The Knowhere Guide

Local Heroes in Corby, Northamptonshire*

Corby, Northamptonshire Famous Residents

Cringing Cult of Celebrity (Famous residents and ex-residents.)

• raging speedhorn
• ma dad
• Mr Bip has his own private numba plate owns nite clubs and every1 in corbys heard of him. Mad terri culd b clased as a celeb of corbi i suppose.
• WELL THIS GUY NEXT DOORS BROTHER COUSINS SISTERS AUNTIES MATES FRIENDS SISTERS BOYFRIENDS SISTERS MATE HAS A MATE WHOS IN DSIDE WKD AINT IT :d:d:d:d:d:d:d
• Corby also boasts a football team that played at the famous wembley stadium corby caledonion managed by John martin played in the 1997 carlsberg cup final no mean feat when you think that 480 teams entered the tourney from all over the country. they lost the final 3-1 but the 8000 fans that went to wembley had a great day and is now known as the day that brought the whole of corby together
• i once got so bored i decided to smash the kingswood school windows i think the damage was £6,380 or somthing the teachears hated me but i was a hero for about 3 weeks --jr--
• George 'COCO' McCart ex union and Corby councillor.
• Jim Morrison once drove through Corby Town Centre in 68 on the way to Woodstock, honest my mum saw him, he stopped at The Frying Scotsman and bought a deep fried mars bar and a bottle of Irn Bru
• Ray and Anne Brett, Corby's famous C&W duo, and still ging strong on the local and national circuit, spent some time as opening act and backing band to Aussie yodeller Frank Ifield. Albert Halsey, a long retired and highly respected Oxford Uni Sociology Don and author and sometime talking head on BBC TV was brought up in the village and his brother still lives in the town. Albert's books are still undergraduate reading. My mum's school sweetheart from the '20's early '30's, Dick Graham and his brother, brought up in Tunwell Lane cottages, went on to play professional football at a high level, for Notts Forest or County I think. Dick managed Crystal Palace, Leyton Orient, Walsall, Colchester and Wimbledon and twice had the distinction of managing lower league sides that put Leeds Utd out of the FA Cup...good man!!! I think the brother got killed in the war but had been a very promising top flight player. Rangers and Scotland skipper Eric Caldow was player manager at Occupation Road in the '60's. Alec Dawson, a genuine Busby Babe and prolific scoring teenager for United immediately post Munich was player/commercial manager for the Steelmen in the late '60's early seventies. Alec played in the FA Cup final for Preston. Matt Busby's sister ran the Studfall shops newsagent in the '50's and '60's. Sir Matt was a regular visitor...or so my mother told me as a kid. Morse's creator, Colin Dexter, taught Classics, and his wife taught English, at Corby Grammar, not Kingswood Grammar. His daughter was a student in my class too. May also have taught some classes at Corby Boys and Corby Girls Schools on Rockie Road too. Family played at a Grammar School Friday night dance in the late '60's under the soubriquet Broodly Hoo just before they became big time. No other local connection than that but heck that was a gig that rocked. Ronnie Hogg, ex Corby and Kingswood Grammar is now an assistant chief constable and often in charge of football hooligan watch abroad, so often gets interviewed on radio and tele. John Kemp (Buiscuit), first headmaster of Corby Grammar, went on to be head at Gordonston the year after Prince Charles left and he introduced co-ed there. Not quite Corby but some famous souls from history who probably passed through from time to time include Lord Cardigan of woolly top fame, a Brudenell from Dene and of course infamous for the foul up that became known as The Charge of The Light Brigade, who is buried in Dene Church. Others include a couple of the catholic Gunpowder Plot conspiritors caught hiding out in the Triangular Lodge at Rushton. Glen Robertson, Saints winger and England trialist, was sports master at Corby Granmmar in the late '60's. Top try scorer in England he was in the Probables team but got injured and never made the internatoinal first XV...very fast winger but not the best defensively. Brian Bennett, drummer of The Shadows, and credited with being the inventor of modern rock drumming, is married to a Corby girl. His mother-in-law is still in the town as far as I know...she used to work at Aquascutum and was a good source of signed photos of Cliff and the Shads.
• Sir Mat Busby has strong links with the town - see the posters in the Sir Mat Busby bar, Lodge Park Sports Centre
• Peter Galloway ex-Electrons/B and 3 recorded with CBS 1972 - played with Ronnettes/Kinks/Tony Orlando etc. now running an architect's practice in Hampshire.
• Billy Mcharg passed away 26/09/03 aged 69, lived in corby old village was a popular drummer through 50,s 60,s 70s, played with paul beards dance band for 20 years and deputised with a number of top jazz bands around the country, backed artists such as p.j proby, billy j. kramer, norman collier, fat larrys band etc.
