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CORBY REGENERATION
There’s so many reasons why we should feel proud of our town - we take a look at just some of the things Corby has achieved. BUSINESS A celebration of excellence - the 1st Corby Awards was a night to remember for winners and runners up alike FOCUS Time to get your thinking caps on nominations are now due for the Spirit of Corby Awards
Celebration of Excellence
Malcolm the Fish Man is guest of honour at Corby Awards
Love thy self Who loves ya baby? Let’s start with you!
PLUS: What’s On • Eating Out • Fashion • Health • Motoring • Business
Don’t miss an issue!
Welcome to...
spirit corby
putting community back into local living
Welcome to issue four of Corby Spirit Magazine. This issue looks at how our regeneration success has made Corby a top town to live in. When we started Corby Spirit, it was partly in retaliation to the constant bad press we were receiving in the nationals – we wanted Corby to stand up and be counted and this issue is dedicated to Corby and all our successes. Over the last few years, Corby has seen a massive amount of investment and is set to see a whole lot more but we’re taking a look at what we’ve got and celebrating how much we’ve achieved! From the landmark that is the Cube and the London rail link to the business facilities offered by the Corby enterprise centre, as well as our home grown stars like world class gymnast Daniel Keatings (P56) and the first year of the Corby Awards (P65), there is a lot to celebrate. We have taken a bit of poetic licence on an interview with our very own poet, Spike on pages 38/39 and we’ve walked a mile in the shoes of Chris McCullough Young on page 40 to find out how this Corby lad is raising awareness for mental issues on a national scale. Also, if the spice is right, you might just fancy the exotic culinary experience on page 50… Enjoy your Corby Spirit Magazine!
Trudie Avery Publishing Editor publisher@spiritmagazines.co.uk
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magazine does not cover all areas so to ensure you receive a copy why not take out a subscription www.spiritmagazines.co.uk The Spirit Magazine aims to be one of the best regional magazines in the UK. Launched to help bring the ‘community spirit’ back to the local area, the magazine is written for the community by the community to give you an intelligent magazine reflecting the values of residents and businesses alike.
......................................................... Cover image: Judith Hodson Publishing Editor: Trudie Avery T: 01536 560434 publisher@spiritmagazines.co.uk Contributors: James Mackay, Hannah Ingram, Anthony Kendrick, Susie Wooster, Sam Bosworth, Joe Francis Advertisements: Rebecca Hawkes T: 01536 560436 M: 07912 563111 sales@spiritmagazines.co.uk Advertising production: Andy Hodson 01536 560431 ads@spiritmagazines.co.uk Art: Design & production Wots the Big Idea Ltd 01536 560435 studio@spiritmagazines.co.uk Andy Hodson - Creative Director Photography: Andy Hodson, Judith Hodson Web design & development: Wots the Big Idea www.wotsthebigidea.com
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©Wots the Big Idea Limited 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without written permission of the publisher. Published by Wots the Big Idea Ltd, Corby Enterprise Centre, Priors Hall, London Road, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 5EU. Disclaimer: The reader acknowledges that the opinions expressed within the publications are not necessary those of the editor or the publisher. All written material and images are published in good faith and on the understanding that they are free from any copyright or other restrictions. Wots the Big Idea excepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from errors. Wots the Big Idea accepts no liability for any loss or damage suffered by any advertiser or reader as a result of any advertisement, article, picture or feature in this magazine.
This magazine can be recycled either through your kerbside collection, or at a local recycling point. Log on to recyclenow.com and enter your postcode to find your nearest site.
ISSUE 4 | Corby Spirit 3
contents Issue 4 - AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
Integrity at the Snooty Fox 54 Corby Regeneration 6
Make time 24
Back to Black 16
3 Welcome 6 Corby Regeneration
A look at Catalyst Corby’s profound impact on our town
14 Happy 10th birthday
Corby Awards 65
26 80s Retro Gadgets
It’s Back to the Future with these funky oldies
28 Autumn Quintessentials
Really very British interior designs
A decade of service earns Simpson West the Corby Awards Business of the Year Award
32 Just a Walk in the Park
15 Putting on The Ritz
After a £1 million pound refurbishment
What the experts say about your Autumn garden
16 Back to Black
36 What’s on
19 Reflexology
38 Poetry in Motion
What’s hot in monochrome this year Fact or fiction?
20 Ask Hannah!
Make friends with yourself and unlock your infinite power and potential
22 Boot camp Bodies
Drop and give me 20!
24 Blissed out Corby
Soak away your worries and relieve your aches and pains in the float tank
4 Corby Spirit | ISSUE 4
Exotic Dining 50
Your town park needs YOU!
34 Gardening Tips
Out and about in and around Corby Local poet reflects on his life beyond the cracks
40 To Insanity and Beyond
Living on the periphery of a life with deep meaning
44 Money Saving Tips for Motorists
Minimise your out-goings on that bottomless money pit known as your car
Poetry in Motion 38
50 Indian Dining with a Twist
From kangaroo steaks to blue shark, exquisite choice and service are served up
56 Corby’s Keatings
Interview with our very own World Championship Gymnast Daniel Keatings
60 Spirit of Corby 2013
It’s time to nominate those special people that are at the heart of this town
62 When is Good Design Enough?
Wots the Big Idea taking design to the next level
65 A Celebration of Excellence
The 1st Annual Corby Awards was a resounding success
67 Lakelands
Your hospice - the facts
corby special
The
Rege fram
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Image: Tom Crocker
ewo
tion
rk
by Catalyst Corby of ‘The ch un la e th ce sin g rin Sp is It is ten years th even its most ardent t no at th t ec sp su I . k’ or Regeneration Framew ct it has had on pa im nd ou of pr e th en se re enthusiasts would have fo of life. Corby’s grow th and quality 6 Corby Spirit | ISSUE 4
C
atalyst Corby itself was a new kind of regeneration company, drawing together partners from the private and public sector. It was underpinned by public money but run as a private company. private
The framework or strategy drew on extensive public consultation, which revealed a huge consensus for growth, with over 80% of people in favour; a strong preference for the regeneration of older housing areas; and with a cinema, bowling alley and restaurants topping the list of sought after amenities. Catalyst Corby recognised that in order to succeed Corby had to grow fast. It set out to double the population to over 100,000 by 2030; create 30,000 new jobs; completely transform the retail centre or ‘Corby Central’ as it was called; and secure major infra-structure improvements, including a regular London railway service. The strategy was predicted to need £400 million of public and £4 billion of private funding. It is fair to say that the launch was met with much scepticism by a public indelibly etched by the failed ‘Wonderworld’ development at Weldon. The scepticism was fuelled by a patchy start, with a new Corby Star bus service and new boundary signs the only visible signs of activity but months, indeed years, of painstaking preparation were soon to be rewarded. House sales at the new Oakley Vale development exceeded expectations, with extra phases brought forward early to meet demand from as far afield as London and the Home Counties. The Urban Extension at Priors Hall Park, at 5100 homes one of the biggest in the country, was approved in Spring, 2006. It received a glowing commendation from CABE, the Government’s design centre, which described it as ‘exemplary’.
ISSUE 4 | Corby Spirit 7
corby special
Burgeoning house sales created a halo effect for investors and public funders alike. The £40 million Willow Place Shopping Centre opened in Autumn 2007, with a string of top High Street names, most notably ‘Primarni’. For the first time Corby started to attract shoppers from Kettering, Harborough, Rutland, Stamford and even Peterborough. It became a destination of choice rather than necessity.
The Borough of Corby has seen some big changes and huge improvements over the past seven years. The regeneration plans have made it a vibrant and rapidly changing place and positioned the Borough as not just a leading community in Northamptonshire, but also in the Midlands. Despite the economic challenges Corby’s regeneration continues and it remains a place of both ambition and growth to be proud of. Cllr Tom Beattie, Leader of Corby Borough Council
Suddenly everything seemed possible. A new railway Station opened in April, 2009 and the investment floodgates opened. The first stages of the Corby Walk were installed in 2009. Over £4 million has since been spent on pedestrianisation and improvements to the public realm at George Street. Around £7 million was invested in Stage one of a new Northern Orbital Road to open up new industrial areas around Rockingham Speedway and work is well underway on the £32 million A43 Corby Link Road. This will provide a dual carriageway link to the A14, further boosting Corby’s attractiveness as a place to live or do business. Education provision has been transformed with new Children’s Centres at Penn Green, Woodnewton and Kingswood, new primary schools at Oakley Vale and Little Stanion, new secondary schools at Corby Business Academy (designed by Norman Foster Associates) and Kingswood; a striking new Tresham College, with a glass and steel design to celebrate Corby’s steel heritage; and a sensitive refurbishment of the nearby Manor House to create an attractive restaurant and business centre. Altogether well over £100 million has been invested. The desire for improved cultural and leisure facilities began to be satisfied with the opening of the Corby East Midlands International Pool in July 2009, the region’s first public 50 metre competition pool. The Corby Cube library, theatre and civic space followed in November 2010, with the Core Theatre replacing the much loved but outdated Willows Centre/Festival Hall. Plans for a six screen multiplex cinema with two restaurants were approved shortly afterwards and terms were agreed with the Odeon to operate it. Hopefully it will be delivered in the near future.
Image: Tom Crocker
Image: Tom Crocker
Image: Berhard Hales
corby special
To satisfy the need for more and better jobs, The Corby Enterprise Centre was built at Priors Hall in December, 2010. Already it provides a base for a variety of new and growing businesses employing around 160 people. Notable, private sector investments have taken place at Max Park, Rockingham Park, the Southern Gateway and Tesco at St James.
image of Corby has been transformed, generating huge public pride along the way. Visits in 2012 by the Olympic Torch and the Queen have added to the spirit of optimism and well being. It is reflected in growing public satisfaction with Corby as a place to live, which ultimately is the real measure of a successful regeneration programme.
In total over £250 million of public funding has been attracted, representing over 60% of the investment needed by 2030. Private investment built or committed stands at well over £2 billion, again more than halfway towards its target.
With Catalyst Corby now gone the challenge, in a period of austerity, is to build on the growth platform already created by harnessing the dynamism and creativity of the private and community sectors. Exciting projects such as Electric Corby and Enterprise4Corby, and expansion plans for facilities such as Adrenaline Alley show what can be achieved and suggest the future is in very capable hands. Even more significant is the relaunch of Priors Hall Park, with plans revealed for major new housing developments by Barratts, David Wilson Homes, Francis Jackson and Taylor Wimpey, which should underpin growth for the foreseeable future.
On a variety of measures, Corby is England’s fastest growing place, including a 63% increase in births from 2002 to 2011, three times the national average. Business start ups are running at record levels as the challenge is taken up to boost jobs in line with population growth. As with all large-scale regeneration programmes there have been problems and setbacks along the way but it is remarkable that so much of Catalyst Corby’s vision and ambition has been realised so quickly. The townscape and
See A Show at The Core at Corby Cube Hats Off To Led Zeppelin
The Official UK No.1 tribute to the greatest rock band ever! Shut your eyes and you would think you were listening to the real thing!
Thu 19 September 7.30pm
Nina Conti
Dolly Mixtures Groundbreaking ventriloquist Nina Conti introduces her daughter, her handyman, her gran and a stray dog in a show that refuses to go as rehearsed. “GENIUS” HHHHH Mirror
Thu 26 September 7.30pm
The Reduced Shakespeare Company
All 37 plays in 97 minutes! Join these madcap men in tights as they weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare’s plays.
