiar faces (Dr. Ken Fegan - sax, Bernard Thain - lead guitar and vocals, Howard Smallwood - guitar, Iain Grant - bass, Stuart Fyfe - keyboard and Ann Brooks - vocalist).

The price of this great evening is only £7.50 per person, which includes light snacks as well as some brilliant music.  A pay bar is available.

Tickets may be obtained  from Audrey Kolon - 01294 823949 or Ann McLachlan - 01294 823799, or purchased at the gate upon entry.  All proceeds will go to the Portencross Castle Fund.

Saturday, 07 July 2007 - The 7th ANNUAL PORTENCROSS HARBOUR ART EXHIBITION will be held on Saturday, 7th of July 2007 (from 11am until 5pm) and on Sunday, 8th of July 2007 (from 10am until 4pm).

This year, the exhibit venue will be at Auldhill Cottage, Portencross.  Since this is the first year that this venue will be used, directions will be signposted from the Portencross Car Park.  While the walking distance to Auldhill Cottage is no further than the walk to the former venue at Portencross Harbour, there will be transportation made available at the Portencross Car Park for those who may have difficulty negotiating an approximately 200-meter walk along an unpaved driveway.

The cost of general admission remains at one pound (£1).  Tea, coffee, snacks and homebaking will be available.

This is a charitable fundraiser for the Portencross Castle project, and we value your continued enthusiastic support.

EXHIBITOR INFORMATION:  Exhibit set up will be between 3 pm and 5 pm on Friday, July 6th, 2007.  Please bring your exhibits (maximum of 2) to the Portencross Car Park (in event of rain, Farland House next to the Car Park).

All exhibits must be strung for hanging and have a string-attached label providing the following information:  name of exhibitor, medium, title and price of painting/exhibit.

Preference will be given to new work.  There will be a hanging charge of £3 per item (in advance).  A 15% commission will be taken for each sold item, with all proceeds going to the Portencross Castle Fund. 

Unsold exhibits must be picked up between 5 - 6 pm on Sunday, 8 July 2007.

Please contact Ann - (01294)823799 or Audrey - (01294)823949 for further information.

The organisers, Friends of Portencross Castle (FOPC), reserve the right to modify the guidelines should circumstances (e.g., weather, space availability) dictate.

Thursday, 12 April 2007 - 12 April 2997 - ATTENTION FOPC MEMBERS -The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Friends of Portencross Castle (FOPC), will be held at 7:30pm on Thursday, 12 April 2007 in the Music Room of the West Kilbride Community Centre. 

Minutes of the last AGM, held on 17 January 2006, and accounts for the year 2005 - 2006 will be available at the meeting.

The FOPC Board has agreed that Portencross residents who are not members of FOPC are invited to attend as observers and will have an opportunity to submit questions and comments following the AGM.

Saturday, 31 March 2007 - Although the weather has confused everyone and everything (pity the blooming plants which may still have to endure a seasonal frost!)...the first coffee-morning fundraiser for the Friends of Portencross Castle Fund is scheduled to be held from 10:30 am to 1 pm on Saturday, 31st of March 2007 at South Banks House, Portencross.

This will be an outstanding opportunity to meet your friends and neighbours, catch up on what has been transpiring over Winter and enjoy home baking!  A donation of £3 per person upon entry is suggested.  The driveway will be open for pick-up and drop-off, but we request that all vehicles are parked at the nearby Portencross public car park.

We look forward to seeing you!

Saturday, 26 August 2006 - Again, it's time to enjoy a very civilised summer afternoon garden tea at South Banks House, Portencross.  This popular fundraiser for the Portencross Castle Fund will last from 2 PM until 5 PM on Saturday, August 26th, 2006.

A suggested donation of £5 per guest will be received upon entry and will provide you with tea, a glass of "bubbly", a selection of home baking and a relaxing ambiance.  Some of the ladies who have attended this fundraiser in the past entered into the "garden-tea spirit" and dressed in traditional summer garden-tea style. (While not necessary...it was a delightful gesture.)  In order to recognise the ladies' efforts, this year we will inaugurate a prize to be given to the "best-dressed lady at the garden tea".  At past garden teas, the weather has been most co-operative, so don't forget to bring your favourite sun block.  As usual, all proceeds will go to the Portencross Castle Fund.  We look forward to your participation and continued support.

