Town of Culture can show 'the world how good we can be'

The Northamptonshire town of Corby is one of 15 places competing to UK's first Town of Culture 2028.

It beat off competition from nearly 400 towns across Britain including its neighbours Northampton, Wellingborough, Kettering and Rothwell.

Corby will now begin the process of finalising its entry with the hope of earning the accolade.

But what do people in the town think of the shortlist and what makes them stand out?

Mark Pengelly, Secretary of the Corby Highland Gathering committee, which is set to take place on Saturday and Sunday, was on the board that put the Town of Culture bid together.

He said Corby is a town that's "unique in culture".

"People come to live in Corby from all over the UK, all over Europe and because of that it's a united town and we all work together," he said.

Mark, who is also a Labour councillor on both the Town Council and North Northamptonshire Council, said people in Corby "support our cultures".

"I'm English, I was born in England. But I help run the Corby Highland Gathering where we get thousands of people who come two days a year to celebrate Corby culture and the Scottish coming to Corby and building the town."

Corby is often referred to as "Little Scotland" due to the large number of Scottish steelworkers who settled there in the 1930s, and then later after World War Two.

Mark said the Scottish culture is "ingrained in the Corby people", adding: "Corby is a great place to live, people are always looking after each other.

He said it was a "privilege to be on the shortlist".

"I think we need a little work and everyone working together. We can win this."

James Hay who was born in Corby, said despite the growth in the town it still has a "very local community" feel where people "look out for each other".

The 60-year-old who works in the town's Heritage Centre, said it is "very multicultural", but noted that even in the 1950s "there were 25 nationalities in Corby".

"Once you are accepted in Corby you are a 'Corby-ite', it's a very welcoming town," he said.

"I think it would be brilliant for Corby… it would give the economy a good boost.

"It's a very green place [with] parks and countryside, it's got a cinema, it's got the [Corby] Cube, the [Core] theatre and the international swimming pool."

Kaio Dohmatob moved to Corby from Wood Green in London five years ago and said his time in the town had been a "mix of experiences".

The 18-year-old said it is "full of all kinds of people".

But he said: "It's a lot quieter [than Wood Green], people care less about your story as a person, some people don't share the same experience as you."

The college football player said the town is "full of a lot of cultures" and being Town of Culture would be positive.

"It'll be good to put Corby on the map, this place is not as well known as other parts of Northamptonshire or Peterborough," he said.

He added if the town did win he would like to see "more centres for young people" and growth in the participation in football.

Amanda Hill organises the Highland Dancing at the Corby Highland Gathering and runs one of the seven Highland Dancing schools in the Corby area.

She said Corby is "just the best… we are just the nice, friendliest, the most hospitable, just a joy to be around.

"We all mix together and become a really nice community."

She was born in Dumbarton in Scotland, but in the 1970s her parents moved to Corby when she was 15 months old.

Amanda said that people in Corby often have a "slightly Scottish accent but you've never been to Scotland in your life".

The dance teacher said winning the Town of Culture "would be amazing".

She added: "Because of the community spirit that we have, it doesn't matter what nationality you are, we can all get together and just show the county, the country, even the world, how good we can be."

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