Fri 11 October 7.30pm
Ticket Office: 01536 470 470 www.thecorecorby.com COR0116 Core Monthly adverts August 2013 Corby Spirit advert.indd 1
12/07/2013 11:40
corby special
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What news of the cinema? There has been lots of talk about a new cinema complex but other than the fact that the site has been cleared and the old college building demolished, there’s nothing really to be seen as yet. I Spoke to Mulberry Property Developments who are the developers running the project for an update: There has been a resolution to grant planning consent, the site is cleared and we have agreement from the Homes & Communities Agency and the Borough Council for the project to go ahead. We have agreed terms with the Odeon for a 6 screen cinema and we are just about to agree terms with 2 major restaurants to be part of the complex, so it’s exciting times for the cinema. We are currently working up construction details for tenders with a view to starting construction either at the end of this year or certainly by early in the new year. Running to this timeline, we would expect the cinema to be open before the end of the following year.
What’s next? Corby is set to continue to see companies grow and invest in the Borough. As well as the Prologis site at Stanion plantation, which is estimated to create 2,500 office and distribution jobs, work at Priors Hall is also going to boost employment. A total of £5 million has been awarded to developers BeLa, from the HCA’s Get Britain Building fund. This will help complete infrastructure work at Priors Hall which will kick-start zone one of the massive urban extension development. Zone one will see the build of a further 2,500 new homes as well as a new primary school and community centre which are set to be opened in 2015. A further £3.85m has been offered to BeLa and CBC to complete the Northern Orbital Road which will open development opportunities around Rockingham Motor Speedway and is estimated to create an incredible 20,000 jobs over the next 20 years. The development on Canada Square will see between 45 and 60 new homes replacing run-down flats in the area, improvements on Finland Way will see 47 new homes created and 55 new homes are being completed at Lodge Park on top of the 30 properties that have already been constructed. JD Wetherspoon has also announced it is creating new premises on George Street. The new bar/restaurant will be opening in late autumn, adding to the growing nightlife in the centre.
ISSUE 4 | Corby Spirit 13
Upcoming events at The Ritz Saturday 21st September A day of everything Vintage In conjunction with Desborough Town 1940s Day 11.00am – 4.00pm Free Admission
Putting on The Ritz After a spectacular £1 million refurb in 2010, The Ritz in Desborough has been open for business since 2011 and the impact when you walk into the venue is simply stunning. The main suite is absolutely dominated by the most beautiful (and enormous) crystal chandelier with mood lighting and modern appeal – a room to hold the party of parties! Any remnants of the old 1930s picture house that it was have now been transformed into an airy, perfectly thought out party palace. The Ritz is the perfect venue for pretty much any kind of function for up to 500 people. With four main function suites, outdoor garden and Civil Wedding Licence, the venue lends itself to a variety of functions including weddings, family celebrations, corporate product launches, team building exercises and Christmas parties. The landscaped outdoor garden 14 Corby Spirit | ISSUE 4
is an ideal setting for BBQs or Hog Roasts, outdoor weddings and private Champagne receptions. It’s the newest venue in Northants and probably a must for Christmas parties this year… I know; the dreaded ‘C’ word… But be warned, that with packages from just £20 per person, The Ritz Christmas party is definitely the place to be and tickets are already selling. Don’t leave it until November or you will almost certainly miss out. You can find out all you need to know about The Ritz, including their afternoon tea packages on their website: www.ketteringvenues.co.uk
A Tribute to the 1940s Don your dancing shoes and dress up for this fantastic night, featuring live music (in conjunction with Desborough Town 1940s Day). 7.30pm – 12.00am 2 course Sausage & Mash Supper & Entertainment £18 Saturday 28th September 1920s Great Gatsby Night Featuring the live Crazy Mama Band 7.30pm – 12.00am 2 Course Buffet and Entertainment £20.00 or dance only £10.00 From Friday 6th December Christmas parties galore! From £20 per person December 31st New Years Eve party In support of Help for Heroes From £25 per person For bookings call Gillian on 01536 763510 or 07716 822729
Happy 10th birthday Simpson West Simpson West has just celebrated their 10th year in business and what a decade it’s been for them, seeing Simpson West dominating the property market for 80% of that time. According to independent market share report company For Sale Sign Analysis, Simpson West currently hold a staggering 48.2% sold market share and for the 31st quarter in a row, they have more sold signs than any other agent. These are pretty incredible statistics but something just as telling towards the success of this estate agents, is that Simpson West were voted by the general public ‘Business of the Year’ at the Corby Awards this year. Whatever happened to everyone hating estate agents? It seems that Chris West and his team, are doing something very right. Chris doesn’t seem to think that there’s any great secret to it though, “It’s simple; we’re passionate about our customers. We open 7 days a week until 7pm and we accompany 100% of our viewings, which means we can give open and honest feedback to sellers”. Building relationships with customers has seen them return time and time again – one in particular has come back to them 5 times in 10 years! Simpson West is so customer focused that they not only offer houses for sale and properties to rent, but they can offer competitive legal and financial advice through partner companies. Very much the one-stop-shop for house buying and renting! Simpson West is proud to get involved with the community, having sold the Colyers Gardens project and becoming the sole estate agent for Prior’s Hall Park. Entrenched in the community, both living and working in Corby, the team are dedicated to getting the best for clients and for the town. So happy birthday guys, and long may you continue to thrive in our growing town.
For details on sales and lettings contact Simpson West Tel: 01536 202007 Email: info@simpsonwest.co.uk 64 Corporation Street, Corby NN17 1NH
fashion
New collections for
AW
AUTUMN/WINTER
2013
What’s hot in monochrome this Autumn/Winter
Black sleeveless asymmetric top, £285 Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti Monochrome printed leggings, £29 Label Lab Cream & brown tote bag, £235 DKNY House of Fraser (www.houseoffraser.co.uk)
16 Corby Spirit | ISSUE 4
Henry Top, £36.00 Debenhams (www.debenhams.com)
Everest Bomber Glacier, £129.99 Superdry (www.superdry.com)
Wheatsheaf Sweater £110, Quilted Leather Skirt £179, Etienne Loafer £139 Hobbs (www.hobbs.co.uk)
Love Label Strap Jewel Embellished Dress, £39.00 Very (www.very.co.uk)
Autograph Gothica Overlaid Lace Non Pad Bra £22.50 & Thong £12.50 (in store October) Marks & Spencers (www.marksandspencer.com)
ISSUE 4 | Corby Spirit 17
fashion
2
Schoolwear from
r a e lw o o h c S y a D 0 0 1 e h T e te n ra a u G n o ti c fa s ti a S Only at
com &
They must be the quickest six weeks of the year, but the summer holidays are nearly over and back to school dates are looming. The good news is, our George schoolwear range is available in-store now helping to make sure your children look smart for school in great quality and great value uniforms. From shirts and skirts to blazers and pinafores, George has a fantastic range of schoolwear, which offers a fantastic range of style and choice, all at complementary prices. Our schoolwear prices are the same 365 days a year, starting from just £2 for our Basic 100% Cotton Sweatshirt. And if you’re looking to kit out the whole family, the good news is our great prices mean a complete basic uniform of sweatshirt, 2-pack polo and woven skirt or trousers can be bought for as little as £8 with no compromise on quality or fabrics. There’s also no need to worry about having the sewing kit on hand for the first bit of wear and tear to show, the George schoolwear range is the only school uniform in the UK with a 100 day satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not happy with an item you’ve bought within 100 days, we’ll give you a full refund. So you can shop with confidence. And there’s no need to panic about any mad back to school rushes, our school shop is available to customers in-store all year. We also know how frustrating it can be if you can’t find your size or school colour in your local store, don’t worry it’s available online and currently with free delivery (£20 min spend) to your home or free delivery to store as standard; it couldn’t be simpler or more convenient to shop in our biggest store. And with a range of new lines available such as a belted pleat skirt, bow skater pinafore, embroidered pocket pinafore, slim fit trousers and blazer, there’s no doubt that thanks to George, there will be no arguments about getting up and dressed for school in the new term. Go to www.george.com for more inspiring schoolwear ideas.
18 Corby Spirit | ISSUE 4
£
health
Reflexology – Fact or Fiction? Reflexology is based on the belief that each part of each foot is a mirror site for a part of the body. The big toe, for example, is considered a reflex area for the head. Reflexology maps the body with the feet, the right foot corresponding to the right side of the body and the left foot corresponding to the left side of the body. Because the whole body is represented in the feet, reflexologists consider themselves to be holistic health practitioners, not foot doctors. Practitioners of reflexology claim to cure a variety of aches and pains by massaging the correct reflex points on the foot. It is said by those who practice it that reflexology can cure migraine headaches and relieve sinus problems. It can restore harmony to hormonal imbalances and cure breathing disorders and digestive problems. If you have a back problem, a massage on the right spot on the right foot (which might be the left foot in some cases) can alleviate your suffering. If you suffer from circulatory problems or have a lot of tension and stress, reflexology promises relief.
You don’t have to put up with pain
However… A medical person will tell you that this is all a scam. There may be some placebo effect, but there is no scientific proof to back it up. Alternative medicine doesn’t work, because once it is shown to work its not called alternative medicine, its called medicine.
What do you think?
Physiotherapy treatment can help with many problems from sports injuries to back pain, whiplash to post surgery rehabilitation. Day and evening appointments available Monday to Saturday. Registered with most of the major Health Insurance companies. Chartered Physiotherapist Registered with the Health Professions Council
Tel: 01536 770551 Mobile: 07796 357080 Email: Victoria@wvphysio.co.uk ISSUE 4 | Corby Spirit 19
health
ASK HANNAH! Are you your own best friend or your own worst enemy? If you have not made best friends with yourself yet, then this article is for you…. The human body can be considered the ultimate machine; in fact more intricate and efficient than any man-made machine ever created. We are amazing beings, our bodies are incredible, our minds have infinite power and potential, and we have been designed to perfection down to the minutest detail. Take the car as a close comparison, an impressive invention, with many elaborate parts and mechanisms and then consider how much attention and money we direct towards the upkeep of this material possession. When you consider that your body doesn’t come with spare parts, don’t you think it makes good sense to do everything you can to keep your fabulous machine running in tiptop condition? Despite this, many of us are more than willing to mistreat our own body every day. Do you take ‘proper care’ of yourself? Do you choose food for its nutritional value? Do you consider if the drink you consume is ‘good fuel’ for your body?
Hannah Ingram results coach
Do you exercise and train your body to perform daily tasks to your best ability? Do you get adequate rest? Do you speak to yourself kindly? Do you avoid stress? Sadly, I think in today’s culture too many of us grow up thinking that it’s ‘normal’ to abuse our bodies. I have worked with many clients who don’t love or respect themselves and as result, are blindly harming themselves everyday. Self-harm of the extreme nature such as smoking, drug and alcohol abuse and self-harm of the seemingly less extreme nature, such as dysfunctional relationships, over/under eating and under-achieving. But in my eyes this is all selfhatred and a lack of life’s key ingredient.... Love. My biggest blesson (lesson with a blessing) has been the discovery of the extreme value of self-love, which in turn will lead to an unconditional flow of love to and from others as well. Not in an egotistical way, in a lovely way. So priority number one is to fall in love with you!!! How do I do that I hear you say..? Well here I’ll share with you a few things that have worked for me and hopefully some of them will also work for you.