While the driveway gates will be open for drop-off and pick-up, we request that all vehicles be parked at the Portencross car park...just a few yards further down the road from South Banks House.

Saturday, 24 June 2006 - The Portencross Harbour 6th Annual Art Exhibition will take place on Saturday, 24th of  June between the hours of 11 am - 5 pm and on Sunday, 25th of  June between the hours of 10 am -5 pm.  This year, the venue (courtesy of Bobby and Margaret McKee) will be at the renovated "Piggery" at Farland House, which is located adjacent to the Portencross Car Park.  All level ground, with hardly any distance to walk!

The exhibit admission fee is £1.  Athough the marquee of yesteryear will not be used as the art exhibit venue again, the tea and coffee, snacks and homebaking...as well as those special works of art...will be available at this fundraiser for the Portencross Castle Fund.

Hard to believe that this is the sixth year of this popular event!  Each year has brought forth more artists, both local and from far afield...and each year has seen a distinct rise in the level of professionalism!

In respect to exhibitors, exhibit set up will be between the hours of 3 pm - 5 pm on Friday, June 23rd, 2006 at the Farland House "Piggery".  Please bring your exhibits (preferably new work, a maximum of 3), ensuring that all exhibits are strung for hanging and have a string-attached label providing the following information:  name of exhibitor, medium, title and price of painting/exhibit.  There will be a hanging charge of £3 per item (in advance).  A 15% commission will be taken for each sold item, with all proceeds going to the Portencross Castle Fund.  Unsold exhibits must be picked up between 5pm - 6 pm on Sunday, 25th of  June 2006. 

For further information, please contact: Ann - (01294)823799 or Audrey - (01294)823949,

Saturday, 29 April 2006 - Coffee Morning Fundraiser - The first coffee morning fundraiser of 2006 has arrived!  It will be held between 10:30am and 1pm at South Banks House, Portencross.  For those of us who have been hibernating through a cold winter, it will be an opportunity to catch up with gossip and events while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee and home baking, while visiting with friends and neighbours in convivial surroundings.  With the weather being so erratic, we will probably have an open fire!  A suggested donation of £3 per guest upon entry will find its way to the Portencross Castle Fund.  Also to be available, for purchase, will be plants, home baking, marmalade...just to name a few items.  While you are welcome to use the driveway at South Banks House for passenger drop-off and pick-up, please park your vehicle at the nearby public car park.  We look forward to seeing you!

Tuesday, 20 December 2005 - "Carols by Candlelight"  - A joint fundraiser will be held at South Banks House, Portencross, between the hours of 7-9pm on Tuesday evening, December 20th.  A suggested donation of £5, with all proceeds divided between the Portencross Castle Fund and The Tearfund (The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund - a non-denominational Christian development and relief charity working with partners [e.g., the West Kilbride Overton Church] to bring help and hope to communities in need around the world.)

Saturday, 19 November 2005 - The final coffee morning fundraiser is upon us!  The event will be held at South Banks House, Portencross from 10:30 AM until 1 PM on Saturday, November 19th.  Come and catch up on gossip, see old friends, enjoy coffee/tea and home baking while browsing for some hard-to-get stocking fillers for Christmas!  Although you are welcome to use the driveway for drop-off and pick-up, we request that cars are parked at the nearby public car park.  A donation of £3 per person, upon entry, is suggested.  All proceeds will go to the Portencross Castle Fund.

Saturday, 20 August 2005 - Enjoy a leisurely and civilised afternoon tea in a stunning garden surrounding! The annual garden tea fundraiser for 2005 is upon us. This year, the event is sponsored by Audrey and Walter Kolon and will be held at South Banks House, Portencross, from 2 PM until 5 PM on Saturday, August 20th, 2005. A recommended donation of £5 per guest will be payable upon entry and all proceeds will go to the Portencross Castle Fund. We look forward to your continued support. While the driveway gates will be open for drop-off and pick-up, we request that all vehicles be parked at the Portencross public car park.

Saturday, 02 July 2005 - 5th annual Portencross Harbour Art Exhibition. 10:30 am - 5:00 pm on Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd July 2005 at Portencross North Harbour. Admission is one pound (£1) per person. Tea & coffee, snacks and homebaking available. Exhibitors contact Audrey on 01294 823949 or Ann on 01294 823799. Exhibit set up will be between 12 noon and 3 pm on Friday, June 25th. Exhibit entry fee is £3.00 per item plus 15% of each sale. All proceeds go to the Portencross Castle Fund.