• MAD TERRY (ledgend)
• WILLY McCOWATT nearly made it to the big time, if only he could hit the ball properly with his head. Just think he could have been playin for Leeds or even retired now!!
• DA FAMOUS O'DONNELL BROTHERS (JAMES N SEAN) BAD FINF DAT THEY'RE SO HARD!!! ALL DA WOMAN IN DA FAMILY R WELL FIT!!!!
• mr bip ! thats it im a poet and i didint know it
• Paul Dick - aka John Burnside - poet and bestselling author - went to Pope John in the late sixties/early seventies - famously did an english o-level exam in twenty minutes getting a grade A - arguably the brightest student PJ ever saw. Got expelled for smoking the reefer, went on to become a gardener before returning to higher education and excelling as a professor of English.
• Famous Corby band,Wellington, released a host of records in the early 70s both in the UK and abroad. Dave Martin and Ian Eccles fronted Wellington and were augmented by various musicians. Notably, for the Radio One sessions by Corby musicians John Grimley, Ned McGuigan, Kenny Payne, Jack Murphy. Last saw Wellington in the USA supporting Elton John.
• The chaps from speedhorn and VIKING SKULL \m/(>_<)\m/, the BMX gang from C.W.P. they've been in the newspaper...
• I heard that Johnny Crawford was a leg-end in his own lunchtime.
• Dont forget George Reilly, Brenden Reilly's ( sorry O'reilly) uncle. Played for Watford in the 80's. Also Lee Glover, who played for Forest & string of other clubs. Why are Corby Town FC so shit then???
• jimmy kane lets bring back euthanasia old socialist fag
• John Hurt the actor and, paparazi punching cigarette smoking gravelley voiced luvvy, once threw up all over my hush puppies and gobbed a huge precipitous mass of flem on the window of a passing taxi outside Shafts night club back in the summer of 84. He ended up stagering off down the road swearing and cursing with some tart and a big bag of crispy bits from the Chinese on the corner of George Street.He came back up the road with his moleskin kecks around his ankles and blood all down his raffia fronted shirt and offered everyone a battle in the Kentucky before passing out minced on the floor in front of the embassy muttering something about being very pleased to meet you. What a surprise when two years later I saw him play a strikingly similar role in a film on Channel four! That's a proper method actor for you!!! Top notch!
• BARNEY FROM NAPALM DEATH LIVES IN KETTERING, SAME AS LEMMY FROM MOTORHEAD WHO ALSO LIVES THERE BUT ONLY PART-TIME.
• Lemmy from motorhead used to live in kettering, haven't seen him for a while though. The Levellers once played at kettering leisure village (that gig fuckin' ruled)
• Les Smith was the original singer with "St. Cecilia" not Stuart Irving, mind you , he never sang "Leap Up and Down" some bozo who thought he'd wrote an original song sang it...bass player...AGENT..say no more
• Allegedly as a child Lennox Lewis was brought up on Llewellyn walk (near the Pluto pub) but moved to Canada because he was such a soft child, compared to the local Pluto mob who mercilessly bullied him.
• That Chinky guy Peter Lee, who was the best skater in the town. His old man was Chinky Lee the teacher at Our Ladies, the crippled guy who could break fingers with a cane. Peter Chinky Lee went to America and skated on a British team and he beat the world slalom champion at the skatepark in Kettering. He and Ally Barr from Kettering, were the best skaters in Northamptonshire.
• Can't believe that no one has mentioned Brendan Reilly, Olympic High jumper, who attended Pope John school between 1984 and 1989. Also Bryn Gunn who played for Nottingham Forest was from Corby. Former Corby resident Billy Tracey (Gilchrist Avenue 50's and early 60's) was crowned New Zealand Judo champion after moving there in the mid 60's and after marrying a native gained full citizenship and was selected for the New Zealand Olympic Team.
• Richard Oliff - b.1955 - Broadcast Journalist with the BBC. Prior to that ten years with KCBC radio and Connect FM. (Check http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radionorthampton/biog_oliff.shtml for further details). Former resident of Thoroughsale Road and Grenville Close. Pupil of Corby Boys School and now living in Gretton.
• Just to let you know that one of the members of the band St. Cecelia, John Proctor still lives in Brookes Grove, Corby, and is now Lecturing in Computer Sciences Tresham Institute, Kettering....scary that a band-member of a group whoo "sung jump up and down wave your knickers in the air"!