Self-care Take the time to accommodate your own needs and start to love and value yourself as you are. You are all that you really have, others will come and go, but you have a lifetime to spend with yourself. Remember to take time out every now and then; take a soak in the bath, read a book, listen to music or whatever helps you relax. It’s amazing how life can get in the way of these things, so it’s important to find a way to make them a priority. If you have a hectic schedule book an appointment with yourself, put it in your diary and make sure you honour it.
20 Corby Spirit | ISSUE 4
Start to appreciate the small things
Take action
This one came up in the last issue of Corby Spirit, but it’s so important I’m going to mention it again. An attitude of gratitude is essential to getting what you want in life. When we appreciate what we have, we attract more of the same. So take some time everyday to notice all things, big and small, in your life right now that you have to be thankful for. From the roof over your head, the car you drive, your family and friends, to the eyes to read this article. When you change the way you think, you change the way feel and that will change your life.
Realise and embrace the fact that you do have choices. It’s easy to feel like we have no control over what happens to us and let life happen to us rather than living it. It’s time to take up the reins and start taking charge of your destiny. If you’re not happy with your current situation then do something to improve it. Even the smallest decision could be the start of change; for example if you’re looking to meet a new potential partner, taking the decision to join a social club will open a whole new pool of contacts who may either be or know this potential partner.
Change the internal chatter Think about how you talk to yourself. No matter how bad things seem, what is the point of beating yourself up and being critical and negative? I’m sure you know plenty of people who would be willing to put you down, tell you that you can’t do something or question your ability. So why would you want to do that as well? We all make mistakes and we are all learning and growing, so give yourself a break, accept you did your best this time, acknowledge what could be done better next time, and then move on. It’s time to become your own best friend and biggest fan. Don’t be afraid to compliment yourself and pay credit where it’s due, e.g. ‘I look good today’ or ‘ that was a great workout’.
Dare to dream I like to think if we aim for the moon, the worst that can happen is we miss and land amongst the stars. So don’t be afraid to want more from life, we are here to enjoy it not just exist. So spend some time thinking about what you really want in life. Let your mind wander, maybe write it down or draw it but most importantly see it and feel it. Because once your mind has conceived the idea, your body then has the opportunity to achieve it.
Love is the foundation on which we build success. So make these foundations as solid as possible and start to see the joy, confidence, abundance and opportunities fill your life. Once you have laid your foundations you can start to build the life of your dreams. Wishing you all the happiness life has to offer.
Do you want to create a healthier lifestyle for yourself? Join the ‘Lifestyle Club’ at Steel Park, Corby, 6 week course, Thursday evenings, starting 1st August - £100 This is your chance to discover ways to feel fitter and healthier and to increase energy levels, mobility and strength. Advice to help boost your confidence, motivation and self-esteem. We will also look at what and when to eat to manage body fat, weight and to help reduce the risk of ill health and diseases.
For more details or to book your space please contact Hannah on 07932 403059 ISSUE 4 | Corby Spirit 21
R E N I A R T health
Boot camp
BODIES A fitness boot camp is a type of group physical training program. These programs are designed to build strength and fitness through a variety of intense group intervals over a one hour period. The term boot camp is used to describe group fitness classes, that promote fat loss, camaraderie and team effort. They are designed to push people a little bit further than they would in the gym alone. Boot camps are sometimes organised outdoors in parks. The idea is that everyone involved works at their own pace as
22 Corby Spirit | ISSUE 4
James Mackay fitness coach
they team up and work towards one goal, either in pairs, small teams of three or four or even two teams head on.
Boot camps provide social support for those taking part. This provides a different environment for those exercisers who get bored in the gym and so find it hard to develop a habit of exercise. To find out more or to join in contact James Mackay on 07701 037932 or email jamesmack5253@gmail.com
BOOTC A M P
James ho bootcamp lds regular s on Mon & Wedne days sd and Satu ays at 7.15pm rdays at 9 at Ketteri .00am ng Athletics trac k
Warm up
Phase 3 Hill Sprints
5 - 8 mins duration To increase Heart Rate light jog (Mobility exercises)
Sprint up a hill approx. 25 yards, jog back down and complete a body weight exercise. Repeat x10
Phase 1 15 - 20 mins in pairs Always stay active between each exercise. This means participants are never allowed to stay stationery they are always kept moving. For example doing exercises such as Star jumps, Running on the spot etc.
Sets: 2 Reps: 10
Mountain Climbing
➡
Sets: 2 Reps: 10
Tuck Jumps
➡
Partner Squats
Jump Squats
Sets: 2 Reps: 10
Duration: 1 min
➡
➡
Sit Ups / Press Ups Duration: 1 min
Press ups
Burpees
Sets: 2 Reps: 10
Sets: 2 Reps: 10
3 point Lunge
➡
Table/Dip Duration: 1 min
Phase 4 Reverse Crunches
➡
Duration: 1 min
Duration: 1 min
Leg Raises Duration: 1 min
Leg Flutters
Partner Press Ups with Clap
Duration: 1 min
➡
Duration: 1 min
➡
Plank/Burpee
Duration: 1 min
Duration: 1 min
Sit Ups Duration: 1 min
Roman Thrusts Squat & Star jump
Duration: 1 min
Duration: 1 min
➡
➡
Jumping Lunges
➡
Phase 2 50 metre sprints x10 At the end of each sprint complete a set of squat thrusts starting with 10 then working your way down on each sprint e.g. 9, 8, 7, 6 5 etc.
Cool Down 5 mins duration Stretching
ISSUE 4 | Corby Spirit 23
health Lily Pad Spa were proud finalists of this year’s Corby Awards (see page 65 for more details)
Blissed out Corby
Sometimes the most amazing things happen when you least expect it; like when you’re on Farmstead Road in Corby and tucked away in the corner of a little shopping area, you stumble upon Lily Pad Spa.
Who would have thought it…? Spas are expensive right? They’re not for the likes of us, not for everyday. Well that was before Sinead and John Osborne had a dream. A dream to bring something really special to Corby that was both affordable but at the same time high in quality. These guys are Corby through and through and when I asked them why they decided to open up a spa in their hometown, they said, “It was really important to us to bring a bit of luxury at affordable prices to the community. We love Corby and its people. You’ll never be lonely in Corby.” Sinead and John are really passionate about Lily Pad Spa and have been working tirelessly to get the right products, the right treatments and all at the best prices. There’s no compromise on quality, the products are tried and tested (though not on animals), and pretty much, their every waking thought is dedicated to how they can serve their customers better. For example, they have a room specifically for after-treatment, so that once you’ve had your massage, your facial, your little bit of heaven, instead of racing you off out of the door, you’re welcome to stay a while and chill out until you feel ready to face the world again. The team at Lily Pad Spa are also dedicated to their cause, hand picked for their skill and care. Alex Jobe is known as ‘The Queen of Nails’ in the Corby borough and is coveted by all her clients. Casey has fingers to die for when it comes to massage and the quality of her massage cannot be beat. One of the really special features of Lily Pad Spa is its flotation tank. Flotation tanks offer the deepest form of relaxation and make all your stress, anxiety and pain just fade away. After a float in the tank with its Epsom salts you can expect to feel like a new person, revitalised, de-stressed, clear-minded and free from aches and pains. From improving the condition of your
24 Corby Spirit | ISSUE 4
skin to easing Arthritis and backache, a session in the flotation tank will detox the system and balance your brain. This is the only flotation tank in Corby and indeed for the nearest 50-miles. There are other ways to let the world slip away for a while in the spa, you could try a facial, a massage, a manicure or pedicure, or pamper yourself with a spray tan – not one of those nasty orange ones – a really good quality, manually applied and authentic tan. There are also several different types of massage available. Outside the normal list of massages specialist Kora, is available for Shiatsu massage, Lomilomi Hawaiian massage, Thai massage and Chinese bubble massage. Chinese bubble massage is great for sports injuries or cellulite and Lomilomi will leave you feeling the most relaxed you’ve EVER felt. If you’re looking for an even bigger treat, you can hire out Lily Pad spa for a hen or stag party, or even for a whole day (Sunday or Mondays) if you want to utterly indulge yourself and your nearest and dearest with treatments, all the facilities at your fingertips and maybe a drop of Champers…
er Let go of the inn
caveman
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bookings, please For availability and ad, a, 173 Farmstead Ro Sp d Pa y Lil t ac nt co NN18 OLL Corby, Nor thants, Tel: 01536 201021 dspa.co.uk Email: info@lil ypa
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gadgets
80s Retro We may (or may not) mourn the loss of the shoulder pad, the Walkman and the Sinclair C5 but from a nostalgic stance, you can celebrate some of the ‘80s classics as they are still out there.
Gadgets
Pac-Man Alarm Clock Wake up to the authentic sounds of Pac Man a landmark title in video game history and the best know video game character of all time - an icon of 1980s pop culture. www.giftandgadgetstore.com
£13.99
Big Trak The revived Big Trak is an authentic reproduction that boasts all the features of the original, including the ubiquitous ‘80s go-faster stripes and blue headlamp. www.play.com
£34.95
26 Corby Spirit | ISSUE 4
£98.10
Henry Hoover Henry the Hoover was 1st born in 1981 in the town of Chard, Somerset . He was a healthy bouncing boy who weighed just 6.6Kg. Numatic International were & are his proud parents. www.ehenryhoover.co.uk
£10.00
Arcade Classic Invaders Electronic Toy Not quite Space Invaders but it’s as near as you’re going to get and still lots of fun. www.retrostyler.com
£15.29
Fibre Optic Lamp And what about this little 80s treasure? If your aunty didn’t have one, I’m a Dutchman’s Uncle! Re-live the glorious mood-enhancing colour changing spectacle that is the fibre optic lamp. www.freemans.com
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home
Autumn Quintessentials If you’re looking for beautiful co-ordinating fabric and wallpaper collections to revamp your rooms this Autumn, look no further than Sanderson. Founded by Arthur Sanderson in 1860, Sanderson is an internationally renowned brand in the field of interior design and decorating. Its quintessentially English fabrics and wallpapers, bed linen, paint and tableware collections offer classic, inspirational, innovative design plus exceptional quality and value for money.
Anna Stone & Susie Wooster
interior specialists
Wooster Interiors Susie and Anna are two wonderfully passionate and very motivated ladies who are just wild about interiors. From fabrics to furnishings, they are bursting with ideas! Call into The Barn at 6 Sudborough Road, Brigstock to feast your eyes on their showroom.
For more inspiration or to discuss individual needs for your interiors, give Susie and Anna a call on 01536 373747
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Having been granted a Royal Warrant in 1923, Sanderson still supplies fabrics, paint and wall coverings to HM Queen Elizabeth II and British Royal Palaces. The company draws on the creativity of young contemporary designers, alongside the work of artists and historical documents. This mix creates new and directional designs for modern living and all Sanderson’s printed fabrics and wallpapers are made in their own factories in the UK.
With all the new fabric launches this autumn, Wooster Interiors is a feast of inspiration to create your ideal room setting.
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We have a fully stocked showroom where you will always be made to feel welcome and with a large range of fabrics as well as wall coverings and poles. We can also help with colour schemes, paint colours, upholstery and all soft furnishings, with a full interior design service available if required. All curtains and blinds are made up in their Brigstock workroom with their adjoining showroom. Wooster Interiors also sells venetians, roller blinds and all types of blinds to suit any window design and at any budget. Change your room scheme by adding some cushions, rugs and lamps and throws, move furniture around to create a different space and environment to live in. It’s always important to have a reflection of your lifestyle and you within your home.
