Neil in the running for Heritage Angel award

Neil in the running for Heritage Angel award

17 October 2018

THE driving force behind the Portico arts centre in Portaferry has been shortlisted for a Heritage Angel award.

Neil McClure, who transformed a former church into an art and heritage centre, is vying in the Best Rescue of an Historic Building category.

Neil set up the charity the Friends of Portaferry Presbyterian Church (FPPC) in 2007. 

Under his leadership as honorary secretary, FPPC acquired the church building, established its national value as a grade A listed building and raised £1.6m in funding.

It was designed to be an innovative concept of space sharing between congregation and community, religious and secular use, positioning the congregation as tenants and opening up the venue for the whole community to enjoy. 

The result is that the congregation has a stunningly restored church and the wider community has a fabulous venue for events of all kinds. 

Culture-lovers no longer have to travel long distances to see the arts and Portico’s legion of volunteers have a new sense of pride in what they do for their community. 

Supporting Neil’s nomination, Portico manager Dr Verity Peet said, “Neil’s energy, enthusiasm and optimistic outlook in the face of frequent adversity are legendary.

“ I have no idea how he manages to hold down a full-time job as a university professor as well as do everything he does for Portico on a voluntary basis. 

“And he gets his hands dirty — you are as likely to find him laying sandstone or weeding the grounds as filling in funding applications. Quite simply, without Neil this amazing heritage building would not have been rescued.”

The Heritage Angel Awards Northern Ireland, funded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and the Department for Communities, celebrates the efforts of people who go to extraordinary lengths to protect, save and share their local heritage.

For further information on Portico visit www.porticoards.com.  

To vote for Portico and Neil in the Heritage Angel awards visit www.ulsterarchitecturalheritage.org.uk.