• Yeah, Joe Murphy is now large in Holland. He was on t.v. when I was out there for the England under 21 game against the cloggies. He was dating Famke Jansen (Dutch bond girl)for a while and I caught up with him in Delft and had the crack. He said to say hello to all the Kingswood pupils of 82, and is also to be seen in the (Anglo-Dutch)film Discovering Heaven with Stephen Fry. Nice to see that someone from Corby has made it large.
• brendan rielly is an olympic high jumper and he represented britain in the sydney 2000 olympics (cousins to andy cuddihy my uncle)
• Probably loads, but they hide the shamefull fact they are from Corby. Jimmy Kane, he helped make Corby the hell hole it is today. His extreme left policies have help stun any potential that corby ever had. He is a true member of the looney left. John Wood Cowling , on a spiritual level with Jimmy Kane. These men, these communists are both wackos who hate anything english and any body who works hard and has money to show for it. Doeesnt Jimmy Kane remind you of Faggin out of oliver twist ? They both leave a lot to be desired. PLEASE VOTE JIMMY KANE OUT OF OFFICE. HE IS A COMMUNIST WHO IS BAD FOR THIS TOWN . HE IS A TRUELY AWFUL PERSON.
• The only recent semi-celeb to come from Corby is Stuart Campbell, played for Leicester's first team for a few weeks til he was transfered into obscurity!
• Bill Drummond and Rev Drummond were related. Rev Drummond was the minister at St Ninians and they lived a few doors away from us. Bill used to babysit me and my little brother occasionally. He once turned up at St Ninians Church fate unexpectedly when I was there with some friends from uni - that got me free drinks for nearly three months!
• Stuart Irvine, one time Apprentice Instrument Mechanic with British Steel and original lead singer with Local Bands St. Cecelia and Bumper is now a highly successful singer and songwriter in South Africa. Leslie Boyd, a lad bron and raised in Corby and whose mother still lives there emigrated to South Africa and has just retired as the Chairman of the Anglo American Corporation (Done well eh)
• There was a Guy who used to go to Kingswood Comprehensive, about 1978 to 82 called Joe Murphy, I know because he used to be a bit of a Jam fan and was two years older than me, he is now famous in Holland and had some programme on dutch t.v. about brits working in Holland, sbs 6 or some channel, my sister saw him on it and says she remembered him.
• Eddie McGoldrick started his playing career at Corby Town. He also played for Northamton, Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Manchester City. He was also capped for Ireland when he took part in a world cup game in the USA.
• A distant friend told me a famous band called Wellington came from Corby. ...... Who the f*** were they?? He played me their record and they sang in English.
• Murray Glenn... ex Corby architect and guitarist extraordinaire Pat Lavin, singer in Harry Garter and the Elastic Band
• HEY! RAGING SPEEDHORN -Corby's favourite export and er that bloke that writes inspector morse
• Johnny Vaughan would like to correct the slanderous rumours by saying that yes he did live at 104 Willowbrook Avenue, but no he never worked in Corby.NEVER
• Biased I may be, but... 'Wee' Jon McCann. Who didn't know him? He drifted away quietly in his sleep but there are many who remember him as a wild man. And rightly so. He set up the first Karate club in Corby (Danesholme), and he was proficient in that martial art throughout his tutoring. He became a 3rd Dan in 'Wado-Ryu', and then a 2nd Dan in 'Shotokan' styles. He also had the privilege of becoming British champion at one point. And looking at his size that was no mean feat, Maybe people will disagree with this contribution, but all I want is the great stories about him to be told for one last time, 'cos he'll always smile with us. Adam McCann
• Brendan (David) Coyle (Actor) last seen in the ITV series ThiefTakers. Played the part of DS Bob "Bingo" Tate. Has also been seen in various BBC productions. His mother and brother still live in Corby. More info can be found at http://www.carltontv.co.uk/data/thief_takers/3.html
• Re: comments about the authenticity of Corby's ecclesiastical Drummond family....The Rev. Drummond, previously mentioned, is/was DEFINITELY the father of Bill "KLF" Drummond. Bill was one of my closest school friends and, in point of fact, his father, a tall, looming, statuesque almost Gothic man supervised the burial of my first son. Other ex-Kingswood bods will confirm this.
• colin dexter was a teacher at kingswood grammar in the late 60's & early 70's
• Just to correct a previous statement, it was the rev Drummond young who was at the church on Beanfield Ave. No relation to Mr Drummond from KLF. Billy McKim ran a 4 minute mile and went to the Tokyo games in 1964, he went to the boys school. John Purdie Played for Arsenal & Wolves.. There was A woman writer and broadcaster who also played cricket & Hockey for England, who was born in Corby. In the 1950s she presented prizes at The Girls School her name begins with P - can anyone remember her full name? There are also a number of Corby born who have been successful in the acting profession.