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home
Canine Body Language Your dog may not be able to talk to you, however they do communicate through their body language. Probably the most recognisable sign of this to most of us is a dog wagging its tail, is a happy dog. There are lots of other forms of body language that you pet will display depending on their mood and here are a few examples for you to look for so you can better communicate with your dog:
1 I’m a happy or excited dog: - Wagging tail - Eye contact - Pricked up ears - Stretching - Play bow - Licking - Pawing at people 2 I’m a stressed dog: - Yawning when not tired - Narrowing of the eyes - Tucking in of the tail - Lowering or curving the body - Digging
I’m a curious dog: 3 - Head tilted - Sniffing the ground, objects, people or other pets
4 I’m a relaxed dog: - Stretching - Laying on back with belly exposed - Relaxed ears and blinking eyes - Yawning 5 want to be left alone I - Panting (when not hot or thirsty) - Avoiding eye contact - Tense forehead and ears
6 I’m a scared dog: - Hiding under chairs, tables, in beds, behind sofas etc… - Freezing/going ridged - Shaking - Ears pinned back 7 I’m in pain: - Limping - Repeated head shacking - Hunched abdomen - Excessive grooming - Pain can sometimes trigger aggression, so if your dog starts to display signs of aggression, they may be telling you that something is wrong.
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garden
Just a walk in the park Joe Francis helps ignite the spirit of Corby with a new lively, stimulating and interactive Sensory Garden
P
arks play a significant role in our towns and cities, they are a green haven amongst so much brick, concrete and tarmac. Coronation Park in Corby is a shining example of the importance of a green space in a town environment and its past, present and future all hold exciting yet challenging times.
32 Corby Spirit | ISSUE 4
Built around the year of the Queen’s coronation, there are no prizes for guessing how it got its name! In the 60 years it has been around, the park has served the Corby residents well for both social and recreational activities. For many years, Coronation Park was famous for its ‘Blind Garden’ which was a series of flower beds
Joe Francis garden designer
filled with various plants and flowers providing plenty of scents and textures for the partially sighted. The Blind Garden was beautifully kept and enhanced the parks reputation as a place that appealed to all members of the community. However, over time the whole park became neglected and uncared for and subsequently
fell into a state of disrepair, so much so that it came under threat from developers wanting to build on it. Thankfully though, the local residents stepped in and, with the help of the local council and an organisation called Groundwork Northampton, they are gradually bringing the park back to life. The residents group, known as ‘The Friends of Coronation Park’ has worked tirelessly to maintain the park and rebuild the community spirit that was focused round this all important green space. From 2007 to 2010 extensive work was carried out to help regenerate the park to the beautiful and enjoyable place it once was – the pavilion has been refurbished and is now set up to serve tea and coffee, the much-loved rose arbor has been renovated and modified to be wheelchair friendly and is now, once again, a favoured backdrop for happy couples having their wedding photos taken, and the old Blind Garden has become an amphitheatre for events and shows. As this year marks the park’s 60th birthday, the Friends of Coronation Park are keen to honour the
celebrations with a great tribute to the original park. Their plan is to replace the park’s ‘jewel in the crown’, which was once the Blind Garden with a new, modern and up-to-date Sensory Garden. The Friends, with the help of Groundwork Northampton, are working closely with Outer Space Garden Design to create this brand new area of the park. Concept plans have already been drawn up and the development of this exciting new garden is well underway. The new Sensory Garden will be a lively, stimulating and interactive place for everyone, able bodied or not. The garden will be positioned close to the pedestrian entrance on the south side of the park (just off Elizabeth Street). The garden itself will be split up into five different areas each of which will reflect the five senses, these areas will converge in a central circular area (in tribute to the original Blind Garden) which will have elements of screening and a variety of seating forming a secluded, peaceful centre to the garden. There will be a vast range of colours, textures, sights, sounds and interactive toys and instruments, along with tranquil places with plenty of seating to sit and relax. As the
name suggests, the garden will be a sensory feast for all who visit! The main aim of this garden is to rekindle Corby’s community spirit and encourage people to come and enjoy the park as the valuable asset that it is. However, this project needs YOU! Funding is a major hurdle at the moment, which is why various events are being organised by The Friends of Coronation Park. You can help by going down to the park and showing your support, even if that is just buying a tea and cake at the cafe... Every little really does help. Outer Space Garden Design & Landscaping is one company who has donated their time in order to help get this project moving in the right direction. The Coronation Park is looking for companies and individuals who would be willing to donate time and money to transform this much loved park into the fantastic space that it could be, so if you can help, then please contact Alison Phillips of Groundwork Northampton on 01536 526453 or email victoria. pietersen@groundwork.org.uk
If you would like to find out more about the design and plans for the new Sensory Garden please contact Outer Space on 01604 820424 or email contactus@osgardens.co.uk ISSUE 4 | Corby Spirit 33
garden
w hat to do
now Sam Bosworth offers some top tips for the Autumn months to come. Vegetable Garden
time of year is not known as Harvest time for nothing – • This there should be lots of crops ready for harvesting, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Potatoes, Beetroot, Runner Beans, Marrow, Onions, it really is time to reap the rewards from earlier in the year. There are still plenty of Veggie plants that can be planted in the Autumn – o Broad Beans – Autumn planting will give you an earlier spring crop by a month or so and keep Blackfly at bay. o Got a space to give over to some permanent vegetable plants? Then Asparagus will fit the bill. It needs a few years to crop properly but nothing can beat Asparagus straight from the garden. o Shallots, Onion Sets, Garlic and Spring Onions can all be found in the Garden Centre in the Autumn. o Spinach Planted in the Autumn has less tendency to bolt than spring sown plants. Don’t forget to store your fruit and vegetables properly, we all know what One rotten apple can do! A dry, well ventilated spot will suit most things and give them space so they are not touching each other. A bit of hard work over Autumn will really pay dividends next spring. Dig your Vegetable plot, leaving big ‘clods’ of earth letting the weather break the soil down slowly over winter.
•
• •
Flower Garden
Tidy up planted areas as plants begin to die off for the • Autumn and Winter – but leave seed heads in place they are a great source of food for the birds. Plant Bulbs – August and September for Daffodils, Autumn Crocus and Hyacinths. September and October for Tulips and Crocus. Don’t forget to plant in layers when filling tubs, it will give you repeat flowering in spring if you plant Daffs at the bottom, then Dwarf Tulips, then Dwarf Daffodils on top. Enjoy the berries and fruit of plants such as Pyracantha, Cotoneaster, Sorbus and Hawthorn and the Autumn colour of wonderful plants such as Liquidamber (Sweet Gum), Acer Palmatum (Japanese Maples) and Eunymous europeus (spindle tree) all vastly underated plants. Take cuttings of plants, both hardy and non hardy plants. Cuttings from non hardy plants such as Geraniums, Fuchsia
• • •
34 Corby Spirit | ISSUE 4
and Marguerites will grow away much more vigorously than larger overwintered plants. Use the softer part of plants (semi ripe part) to make cuttings of shrubs such as Lavender, Rosemary, Spirea and Philadelphus. With both Hardy and Non Hardy plants, dip the cuttings in rooting powder and push them into a well drained cutting compost, don’t let them dry out but do not overwater, and by the spring they will have developed their own roots.
Tidy and Clean the Garden
clear fallen leaves and put them on the compost • Regularly heap. Remember that leaves from Oak trees are slow to compost, so put them into black plastic bags to compost. Add all other waste plant material to the compost heap and a little soil to add in the bacteria and microbes that cause decomposition. Lightly trim your hedges to keep a neat shape – this will also be rewarding in the winter, the frost looks fantastic when it whitens topiary plants and formally cut hedges.
•
Lawns
the lawnmower blades sharp as ‘ripped’ grass • Keep will be damaged by the winter frosts. If possible get the lawnmower sharpened and serviced ready for the spring. Autumn treated lawns are so much easier to keep looking good in the summer. Autumn lawn food helps to promote root growth which will really help the lawn to get going next spring.
•
Finedon Rd, Burton Latimer, Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire NN15 5QA Tel: 01536 722635 www.bosworthsgc.co.uk Twitter @Bosworths_GC
Late-night opticians (So you can do more than your shopping after work)
Poppies coffee shop is part of Bosworths Garden Centre and opened in 2007. With its warm, inviting and relaxed atmosphere, Poppies has become a destination in its own right.
All kids’ glasses are free at Asda Opticians under the NHS*
Take a break from shopping in the garden centre, arrange a catch up with friends or family, or hold your business meeting with us. Breakfasts are served daily until 11am, or enjoy one of our light lunches including gardeners’ lunches, salads, jacket potatoes, sandwiches and baguettes. A mouth watering array of desserts is also on offer to tantalise your taste buds. Come and savour our speciality teas and freshly ground coffee including Illy and Arden coffee, along with favourites such as Americano, Lattes and Cappucinos. Enjoy one of our speciality afternoon teas or a slice of one of our mouth-watering cakes. New in is our Cornish ice creams, frappes and iced lattes and we will soon be able to offer you a glass of wine with your meal. Being aware of food miles, most of our suppliers are local to us, including bread from Market Square Bakery in Higham Ferrers. So don’t drive by, drive in and have a tea or coffee on us.
Opticians opening times: Monday to Saturday 9am–8pm, Sunday 10am–4pm. Phoenix Park Way, Corby NN17 5DT
from www.ASDA.com/corby Available at Asda Corby while stocks last. *All kids’ prescription glasses are free under the NHS with an NHS voucher. NHS voucher will only be issued following an eye test if a prescription is required. Ask one of our Optical Colleagues in-store for more information on kids’ glasses and NHS entitlements. Asda Opticians available in selected stores. Subject to availability. Find your nearest Asda Opticians at ASDA.com/opticians.
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days & nights
What’s On Boughton House and Gardens Where: Boughton House Date: Throughout August Time: House: 2pm - 5pm, last entry 4pm. Gardens: Noon - 5pm Cost of event: House and Gardens: Adults £10.00, Children £7.00, Family (2+2) £25.00 Gardens only: Adults £5.00, Children £2.00, Family (2+2) £12.00 Entry to the house is by guided tour on weekdays, free flow on weekends and BH Mondays. Get Involved: Theatre Summer School Where: The Core Date: Monday 5 to Thursday 15 August (weekdays only) Time: 11am to 5pm Cost of event: £100
will be magic lantern, steampunk swap, market, bands, competitions, workshops and more. Tickets and more information at www.eventbee.com/v/ steampunkstamford/boxoffice BARC Saloon & Sports Car Racing Where: Rockingham Date: 10/11 August Time: 9am Cost of event: £10 in advance, £15 on the gate. Formula Renault, Porsche GT3, Production Touring Cars, Honda V-Tec, Clubmans, Renault Clio. Tickets at www.rockingham.co.uk
To book a place, call the Ticket Line on 01536 470 470. A limited number of bursaries are available. www.thecorecorby.com
Art, Craft & Design show Where: Boughton House Date: Sunday/Monday 25/26 August Time: 10am - 5pm Cost of event: free
Gary Barlow Tribute Night Where: Holiday Inn, Corby Date: Friday 30th August Time: 7.30pm Cost of event: £22
Other ‘Get Involved’ projects are;
Get Involved: Play in a Week Tuesday 20 to Friday 23 August
Be prepared for Battles, Horses, Pageant, Living History Camp and much more.
Watch artisans at work and buy from their skilled hands, walk amongst the Georgian landscapes, eat great food and enjoy free musical entertainment.