Saturday, 29 January 2005 - The final coffee morning fundraiser of 2004 is surfacing as the first coffee morning fundraiser of 2005! It will be held in South Banks House, at Portencross, between the hours of 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. Much to catch up with and home-baked delectables! A suggested donation of £3 per guest, payable upon entry, would be appreciated. All donations go to the Portencross Castle Fund.

Thursday, 30 September 2004 - The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the FOPC membership will be held at South Banks House, Portencross at 7:30 PM on Thursday, 30 September 2004.

Sunday, 01 August 2004 - The FOPC Annual Garden Tea will be held in the South Banks House garden at Portencross from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM. Tea, coffee, sandwiches, cakes and assorted home baking will be served. A donation of £5.00 per person to the Portencross Castle Fund is recommended upon entry.

Tuesday, 20 July 2004 - The BBC program, “Restoration” will be screened on BBC 2. The scheduled screenings will allow viewers to telephonically vote for the building, which they would prefer to be selected for “Restoration” support. As presentation dates and the pertinent voting telephone numbers become available, we will provide the applicable telephone voting number for Portencross Castle on this website.

Saturday, 17 July 2004 - A “Castle Fun Day” (fundraiser) will be held around Portencross Castle from 1 – 5pm. Enjoy listening to the Isle of Cumbrae British Legion Pipe Band, a Punch and Judy show, and other antics to celebrate a lovely (hopefully!) day at Portencross. Tea/coffee and snacks will be available.

Tuesday, 13 July 2004 - The BBC Restoration programme, pertaining to the Scottish entries, will be televised for voter-viewing at 9pm on BBC 2. See details on “Breaking News” . PLEASE VOTE FOR PORTENCROSS CASTLE!!!

Saturday, 26 June 2004 - The 4th Annual Portencross Harbour Art Exhibition will be held in the marquee by Portencross North Harbour between the hours of 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Each year, this exhibit has gone from strength to strength. Teas and snacks will be available. General admission is £1.00 per person. Exhibitors should contact Audrey at (01294)823949 or Ann at (01294)823799 for details. Set up of exhibits will be on Friday, 25 June 2004, between the hours of 12 noon and 3:00 PM.

Tuesday, 01 June 2004 - This is the official release date for the “news launch” in regard to the BBC “Restoration” program. In the meantime, BBC has already begun to inject “leaders” in its daily programming. Portencross Castle is one of three Scottish entries selected for inclusion in this year's program. (Please see the News page of this website.)

Saturday, 29 May 2004 - "Not-Open-Yet Day" - In conjunction with the launch of the BBC Restoration program (please see our Links page), there will be a "Not-Yet-Open Day" at the castle, starting at 2:30pm. "Not-Open-Yet" because of safety considerations, so access to the castle interior is currently unavailable. Activities will take place around its exterior. The architectural, historical and cultural importance of the castle will be presented by professional "guides". FOPC committee members will be available to respond to individual questions. The purpose of this event is two-fold: To raise public and public agency awareness of what FOPC proposes to achieve and the significance of Portencross Castle. To say "thank you" to all of the people who have supported our efforts (through contributions and "in kind") and give others an opportunity to participate in our fund-raising efforts. (we still have a target of £80,000 for capital funding.) Please note that to aid our fund-raising efforts, tea and coffee will be for sale. This will also be the first sale of new postcards by the local artist, Derek McLean.

Saturday, 08 May 2004 - A “launch show” for the “Restoration” program will be televised on BBC 2 at 9pm to introduce viewers to the 21 viewer-vote buildings. Of these, three (including Portencross Castle) are Scottish buildings.

Thursday, 06 May 2004 - An extraordinary general meeting (EGM) for FOPC members will be held at 7.30pm at South Banks House, Portencross.

Saturday, 01 May 2004 - A series of “events”, emphasising the inclusion of Portencross Castle in the “Restoration” program competition will be scheduled in the Portencross and West Kilbride area.. As they are determined, specific dates and venues will be published in the Events section of this website and in the local media.

Saturday, 03 April 2004 - This is the first coffee morning fundraiser of 2004 for the Friends of Portencross Castle (FOPC) Castle Fund. It will be held in South Banks House at Portencross between the hours of 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. After a brief hibernation, visit with your friends in a convivial setting, catch up on local goings-on, and indulge yourself with home baked “goodies”. A suggested donation of £3.00 per guest would be appreciated, payable at the door, and all donations go to the Portencross Castle Fund.

