What is its background?
This organisation was set up in Portknockie in May 2000 as a replacement for the defunct Amenities Group. It has a written constitution, its membership is open to all residents in the village, it is a registered Scottish Charity (No SCO30090) and it is managed by a group of public spirited volunteers – currently 10 in number.

What does the PCA do?
One of the roles it plays in village affairs is to manage the availability of two key local resources – the McBoyle Village Hall and the old Burgh Chambers building, used mainly for Youth Club activities in Church Street. Management of these two buildings, leased from the Moray Council, means organising bookings, keeping the buildings serviceable (heating, lighting, water, insurance cover and decoration), promoting social and recreational activities throughout the year and fund-raising to pay the bills.

Other services the PCA performs for the village include organising and mounting the Annual Gala, undertaking a variety of “Village in Bloom” activities like planting bulbs, weeding and watering floral features such as the Millennium garden and setting up the Christmas Lights display.

The PCA promoting the village -what’s new?
From time to time the PCA has taken the initiative to set up special village events such as the Homecoming Mosaic that was a local project in the spring and summer of 2009.  Its current priority is to encourage the social and recreational resources of the village – local skills and enthusiasms plus under-used venues in the village – to come together collaboratively to make Portknockie a hive of activity and interest groups.  A consultation questionnaire recently revealed there could be considerable interest in the village setting up its own programme of activities ranging from Arts & Crafts, dancing, keep fit, knitting, sports and a local centre for the University of the 3rd Age.  2011 may become the year when the residents of Portknockie pooled skills, experience and resources to establish an enriching local programme of community- based learning activities for all age ranges.

The Management Group and contact numbers:
Jim Urquhart (Chair): 840004;
John Bell (Vice Chair): 841065;
Bob Croucher(Secretary): 841291;
Celia Going(Treasurer): 842777;
John Myles(Hall bookings):840000;
Anne Barnes: 840326;
Delia Fletcher
John Going: 842777;
Harry Hawkes: 840718
Gladys McKenzie: 840542.