Participants will develop their performance skills and confidence, working with The Core’s Creative Director Chris Sudworth on the first staging of a new drama, The Case Of Whilton College. Get Involved: Film in a Week Monday 12 to Friday 16 August
The Vikings Of Middle England Where: Rockingham Castle Great Park Date: 25-26 August Time: 12am – 5pm daily Cost of event: Combined event & Castle ticket: Adults £10.50, Children £7 & Family ticket (2+2) £28. Event only: Adults £9.50, Children £5.50 & Family ticket (2+2) £24.50.
image: Universal Studios
Open Air Screening of Les Misérables Where: Boughton House Date: Saturday 17 August Time: Doors open from 6.30pm for picnics, film after sunset 8.45pm Cost of event: £12.50/£8.50 in advance.
It may not be the real Gary Barlow, but it’s the next best thing! A deluxe buffet and a top night’s entertainment. BRSCC Saloon & Sports Car Racing Where: Rockingham Date: 7 September Time: Cost of event: £10 in advance, £15 on the gate.
Steampunk Stamford 2013 Where: United Reformed Church Hall, Stamford Date: 9/10 August Time: 5.30 – 10.30pm Cost of event: £4-£20 dep. on times
The grounds will be open before the film for you to enjoy a picnic on the lawn as the sun sets, then settle back to watch Tom Hooper’s breath taking and visually stunning screen adaptation.
This one day BRSCC HQ run meeting will be staged on the ISCC circuit and will feature: Pickup Truck Championship, PistonHeads.com Caterham Academy Championship, Dunlop TVR Challenge, Teekay Couplings Production Gti Championship, Civiv Cup Series
Steampunk Stamford - a celebration of all things steampunk. There
Buy your tickets online at www.summerscreens.co.uk
Tickets at www.rockingham.co.uk
For a full list of on what’s on in the Corby area visit www.spiritmagazines.co.uk/whats-on
36 Corby Spirit | ISSUE 4
How to Catch a Star Where: The Core Date: Saturday 21 September Time: 11am and 2pm Cost of event: £9.50
Vivacious ventriloquist Nina Conti Where: The Core Date: Thursday 26 September Time: 7.30pm Cost of event: £19.50
A funny, gentle retelling of Oliver Jeffers’ award-winning children’s story. A free, specially themed pre-show Craft Session led by a visual artist will take place before each performance. Please ask at the Ticket Office for more details.
Multi-award winning comedian and BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Nina Conti brings her unique mixture of ground-breaking ventriloquism and mischievous stand-up to The Core, as part of her Dolly Mixtures tour.
For tickets please book by calling the Ticket Line on 01536 470 470 or visiting www.thecorecorby.com Vintage/Homemade Fair Where: The Ritz, Desborough Date: Saturday 21 September Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm Cost of event: Free admission A day of everything Vintage, in conjunction with Desborough Town 1940’s Day. A tribute to the 1940s Where: The Ritz, Desborough Date: Saturday 21 September Time: 7.30pm – 12.00am Cost of event: £18
To book, call the Ticket Line on 01536 470 470 or go to www.thecorecorby.com Thursday Night Ladies Bike Rides Where: Fineshade Cycling store Date: Every Thursday until 26 September Time: 6-7.30pm This is a gentle ride exploring Fineshade Woods; perfect for beginners and those who haven’t been out on their bikes for a while! Blues Brothers Tribute night Where: Kettering Park Hotel and Spa Date: Friday 27th September Time: 7pm Cost of event: £36 per person
Don your dancing shoes and dress up for this fantastic night of live music.
Enjoy an evening of rhythm and blues at its very best but don’t tell the Penguin!
To book tickets email events@ketteringvenues.co.uk or call 01536 763510 or 07716 822729
To book a place, call Emma Hayes on 01536 416666 or email kpark. events@shirehotels.com
The Rockingham Castle Food & Craft Fair Where: Rockingham Castle Great Park Date: 21-22 September Time: 10am – 5pm daily Cost of event: £5 (adults), £4 concessions, £2 child (5-16), Under 5s free
1920s Great Gatsby Night Where: The Ritz, Desborough Date: Friday 28 September Time: 7.30pm – 12am Cost of event: £20 pp, dance only £10
Come and celebrate all that is good to eat and drink from across the region and far beyond.
Featuring the live Crazy Mama Band – This you do not want to miss! 2 Course Buffet and Entertainment. Tickets available from events@ ketteringvenues.co.uk or call 01536 763510 or 07716 822729
Hats off to Led Zepplin Where: The Core Date: Thursday 19 September Time: 7.30pm Cost of event: £15.50, concessions £13.50 It’s been a long time since Led Zeppelin rock ‘n’ rolled…but a stunning tribute to the greatest rock band ever. For tickets please book by calling the Ticket Line on 01536 470 470 or visiting www.thecorecorby.com.
Murder Mystery Evening Where: Kettering Park Hotel and Spa Date: Friday 25th October Time: 7pm Cost of event: £36 per person Do you have what it takes to solve a baffling murder case? Join us for an evening of mystery including Champagne on arrival and a 3 course dinner. To book a place, call Emma Hayes on 01536 416666 or email kpark. events@shirehotels.com Autumn Fayre Where: Weldon Village Hall Date: 26 October Time: 12-4pm Cost of event: 20p Entrance, Tea and Coffee 50p, Soup and a roll £1.00
Follow us on www.facebook.com/corbyspiritmagazine or twitter @CorbySpiritMag
ISSUE 4 | Corby Spirit 36 37
days & nights
Poetry
in Motion
Poetry is for geeks isn’t it? Or lovelorn teenagers full of angst? Not for me surely… Well how wrong could a girl be??! I had no idea that I would like poetry. Poetry was just something that I didn’t really care much about in English lessons at school and I’ve never really thought much about it since. As the editor of Corby Spirit Magazine, a couple of people have sent me some poems and I thought them really rather lovely, but it wasn’t until I met Spike and read 3 books of his poems (back-to-back over about 24 hours) that I now see them for what they are; a window into the soul. Poems can be incredibly brave; a statement of political review, an opinion, a feeling, a belief. Crafted and rounded to weave, to cut, to endear, to enrage, just to demand feeling – I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster, rendered to me by ‘just a poem’. I can’t imagine ever jumping up and expressing my feelings about politics, God, my life’s loves… Would a chance meeting ever move me to sit and ponder upon how to express my inner feelings, well that’s exactly what happens to Spike. Corby man Michael John Pike (Spike) has been writing poetry for over 20 years and has just published his 3rd book “Beyond The Cracks”. I sat down with Spike to talk about his love affair with poetry, what inspired him to write, and how it has taken him on a journey from dark to light. In his mid 20s, Spike left the Army, leaving behind a 5-year relationship with the 1st Battalion Scots Guards. A relationship that had seen him shot at, caught in an explosion and damaged in more ways than even he knew at the time. He was in a dark place, on a downward spiral into drink and drugs, fighting all kinds of demons, with no escape from himself. And then he discovered poetry and a chink of light emerged. He couldn’t talk about his feelings, but somehow they would all come tumbling out onto paper… Poetry allowed Spike to purge his anger, to get things off his chest. Today the poems can be about politics, about God, or they can be about his faithful old jacket – they are as diverse in content as they are in nature. Some are soulful and searching, some are humorous and ridiculous, others are loving and warm. Some poems ask questions, some give personal revelations. I never knew… I never knew that poetry was so raw, so enchanting but also, so tangible.
38 Corby Spirit | ISSUE 4
In the last 3 years, Spike has performed at the Core, as well as headlining in Leicester and doing gigs in London and Nottingham theatres - a step up from open MIC nights in pubs and clubs where he started 3 years ago. And what fame and fortune await our local poetic hero? Well it’s definitely a case of love and not money but Spike’s dream is to tour the country to talk about his journey of recovery from drink and drugs through his poetry. And to get on The Verb on Radio 4! Read more from Spike at www.spikethepoet.co.uk and keep up to date with his latest performances at www.facebook.com/spikethepoet or @spikethepoet Why not go and see Spike at a recital evening - his book launch evening was fantastic, and remember this comes from a girl who never thought she would like poetry! He is also performing in Brighton and London in October/ November but if you’re not one to travel, then look out for him at the Core! Spike is available for workshops. Some of his previous workshops cover; ‘Writing’, ‘The spoken word’ and ‘Expression through poetry’.
Gary Barlow Tribute Night Friday 30th August 2013
The Wind There’s not a hint of sadness In my bones Even tho’ my body Creaks and groans I ask the wind How long do I have this lease I’ve never felt so good So much at peace I feel at one with this Universal force The all-forgiving ever giving Source
Only £22.00 per person includes Dinner, Tribute Act & Disco Bar open from 7pm Please call our Events Team for more information on
01536 464745 or email
events@hicorby.com Holiday Inn Corby-Kettering A43 www.hicorby.com
Corby-Kettering A43 ISSUE 4 | Corby Spirit 38 39
days & nights
y it n a s n I o T . This does not m le b ro p h lt a e h l ta Young has a men h g u llo u rimage in a very C ilg c p M a s ri y, h e C rn u jo g in on an amaz g solely on define him. Chris is circumnavigate Britain on foot, relyin passion. , to elter and com sh r, te a non-biblical sense w , d o fo r er people fo the kindness of oth
! d n o y e B d an
zy! Ac tually, Because he is cra the reason… of that is only part ris but about so much about Ch tal illness. This journey is not of the profile men ise ra to g hin et m doing so e understanding story, to give som He wants to tell a s and how ental health issue about living with m lated and el marginalised, iso it can make you fe unheard. m mental y, has suffered fro Chris, born in Corb r the death af ost of his life, te m r fo s lem ob pr health father’s e age of 12, and his started of his mother at th pe unable to co . He him t lef at th sm alcoholi uggled with e age of 13 and str gnosed self-harming at th all fore being fin y dia be s ar ye r fo n sio depres six years ago. rsonality disorder with border line pe h leaves dissociation, whic Chris suffers from physical and detachment from him with a severe around him. ing that are go on es nc rie pe ex al emotion ted state he s into his dissocia ar pe ap dis ris Ch a feeling When estructible but with ind d an nt ote nip feels om der water, . “It’s like being un ris. If it that nothing is real sa d muf fled” ys Ch an nt ta dis is g hin ever yt ilant eyes Ella, who keeps vig , er rtn pa his r fo t , but Chris wasn’ would be truly sunk he , ris Ch on rs skills that and ea positive, using the g hin et m so do to needs n write”. , I can talk and I ca he has; “I can walk
Why?
