27 March 2015
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Inventor who was a force to be reckoned with! HISTORIC VIEW: Corby-based Tom Bingham – well known for his connection to the arts and his hand-made guitars – is also a history lover. Here, he explores the life of metallurgist and inventor Sidney Gilchrist Thomas, a young Welshman whose endeavours greatly affected the steel town of Corby. Send in your local history stories or memories of special, past events to Extra Local, email: newsdesk@ extranewspapers.co.uk
IT is little known that Corby owes its prosperity to Sidney Gilchrist Thomas, who worked as a solicitor’s clerk for the Thames Police Court. But for him, the hundreds of thousands of tons of iron ‘low grade ore’ would have remained under Corby instead of being turned into steel. In his spare time, Thomas attended science classes and, later, his ingenuity brought about the removal of phosphorous by means of the Bessemer Converter. With his chemist cousin Percy Gilchrist, Thomas experimented in the technique while still in employment as a clerk. By discovering the effect of allowing the phosphorus to re-enter the metal, thus producing ‘basic slag’, he had revolutionised the industry. Although he became wealthy and famous, he spent the last five years of his life travelling the world looking for good health, but died in vain in Paris before he was 35. He left instructions that his fortune should be spent on the
upkeep of his mother and sister keeping them in comfort for the rest of their lives, but anything left should be used in bringing comfort to the lives of working folk. That era is now pretty much gone, making way for the ‘modern’ town of Corby; recently proclaimed the fastest growing town in England. The town centre is about to undergo further expansion and change as it has just been sold by Helical Bar to Europa for £140million. Let’s hope they give us some ‘pop-up shops’ for our arts people in the town, giving them the chance to sell their work. The shape of Sidney Gilchrist Thomas’s Bessemer Convertor put me in mind of R2-D2, from the epic film series Star Wars, who just happens to be coming to one of two of our brand new cinemas in Corby in the not too distant future. The title of the new Star Wars movie has been revealed as The Force Awakens. The seventh instalment of the sci-fi saga is set about 30 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI
INVENTIVE: Right, the Bessemer Convertor was adapted by Sidney Gilchrist Thomas, above, whose process brought prosperity to Corby Return of the Jedi. The film sees a new cast including Daisy Ridley and John Boyega joining original cast members Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. The announcement was made on the movie’s final day
of production at Pinewood Studios, just outside London. Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been directed by J J Abrams, who successfully reinvigorated the Star Trek movie franchise in 2009, and is due to be released on December 18.
Work progresses on Corby’s new cinema
STARSTRUCK: R2-D2 pictured with C-3PO, robots in the Star Wars universe created by George Lucas. The droid R2-D2 puts writer Tom Bingham in mind of the Bessamer Converter, pictured above right, and provides an intriguing between the film 1 24/03/2015 09:54 Page 1 Peachylink Loak 17 x Corby, 4 (7)_Layout series and a Welsh inventor.
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PROGRESS on the outside of Corby’s new cinema is clear for all to see, but here is a peek inside the building. Work on the brand new six-screen cinema, operated by Savoy Cinemas and constructed by Mulberry Developments, began on the former Tresham College site, off George Street, last spring and the building is due to be open in June.
The cinema will seat more than 900 people across six wall-to-wall screens in spacious, stadium seated auditoria. It will be fully digital, with the latest audio-visual technology including the new immersive sound and 3D capabilities that will showcase the very latest blockbusters. The George Street entrance leads to the cinema reception area where ticket sales and refreshments will be. To the left of the building and accessed from James Ashworth VC Square, there are three large restaurant areas that will be occupied by Nandos, Prezzo and RBW (Ribs, Burgers and Wings – an extension of the South African chain, Spur). The car park at the rear of the cinema and Corby East Midlands Pool is accessed from George Street and will hold around 270 vehicles. The development has come a long way since the demolition of the Willows Art Centre. See the progress here: www.corby.gov.uk/cinema-progress Charles Amies, head of area for the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) said: “We are pleased to be working with Corby Borough Council on this joint initiative. It’s great to see the latest progress on the development of the cinema and restaurant complex, which will bring both new leisure facilities and jobs to the town.” NEW ERA: Top, workers inside the restaurant area (left) and a view within one of the six screens. Above, the cinema is on course to open in June.
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