Saturday, 06 December 2003 - The final 2003 coffee morning fundraiser for the FOPC Portencross Castle Fund will be held in South Banks House at Portencross between the hours of 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. This is an excellent opportunity to catch up on gossip with your friends and neighbours, enjoy some home baking and purchase those last-minute seasonal gifts. Suggested donation of £3.00 per guest at the door,…all donations go to the castle fund.

Monday, 06 October 2003 - IMPORTANT!!! The Portencross Car Boot Sale, originally scheduled for Sunday, 25 May 2003 has been rescheduled to Sunday, 1 June 2003. No pre-booking is necessary. The car boot sale will be from 12:00 noon until 16:00, Sunday, 1 June 2003 at the Ardneil Meadow (next to the Portencross public parking area. Snack and beverages will be available. Entrance: £5 per car, £10 per van. All entrance fees and snack/beverage proceeds will go to the Friends of Portencross Castle Fund. Please support our activity and have an enoyable and profitable day by the Clyde!

Saturday, 13 September 2003 - The 3rd Annual Portencross Harbour Art Exhibition will take place in the marquee by Portencross North Harbour. This has been a huge success in the past, and this year is expected to be even better! The exhibit will take place on the aforementioned dates, between the hours of 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Teas and snacks will be available. Exhibitors should contact either Audrey Kolon at 01294-823949 or Ann McLachlan at 01294-823799 for details. Set up of exhibits will be on Friday, 12 September, between the hours of 12 noon and 3:00 PM

Saturday, 12 July 2003 - The FOPC Annual Garden Tea will be held in the garden of South Banks House, Portencross from 1:00PM until 5:00 PM. Tea, coffee, sandwiches and assorted home baking will be served. A donation of £5.00 per person to the Portencross Castle Fund is recommended upon entry.

Sunday, 01 June 2003 - A year-long raffle was initiated at the Portencross Carboot Sale. The prize in this event is an original watercolour painting (shown on this page), by John Kidd Maxton, which was kindly donated to FOPC in order to raise funds for the Portencross Castle Fund. J.K. Maxton was born in Perth in 1878 and trained at the Glasgow School of Art. As well as painting "freestyle" landscapes, he was known for interior design and stained-glass windows. He later moved to Edinburgh, where he died in 1942. Postcards reproduced from this painting are also available at 35 pence each. FOPC is selling raffle tickets for a chance to own this painting. Tickets are £1 each and will be sold over the period of 1 June 2003 through 31 May 2004. Tickets will be available at all FOPC fundraising events. For further information as to purchasing raffle tickets, please call 01294-823799. The winning ticket will be drawn at an event to be organised in June 2004.

Saturday, 29 March 2003 - 10:30 to 13:00 - South Banks House, Portencross Coffee Morning, £3/person donation to Portencross Castle Fund appreciated.

Saturday, 30 November 2002 - West Kilbride Craft Fair at the Community Centre. 10 AM until 5 PM on Saturday, Noon until 4 PM on Sunday. The FOPC table will have homemade "goodies" and Portencross Castle Christmas cards for sale. At the adjoining table, the West Kilbride Amenity Society table will feature the sale of the newly published book, "West Kilbride, Seamill, Portencross,...and thereabouts" (160 pages of local interest and 300 colour photographs),...the ideal Christmas gift!

Saturday, 23 November 2002 - 10.30 to 13.30 - South Banks House, Portencross Coffee Morning £3/person donation to Portencross Castle Fund appreciated

Thursday, 08 August 2002 - 19.30 - South Banks House, Portencross FOPC Annual General Meeting

Sunday, 04 August 2002 - 14.00 to 18.00 - South Banks House, Portencross Garden Tea £5/person donation appreciated

Saturday, 29 June 2002 - 12.00 to 18.00 - Portencross Harbour Art Exhibition £0.50/person admission

Sunday, 12 May 2002 - 12.00 to 16.00 - Ardneil Farm Meadow, Portencross Car Boot Sale £5/car, £10/van

Saturday, 27 April 2002 - 10.30 to 13.30 - South Banks House, Portencross Coffee Morning £3/person donation to Portencross Castle Fund appreciated