...
and talked around Top: Chris walked Lake in May to the Corby Boating mental health in raise awareness of Corby. ris and his 2 You can suppor t Ch numbra in chosen charities, Pe by visiting Scotland and Mind, oneygi ving.com/ ht tp://uk.virginm uk team/wal kamile
ISSUE 4 | Corby Spirit 41
days & nights in Cr immond, a in a man’s garden £5 e th an th r Rockingham, near othe village the size of Carrying no money o int d been fed and a, sneake Inver ness, having ed that his partner, Ell s rie tte and toast bestow d new ba watered, with tea his first aid bag an t, I peered out with some on me for breakfas for his phone along g pin m ca sic et by, what I ch as ba of my tent to be m essential items su eyed glare ne gie rsonal hy d to be, the steely ve lie be equipment and pe neighbour. I lden to kindness of of his elder ly female items, Chris is beho was camping in a ey. looked around - I others on his journ area about 5 feet communal dr ying ing az am e m so en se This journey has from her door. ess, which have dn kin t ea gr of ts ac ‘’Kenny said it hted Chris along Bravely, I babbled, surprised and delig a e ar , ds e to camp here - I’ll his own wor would be ok for m the way. Here, in d the like. She riences: be gone soon...’ an couple of his expe not at me and said, ‘I’m ed ok lo ly lm ca h 6t urgh on April that, I’ve run you Walking out of Edinb interested in any of if, t ha w of ll fu ck ted to know if you 2011, with a rucksa a bath, I just wan in t No . ith fa of ap it...’ was a massive le wanted bubbles in ople. I knew pe in t bu d, Go e any on were wonderful, the folk of the UK or thy, hospitable trusting and trust w just needed a bit and generous, they of reminding. t day, when I first Right from the firs told me if she’d led message to a n asked why, she he W delivered my garb e mping, a bath t of f the bus on th en walking and ca be woman as she go t she wanted rth Road Br idge ld be exac tly wha ou w north side of the Fo the same. She 0 into my hand to she thought I’d be and she thrust £1 ay, I knew I was wasn’t wrong. help me on my w . ing th ht rig e doing th r whom she’d been A friend of hers, fo few years, had caring these past it told me how hard recently died. She ed ish w she was fin had been and ho , ‘You’ve just run a with caring... I said stranger, I don’t bath for a complete caring yet...’ think you’re done it’s been all the And that’s the way . d and the islands way round Scotlan s if you give them People are fabulou the opportunity. st and be trusted It is this ability to tru successfully that has seen Chris nd Scotland on wor k his way arou more than he foot with literally no like t, ub do ed nc rie to no more harm That said, I’ve expe can carry, coming e Fif e th ing alk w an from some rather when Lou, a wom than Lime Disease e th r fo ey on m ise n read all about coastal path to ra ardent ticks. You ca MS d ha f el rs he and keep up with MS society - who Chris’s ramblings a, te r fo e m ho r he Facebook page invited me back to his progress on his But ... ht nig e th r fo d m/g roups/ a shower and a be w w w.facebook.co e lik ok lo I d An !! hoes, twitter we’ve only just met wal kamileinmys a d an ll he itc M il Ph by reading his blog a cross between @wal kamileuk or y . There are so man bouncer. wal kamileuk.org n at Chris has writte amazing stories th of the lk fo od go e th pressive and Time and again in a wonderfully ex in them ith fa y m ed nis are just amazing UK have galva humorous way that camp to d ite inv en be once, when I’d to read.
‘Bubbles would d be nice...’ I squeake manfully.
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Mental Health in Corby As part of Changing Minds, the Wellbeing Teams aim to provide countywide evidence based interventions for a range of common mental health problems including anxiety and depression. The staff work closely with GPs and other health staff and are often based in surgeries as well as health and community centres. At present the IAPT Wellbeing Teams can be accessed by first making an appointment to see your GP. The teams offer a range of short- term interventions and support aimed at working with you to improve your sense of wellbeing and to help you move towards recovery. Following a discussion with your GP, he or she may then recommend that you book in for a ‘Choice appointment’ and give you our leaflet. This will tell you a bit more about our service and what we offer. Wellbeing workers will either see you at your GP practice or at a community venue. We work in partnership with Primary Care colleagues and provide timely interventions for people with a low risk that enables them to acquire the skills they need to promote their own recovery.
North Team - Kettering and Corby Tel: 01536 400600 Email: admin.ketteringcorby@nhs.net www.changingmindscentre.co.uk
Corby Mind Corby Mind aims to help local people to recover from mental distress by offering a safe environment where people can learn new skills, become part of their own local community and feel better about their lives. We currently offer social, emotional and practical support within a non-judgemental environment where people can relate to how you are feeling. We aim to promote equality of opportunity and ensure that our members voices are heard and responded to.
18 Argyll Street, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 1RU Phone: 01536 267280 Email: corbymind@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.corbymind.btik.com
£
motoring
Money Saving Tips for Motorists
With the cost of motoring higher than it’s ever been and fuel costs that have rocketed 264% since 1989 from 38.5p a litre to £1.34 today, here is a money saving guide to help you drive down the costs.
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Size matters Or does it? Do you need such a big car? Downsizing can save you money, whether you choose a physically smaller car, or a larger model with a modern, downsized engine. Most manufacturers are developing smaller capacity engines to trim their fuel consumption and emissions. Turbo charging and modern fuel injection means that smaller engines can be put into bigger cars and so larger cars, such as the VW Passat Estate, can now be bought with a 1.4 turbo instead of a 2.0-litre engine. Voila! Less money on petrol, more money for you!
Haggle Oh no, I couldn’t possibly… The price is the price, isn’t it? Come on, don’t be so terribly British, there is more than likely a deal to be done! Unless you are buying a car in high demand with limited supply, you should be able to get yourself a decent discount. On most cars you should be able to save 5-10% and that can go up to 20% and beyond on high-volume cars sold by manufacturers with sales targets to hit. Shop around and don’t be afraid to walk away and try somewhere else.
FREE LISTINGS
Ease off the gas The single biggest thing that we can all do every day to reduce the cost of motoring is just slow up a bit. Read the road ahead to anticipate for traffic lights or junctions, coast for longer instead of ramming on the breaks at the last minute, and build up momentum on long downhill stretches for the hill ahead and you will trim pounds off your fuel bills. Boy racers beware… excessive ragging, will cause extra wear and tear and increased danger of prangs and bangs. Oh, and turn off the air-con if you want to save a few more pennies.
New! Corby Spirit Directory
Connect with Corby. Just register as a member, create a listing for your company and post it online... It’s as simple as that! You have full access to your account and will be up and running in minutes. You can upgrade your listing at anytime to an Advanced Listing for prime positioning and more in depth information.
Register your FREE account at www.spiritmagazines.co.uk/corbylocal
motoring
Look at your emissions
Bangers rule
When looking at a new car, you might get excited about the fancy sat nav and electronic gadgets but what you really need to focus on are the emissions. You can save yourself a bundle on motoring taxes if your emissions are low enough. Anything producing more than 255g/ km is deemed to be in the dirtiest category of cars, and if you own such a car you’ll pay £1,065 for the first year’s motoring, and £490 annually thereafter. A typical family car emitting 141g/km of CO2 will cost a more modest £140 a year, but if your vehicle has very low CO2 emissions, you can pay just £20 a year (101-110g/km) or even nothing at all (cars with sub-100g/km). Buy carefully, and you’ll save a bundle on your motoring bills.
Once cars get to a certain age, they can turn into a bit of a black hole of maintenance bills but if you’re handy with a spanner, you can probably service a classic car on your own. This will not only reduce the cost of annual maintenance but cars first registered before 1974 qualify for free road fund licence, so you don’t pay any annual road tax. If that’s not enough, insuring under the classic car policy also brings lower premiums and depreciation is practically a nonentity.
0% finance So most of us don’t have £10k in the bank to go out and buy a new car and tend to buy cars of finance packages. It’s always a bit painful as you know that the banks and lenders make plenty of money out of you for the privilege but if you shop around, and especially if you’re prepared to buy a new car, you can find zero per cent borrowing deals from manufacturers keen to sell their wares. At the time of writing, Hyundai is offering interest-free loans on its i30, meaning you can snap up a VW Golf rival for just £189 a month - splitting the cost of purchase over three years with no interest charge whatsoever. There is a snag however; you do have to pay 50% up front…
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Go Compare You’ve heard the annoying adverts but gocompare.com, confused.com, comparethemarket.com; they are all brilliant ways to get the best deals. Insurance companies rely on customers’ apathy in not getting quotes on insurance renewals and offer premium discounts on 1st year insurance deals, so make the effort and shop around. You’ve nothing to lose and potentially hundreds of pounds to gain.
Kill the dead weight
Black Box
If you use your car as an extension of your house and carry everything but the kitchen sink with you in your boot, it’s time to lighten the load. Remove the roof-racks and roofboxes, even the trailers and towing mirrors when they are not in use. Equally, ditch the baggage in the boot – extra aerodynamic drag and kilos in the car mean extra fuel bills.
Some insurance companies are offering discounts to drivers who agree to have a black box satellite tracker fitted to their vehicles, which monitors your driving style. As long as you’re not some kind of ‘boy racer’, this can bring you some quite big savings, especially for young drivers who tend to be tarred with a certain reckless brush. Insurance companies reward youngsters who drive in daylight at off-peak times, avoiding dangerous blackspots and driving smoothly within the speed limits.
Look after your tyres Check your tyre pressure once a week and you could see it paying dividends at the fuel pump as well as keeping you safe. Look out for unsightly bulges or cuts on the sidewall because this damage will cost you mega bucks if you have a blow out on the motorway, as well as putting you and others in danger.
Shop around When you go for your next service, it can’t hurt to shop around. There’s a lot to be said for customer service and loyalty but sometimes, you just need to make sure that you’re not taken for a ride. If you go to a main franchise dealer, consider ringing up its counterpart in the next town, it may just save you the extra petrol money several times over. Or you could try an independent garage without damaging your warranty if you ensure they follow the recommended routine and use officially sanctioned parts.
Cheaper fuel Did you know that in Venezuela, 1-litre of unleaded costs just 6 cents – it’s the cheapest place on the planet to buy fuel. However, moving to South America might be a bit drastic and it would probably be much cheaper just to convert your car to LPG or CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). Autogas is half the price of unleaded fuel and is available in most parts of the UK. Or if you’re not interested in converting your engine, you can save money by just getting more organised about where you fill up. Use petrol pump comparison sites to track down the cheapest fuel in your area and avoid motorway service stations like the plague and you will save a small fortune.
Opt out of the car scheme 50% of all new cars sold in Britain every year are company cars but whilst you enjoy the perk of a brand new company car, you pay handsomely for the privilege. You may be able to take your company’s money and opt out of the company car scheme without facing the high tax implications – it’s worth talking to your accountant or a tax advisor. You may also be paying a very high tax rate for your ‘free’ fuel cards that also include personal miles, so make sure you do the maths as you may be better off opting out and going it alone.
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motoring
The Motability Car Scheme at Rockingham Cars in Corby The Motability Scheme offers disabled people who receive the Higher Rate Mobility of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or War Pensioners Mobility Supplement (WPMS) a brand new car every 3 years. You don’t even need to be able to drive as you can nominate up to two drivers as part of your lease. At Rockingham Cars in Corby, we have the expertise to guide you through the Motability process from start to finish, and a range of cars to help you make your allowance go further. All you have to do is pick a car from the range and we’ll look after everything else for you. A car brings you valuable independence. Get a Mazda or Fiat on the Motability Scheme and it will bring you so much more than that. That’s because every model delivers a compelling combination of stylish design, fantastic driving dynamics and cutting-edge technologies.
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With nearly every current Mazda and Fiat model available on the Motability scheme, many with £NIL Advance Payment, you’re guaranteed to find a car that suits your needs. We’ve recently added our latest multi- award-winning all-new Mazda6 on to the scheme, strengthening our Motability proposition even further and offering Motability customers the opportunity to experience ground-breaking SKYACTIV Technology at truly compelling advance payments. You’ll also enjoy low cost, hassle-free motoring from start to finish. Our Motability specialists will deliver a high level of friendly service at every stage of the process, from choosing your favourite model, servicing and maintaining it for the duration of the lease. For more information about the current Motability offers for both Mazda and Fiat please contact our sales team on 01536 268991 or visit www.rockinghamcars.co.uk.
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TheRegentStreetWroughtIronWorks High Quality Gates and Fencing Hand Made on the Premises since 1963 180-186 Regent Street Kettering Northants NN16 8QH 01536 485892
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• sustainably produced from our 2400 acres of woodland. • seasoned for 18 months • barn stored before delivery Half load logs (1m3) for £90 Full load logs (2m3) for £165 A free bag of kindling when you mention Corby Spirit Magazine Delivery within a ten mile radius Phoenix Park Way, Corby NN17 5DT
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eating out
Have you ever been to an Indian restaurant that sells Camel steaks? Kangaroo rump steak? Blue Shark?? The Exotic Dining Restaurant in Kettering is the absolute nouvelle cuisine of Indian dining, with a startling array of choice and served with such care and detailed presentation that it’s a feast for all the senses.
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A
n Indian restaurant with a difference, as we walked into the modern, tastefully decorated restaurant, we knew we were in for a treat. Welcomed by the wide smiles of Esaa and Kabir the co-owners, we were enveloped in such warm Indian hospitality reserved not only for us, but bestowed upon all their guests as they greeted other customers by name and chattered away about their health and the well-being of their families. The Exotic Dining restaurant is all about the experience. Customers are treated to the warmest of welcomes, the most amazing variety on the menu and a mouth-watering presentation of the food. Customers are never rushed and the food is exquisite. They have the usual kind of Indian food; the Biryani, the Korma, the Madras‌
Indian dining with a twist But what you will never find anywhere else are their signature dishes that include the more unusual meats such as reindeer, bison and goat. They even cater for offthe-menu customers who make special requests such as crocodile. Right from the delivery of the poppadoms that came with the freshest and tastiest of pickles I’ve ever seen in an Indian restaurant (and I have been to many!), there was an exquisite assault on my taste buds that was really surprising. The chutneys were fruity with a real home cooked taste that tells you they’ve never been anywhere near a mass-produced jar in their lives. For starters we tried a few things: Tandoori Pomegranate Jhinga, which were beautiful succulent king prawns marinated in an amazingly fruity pomegranate purée roasted in a clay oven and served with fresh herbs. Cinnamon Chilli Fish, which was a wonderfully presented fillet of sea bass marinated with Dijon mustard, lemon juice and served with Tandoori sauce. At Kabir’s recommendation we also tried the
Pears of Potato, which was a delicately seasoned mash potato shaped like a pear, coated in breadcrumbs and served with apricot and date chutney. They came in a riot of colours, all beautifully presented with thought and precision – we weren’t sure whether to eat them or just sit and look at them for a while. I’m glad that we did tuck in though; the flavours were amazing! With all the spices in the kitchen kept separate right up until the last moment when the expert chefs apply just the right amount of each to every meal, the flavours really stand out, each one hitting you at a different moment. Choosing a main dish was almost impossible… With dishes ranging from the exquisite Lobster Peri
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eating out
Peri, to Kobe Beef (a delicacy from Japan) and Venison Steak, as well as my existing curry favourites, I had no idea where to start! Thankfully Esaa and Kabir jumped in with a few suggestions and we were not disappointed. That night we had a lamb shank we will never forget. With the lamb being served on the bone, you could actually see as well as taste the quality of the meat, and with the meat being marinated overnight, pot roasted and served with tomatoes, herbs and Exotic Dining’s very own secret blend of more than 20 spices, it was truly superb. The Tawa Seabass Machli Pattra was something to behold too. This fillet of seabass was cooked and served wrapped in a banana leaf, which meant that the fish held its flavour perfectly and was not overpowered by its curry counterpart. I’ve never really felt that fish and curry made great bedfellows, until now! The seabass was moist and so delicately flavoured against the curried vegetables and grilled onions that you couldn’t help but savour it. We also tried the Murgh Masalam, which is a chicken fillet marinated in white pepper, English mustard, garlic and ginger paste, then stuffed with chicken mince and cooked with onion and yogurt sauce. The chicken was really tender and the sauce was very rich in spices and the effect on the palate was almost explosive.
None of the dishes that we tried were overpowering, only delicate and intricate concoctions that tantalised and teased on their way past the taste buds. It was a curry pretty much unlike any that I have ever had before. Even the naan breads were better than any naan bread I’ve ever had; so soft and delicate that they practically melted in the mouth. I especially enjoyed the cheese and garlic naan; having a delicate cheese running through the middle just made it slightly different and a little bit exciting. OK and the rice… Even the rice was different! We had some Indian Country Rice, served in India for special occasions like weddings and religious festivals, this rice is 3 times more expensive than normal Basmati rice and 5 times more aromatic. Prices at The Exotic Dining restaurant vary greatly from starters for only £2.95 to the One Night Millionaire meal for 2 at £475, which includes the finest champagne and caviar. There are £79.95 giant lobsters or there are £9.95 Tandoori mixed grills, so you can either go crazy or you
can have an extremely delicious eating and drinking experience for a pretty reasonable £45 for 2. The only problem I can see with The Exotic Dining restaurant is that you will just have to go back again and again to try more, and with a menu that gets updated regularly, there will be no stopping!
Find Exotic Dining at 3-5 Newland Street, Kettering NN16 8JH Telephone: 01536 411176 or 411193 Visit their website: www.dineexotic.co.uk Booking is advisable
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Need a late opening Pharmacy? Visit Asda Corby
Pharmacy opening times: Monday to Thursday 9am–9pm, Friday 8.30am–10pm, Saturday 8.30am–8pm, Sunday 10am–4pm
Phoenix Park Way, Corby, NN17 5DT
www.ASDA.com/corby
DANTAS PHOTOGRAPHY
ROYAL OAK WEDDING MARQUEE Great Views, Great Value! The Royal Oak has created a superb new dedicated wedding venue overlooking the Welland River, with its own brand new marquee, charges apply.
Just get in touch with us to find out more:
The Royal Oak, Duddington, PE9 3QE
The wedding package is great value at £55 per head and includes: canapés and reception drink on arrival, two course meal, half a bottle of wine per person, tea & coffee, sparkling wine for toast, seat covers, cake knife & stand. Space for in excess of 100 guests. Accommodation available. Lovely church in village. Easy access, on intersection of A43 and A47. Many key dates still available for this year as only just launched!
Tel: 01780 444267
www.theroyaloakduddington.com
food
Get the kids involved by making these simple microwave flapjacks. As you can see the best part is scraping out the chocolate bowl!
Chocolate Flapjacks
Ingredients 100g Butter 25g Caster sugar 5tbs Golden syrup 200g Oats 150g Milk chocolate (or your favourite)
Method - Serves 16 1. Melt the butter and sugar in the microwave, one minute is usually long enough. 2. Stir in the golden syrup. 3. Stir in the oats. 4. Cook for 3 minutes on high power in the microwave. 5. Spread onto a greased tray. 6. Melt the chocolate and spread on top then put in the fridge to cool. 7. Cut into individual portions and enjoy.
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focus on corby
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Corby’s
Keatings We catch up with our very own World Championship Gymnast and his plans for the future.
Anthony Kendrick Guest writer
On October 15th, 2009 a fresh faced 19 year old, breathed deeply before hoisting himself up onto the high bar in the O2 arena. A capacity crowd inside London’s O2 arena watched as Daniel Keatings
twisted, spun, flipped and stretched his way to becoming Britain’s first ever gymnast to win a medal in the All-Around competition at the World Championships.
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focus on corby
“I just try and keep calm,” said Corby’s somersaulting star. “I try not to get too nervous or the occasion would just get the better of me. I think about all the hard work, I know that if my training has been going well I just have to do what I’ve been doing every day in the gym.” Keatings’ laid back approach to his gymnastic routines has led to a marvellous medal collection; that includes one gold and three silver European Championship medals and a silver in the 2009 World Championships.
But it hasn’t all been plain sailing; it’s been a roller coaster ride for Corby’s very own, high-flying champion. He’s gone from debuting in the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 to winning a gold medal in the 2010 European Championships, and then having to deal with the heartbreak of missing out on the London 2012 games. Now fully recovered, Daniel aged 23, couldn’t really have wished for a better come back performance, than his impressive weekend at the British Championships back in March. The 2010 European Pommel Horse Champion, returned to Corby with a fistful of British Gymnastic gold medals after impressing in every discipline.
........................................................................................................................
DID YOU
KNOW
Recognising Dan’s talent, his coach swiftly moved him to an Elite facility where Dan entered his first British NDP championships aged nine.
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“I wanted to come back with a bang and prove to everyone what I’m capable of, and I did just that. I was really happy with my performance and now I’m focusing on the international events.” Speaking of his disappointment of missing out on last summer’s Olympic Games, Daniel said: “It’s not every day that there’s an Olympic Games in your home country, so I was bitterly disappointed to miss out.” But ever the glass half full kind of guy, Daniel was the first to applaud his teammates’ success: “At the end of the day everyone who was there were my mates, it was great to see them doing so well. It was massive for British gymnastics as well; it put gymnastics back on the map and will end up bringing more talent into the sport.” The Corby boy now has a second chance of performing in front of a home crowd as Daniel readies himself to represent Scotland in next year’s Commonwealth Games. “It’s exciting, luckily I’ve got another chance and hopefully I can do something special in Glasgow. I have to start cementing my place back in the team but hopefully, with some good results in the next few championships, I can get there.” Keatings’ path to gymnastics was a unique one to say the least. His father was a kick boxer and was desperate for his son to follow in his footsteps. “I was only five when my dad took me a long to do some kick boxing but I couldn’t get any insurance to train or fight. He just took me along to Lodge Park Gym to get me more flexible, but I loved it so much I just carried on.
So, after a tough year recovering from injuries and having to watch his British teammates raise the bar of British gymnastics, Daniel Keatings is hoping to make a quick return to the dizzy heights that saw him gain such prominence earlier in his career.
I wanted to come back with a bang and prove to everyone what I’m capable of, and did just that. Daniel Keatings Daniel, who trains with Peterborough’s Louis Smith – more recently known for his appearances on last year’s Strictly Come Dancing – said: “I’m training about five hours a day, six days a week to try and fit in all the different aspects of gymnastics to get back to where I was.” However, when asked if we might see him dazzle in the dance studios any time soon is answer was resounding: “I don’t think so; Louis has got a bit more rhythm than me, so I’ll leave that to him!”
“After about a year I entered a few junior competitions and did well in them and that’s when I knew that I wanted to push on with gymnastics.”
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2013
Spirit of Corby
focus on corby
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The Spirit of Corby Awards are our the Borough’s annual celebration of everything that is good about Corby, its community and the amazing spirit of the people that make it so special. Each year the Awards are a great success and highlight the great contribution our residents make to our town, the special talents they have, but above all else the Awards are a way to thank those unsung heroes in our community that go above and beyond.
Leader of Corby Borough Council, Cllr Tom Beattie, said: ‘Corby Borough Council, along with the award sponsors, is very proud to be able to launch the 2013 Spirit of Corby Awards, an event that we all feel is very worth while and that the people of Corby deserve. ‘Over the 7 years that the Spirit of Corby Awards have been put in place we have seen hundreds of nominations coming in and each and every year it is very touching to see just how many people in Corby go above and beyond to contribute to their community and give something back. Corby is known for being a very generous place and the Spirit of Corby Awards is all about thanking and acknowledging these unsung heroes for giving their time, effort and energy to making Corby a better place for us all to live.
‘We look forward to receiving the nominations and would ask everyone to take just a minute to nominate someone in their area. No matter how big or small the reason, your nominee may become the next Spirit of Corby winner.’
Education Spirit Award – Sponsored by Tresham College of Further and Higher Education (2012 winner: Carol Copeland) For an individual or group who has enriched their lives through a commitment to learning, maybe an adult who has returned to education and achieved excellence in their chosen field, or someone young or older who inspires other with their enthusiasm and love for learning.
So now it’s over to you… All nominations need to be in by 5pm on Friday 16th August. You can submit your nominations by filling out a form at www.corby.gov. uk, or by picking up a form from the Help Desk on the ground floor of the Corby Cube. Please note that last year’s winners are not eligible to be nominated for the same award again.
Environmental Spirit Award – Sponsored by Kier Street Services (2012 winner: Arthur Tester) For an individual or group who has worked to protect or improve the natural or built environment, or promoted environmentally responsible attitudes and behaviour eg recycling, energy saving
And the categories are:
The Jimmy Kane Young Spirit of Corby Award – sponsored by BeLa Partnership Ltd (2012 winner: Callum Reilly) Nominate a young Corby resident (under 25) who has made a contribution to their local community, is an example to their friends, may have excelled in music, education, sport or has perhaps overcome adversity to show the real Spirit of Corby. Club Spirit Award – Sponsored by Wots the Big Idea, creators of Corby Spirit Magazine (2012 winner: Rosemary Saunders) Nominate an individual who has contributed towards a local club or society, such as sporting, social or voluntary groups, or nominate for the whole club or group for what they bring to the community Community Spirit Award – Sponsored by Northamptonshire Police (2012 winner: Doreen Hunter) An individual or group who has worked towards making their area a safer or stronger community, whether it’s through contributing to reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, or simply being an active member of the community who gives time to make a difference in the area.
Once all nominations are in, an independent panel will select a shortlist for each award. The shortlist will then be announced and we’ll be asking you to vote for your winners, which you’ll be able to do via forms on our website www.corby.gov.uk, or from forms available at the Help Desk on the ground floor of the Corby Cube. The overall Spirit of Corby Award supported by The Core at Corby Cube (2012 winner: Arthur Tester) will be chosen by an independent panel from the winners of the other categories. The winners will be announced at the Awards night, which will take place on Friday 13th September at The Core. For more information regarding the Spirit of Corby Awards please contact Corby Borough Council’s Communications Officer, Kimberley Buzzard on 01536 464022 or email kim.buzzard@corby.gov.uk. Everyone that puts in a nomination will be put forward to a prize draw in which they can win 2 free tickets for a showing at the Core at Corby Cube.
Creative Spirit Award – Sponsored by Quantum Print (2012 winner: Weldonfest) Nominate an individual or group who has made a contribution to the arts in Corby – music, theatre, art, dance, literature etc
Producers of
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When is good design enough The answer is NEVER. Ask big companies and they will tell you that design will only take you so far, in order to build and evolve a brand it takes much more and that’s why Wots the Big Idea exists to do just that!
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C2C UK and US software solutions company came to Wots the Big Idea to revamp their existing website into a more effective tool for their business, making it more usable for their customers and creating better awareness for them on the internet
Whatever the Big Idea is for your business, to be successful and get you the return on investment it has to centre around three key points, these are:
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Make you money Increase your customer base Expand your “attraction net” to capture future buyers I could talk about wot makes a great website, or why does your company need a logo but you already know - you’re deciding what brands you do and don’t like every day. You know what is good and bad, and everything in between when you land on a website. You know when you look at your own image whether it is something you are proud of or something you would like to apologise for in advance.
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WD40 Chosen by WD-40 to be their UK digital partner for all their online marketing, Wots the Big Idea have been working on all WD-40 brands including; 3-in-ONE Oil, 1001 Carpet Care and WD-40 Specialist to produce Facebook competitions, Google ad campaigns, email marketing and building online brand prominence
British Library Working with the British Library, Wots the Big Idea were tasked with creating an exciting and fun project to promote the British Library’s vast archive of information through an Olympic themed online game www.bl.uk/raceforknowledge
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Video Arts In partnership with London based Video-training provider Video Arts, Wots the Big Idea produce marketing materials both on and offline.
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What do 90% of businesses know that they should be doing?
Why choose to work with Wots the Big Idea?
Rectifying what isn’t working about their image. Whether that’s website, branding, customer relationship management, SEO, collateral it doesn’t matter, what matters is when are you going to make fixing it a priority?
Because you recognise that now is the time to fix your image and make it a priority. We will establish with you what the problems are and then come back to you with the solutions of how we can help you to grow your customer base, attraction net and ultimately money.
Thanks to the team at Wots the Big Idea, for taking the time to understand us as a company and really bringing out the best in us to display for all the world to see
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If you are looking for the right partner to reduce the time required and take you to the next level, then give us a call on 01536 560 434, or email us at hello@wotsthebigidea.com.
Business Bookings
Performance Review Institute Working with global aerospace auditing company PRI, we have produced a fully content managed multi-lingual site as well as brochures, newsletters and other supporting offline marketing materials
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A Celebration of Excellence In the immortal words of Frankie Valli, ‘Oh, What a Night’! In the mood for a party, the finalists of the 1st Annual Corby Awards put on their glad rags and prepared to celebrate.
Held on Friday 14th June at the Best Western Rockingham Forest Hotel, local businesses attended a very special event to mark the success of companies and individuals within the Borough of Corby. The room was buzzing with excitement as the evening kicked off with a champagne reception. To see everyone dressed up to the nines, and mingling with happy smiles, it was clear from the start, that this was a very special evening. After a very fine 3-course meal, Madam Mayor, Councillor Judy Caine opened proceedings and the winners were announced. The categories and winners were as follows: Best Retailer, World of Bikes Best Dining Experience, Hungry Hossee Best Take Away, Royal Tandoori Best Health & Beauty, Hair & Beauty Box Best Trade & Services, Bailey’s Skip Hire Best New Business, Rubix Nightclub Small Business of the Year, Bonnie Brides and Grooms And the most prestigious award of the night, Business of the Year, went to Simpson West.
There were also two very special community awards given on the night: Commitment to the Community Award, for voluntary services, went to Paula Boulton. An incredible lady, involved in so many community projects from the Rooftop Gallery in the town centre, to writing documentary dramas like Women of Steel ‘A Living History of Corby’.
It’s fabulous to see the businesses of Corby represented and celebrated in such a positive way. It highlights how Corby has grown and how businesses have been founded and continue to thrive in our town. Bonnie of Bonnie Brides and Grooms. But the best bit of the whole evening, the spine tingling bit that keeps giving me goose bumps whenever I think about it… Was when they announced the final award; the Honourable Mention Award, and this went to… Malcolm the Fish Man! This dear man who has been traipsing
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round Corby pubs and clubs every Friday and Saturday night for the last 30 years received a standing ovation from absolutely everyone in the room! Out in all weathers, Malcolm Vials had no idea that he means so much to so many people as he modestly laughed and played down any kind of praise. Malcolm, a well-recognised and much loved figure said: “Fantastic. Absolutely amazing to be appreciated by all the Corby people over the years’”
Sinead Osborne of Lily Pad spa, a finalist in the Health & Beauty Award section said: “We are really proud to be here and to get recognition after having only been in business for 6 months. It was such a surprise to find out that we were in the final but well done to the winners.” If you would like to find out more about the awards night, then go to www.corbyawards.co.uk or visit their Corby Awards Facebook page to make a nomination for next year’s awards.
Nominations for the awards were made and the finalists announced on 17th May with a total of 5342 votes cast, which will grow as the awards become established. The organisers of the awards have worked tirelessly to make this event happen, as they all felt it was about time that we celebrated what is good about the town, and they are absolutely right. The positivity in the room on the Awards night was palpable with a real sense of community spirit where, win or lose, fellow businesses supported one another. Photography by Malcolm Woolf www.malcolmwoolfphotography.co.uk
New Skills & Learning Provider for Corby!
A new and alternative Skills Academy that’s not for profit and a registered Charity with Ofsted grade of Good to Outstanding.
“Where people count, NOT Profits”
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What do we offer the young adults and employers of Corby? “An alternative to the same old staid and traditional learning experience that meets the provider’s needs, but not the learner or the employer’s exact and commercial needs” We will be delivering an individual programme of activity for 16 to 18 year olds, that meet’s the learner’s specific employment objectives. That is based on a sound and robust Initial Advice and Guidance that then advises their learning programme and takes into account the requirements and needs of the employer. A flexible and exciting programme of activity, study and work experience, that builds the correct skill set and attitudes that employers are seeking. Endorsed by our employer patrons and accredited by nationally recognised awarding bodies such as City & Guild, OCR and Edexcel. With a “roll on roll off” access of weekly start dates for all, learners will never have to wait longer than 7 days to commence their chosen learning route with the CKW Academy. Our Corby centre will deliver: Construction, Retail, Admin & Office Skills, Customer Service, Childcare, Functional Skills Maths, Functional Skills English, Work experience locally, Work experience in Europe, Personal & Social Development.
Contact: Terrie on 07513304562 or Your Connexions Worker or School Careers Teacher
Lakelands “Your Hospice”
Most people in the Corby Borough have heard of Lakelands but do you know just how much Lakelands offers its local community?
Day Hospice Service: The day hospice is open for patients weekdays between 10am to 3.30pm. A team of highly experienced staff provide care and support for anyone suffering from any life limiting condition within a twenty-mile radius. Anyone is very welcome to refer a person to this service; they don’t have to be NHS staff, so relatives and friends can ring, or call in, and request support for a person they know. Attendance is usually one day a week and Nursing staff monitor people’s symptoms and liaise with their GP or hospitals as required. Attendees receive support and advice from other patients with a similar condition and staff are happy to advocate for individuals as required and help them make informed choices about treatments, etc.
Lakelands Hospice gets no external funding and relies solely on the generosity of the people of Corby and its surrounding boroughs; you can help by simply enjoying a lunch at our Emporium in the town centre or by visiting our furniture warehouse on the St James Ind estate by the new Tesco. For the more adventurous we have some exciting events coming up including a Sky Dive on 18th August, Dragon Boat Racing on 1st September, please visit our website www.lakelandshospice.org.uk for details of all our upcoming events.
Attendees can access free therapies including Hypnotherapy, Reiki, Holistic Massage, Aromatherapy. A variety of lunches are also provided during the day at a very minimal cost. It’s a happy place and during the day activities and planned entertainment is available. Nursing staff always strive to ensure the best possible care and support is given to all.
Hospice at Home Service The Hospice at Home Service supports people with any terminal illness who wish to stay at home, supporting them and their families overnight. The service provides nursing care for people on a one to one basis from 10.30pm – 6am and ensures nurses can administer medication immediately as required, allowing prompt symptom control. We assists families, allowing carers to sleep if they wish to and understand that nurses are a guest in your home; we will not intrude, just help as required. Referral to this service is through the District Nursing Team so if you feel that this service may be of benefit to you, talk about it with your District Nurse.
Community care Through families feedback from both services we know that our nurses do make a real difference to individuals during very difficult times. We want to help as many people as possible from the local community, so please contact us if you are unsure or visit the hospice where we would be happy to talk to you.
Lakelands Hospice Telephone number is: 01536 747755 and ask for the nurses.
www.lakelandshospice.org.uk