• Owner, at one time, of all Nightclubs in Corby, Bip Wetherall. Loves dancing the night away as if he was Peter Stringfellow - but preferring pensioner power.
• eddie MCgouldrick ex arsenal player
• That old Hazel Nut Geoff Burrell had a book published by Penquin called 'Buster's Fired a Wobbler'.
• Bill Drummond attended Kingwood (Grammar - as it was then) School. So did Dougie King. They were both in the same class-year. As was I.
• Johnny Vaughan (Big Breakfast) used to work as a lifeguard in the Corby pool
• I know it might be hard to believe but an up-an-coming international rugby star was born in Corby. South African centre Paul Baird was born in the former Steeltown to a Scottish father and French mother.
• The cabin boy from HMS Victory when Nelson died (and snogged Hardy, allegedly) is buried in St. John's Church in the Old Village.
• alvin stardust used to live in weldon and the lead singer used to live in the old village i dont know if they still do
• Dougie King who Used to work on ILR Radio stations, he knows Loads of celebs including Billy Connely, Even Bill Drummond from the band KLF was influenced by Dougie`s music as a DJ. Dougie is a RAB C NESBITT (BY THE WAY)
• Don't forget Bill Drummond, the son of the Reverend Drummond, who was the minister at the scottish curch on Beanfield Rd. Bill was the manager of "Echo and the Bunnymen" and "Orchestral Manouvers in the Dark ( O.M.D.) in the early eighties. Bill went to Beanfield School.
• The guy who writes Inspector Morse novels, Colin Dexter, used to live in Argyll House in the town centre. He taught at the grammar school at the time - 1960s - which is now Queen Elizabeth School, and used to drink in the nice and homely Corby Candle pub. He's a bit deaf now and occassionally visits snooty Uppingham.
• The '70's band St. Cecelia..who hit the charts under the guidance of Jonathan King with 'Leap up and down wave your knickers in the air' came from Corby.
• The lead singer from Shawaddy-Waddy(?) lives just outside Corby and can be seen shopping inour local ASDA. Eddie McGoldrick Ex Crystal Palace and Man City comes from Corby as does Lee Glover. Dixie Deans grandson lives just round the corner from me, and Stuart Campbell (23) who has plays at Leicester City (sub now).
• Bill Brummond from the KLF once lived in Corby, but, he got famous and had the sense to move.
• Mr Bip is the would-be Richard Branson of Corby except its more like Arthur Daley really?? He owns the entertainment industy, basically! When once caught speeding he revelled in the free publicity by placing a cheeky ad in the local paper. His beer has a name for boosting Anglian Water's profits!
• Johnny Vaughn (from the Big Breakfast) used to be a lifeguard in Corby swimming pool!
• Andrew Cowan is Corby's most famous person. He wrote a book based in Corby (very easy to visualise exactly where he's describing) called "Pig". He won quite a lot of literary acclaim for it and picked up some (prestigous) award for being best new/young comer/writer of the year.
• The bloke who wrote 'Me and My Girl' 'You must be the Husband' and other similar sit-coms used to live just outside Corby, but he moved soon after Bips went down hill.

Buskers, Street Entertainers

• Does Mad Terry go in here or in celebs
• two words MAD TERRY i dont think there is anyone in corby who doesnt know who this guy is hes like a celebrity here
• terry the tramp flips out now and again... he's mental...saw him humping a lamppost once!!!
• "MAD TERRY" lol the so called "ultimate entertainment" if you want to get chased around on a dark night and watch the guy fall over and beat himself shitless.
• say hello to terry for me will you...
• Go back to where they came from, we don't like the fact that they get paid to keep those poor dogs!!!!
• All the drunken psuedo jock peasants in leggings, ginger fright wigs and celtic tops who stagger around wiv a can of tennants super up the town wiv a bag of chips and crispy bits from crest of the wave on a Saterdi efternoone sun!
• Would the thieving bastard sheep shaggers fuck off back to Kettering where they can hassle the all the t**sers there
• The Corby Grampion pipe band plays around corby & has a VERY SEXY lead drummer, Stuart Wilson!!!
• tramps,terry MCcann,and homeless mole women who u can point at and laugh up beany shops
• Big issue is about as sophistcated as it gets.
• local tramps always available to hire
• band stand corby town center
• 'Homeless' people are found in the town centre, usually by McDonalds and by Choices Video. Buskers are usually found outside Crazy Georges and Partners, people sell The Big Issue there as well
• There's a perfectly normal guy who plays this bizarre non-instrument thing from the Baroque ages which is attached to a Voodoo wooden doll-like creature that snares at passing children. Perfectly harmless of course. We think.
• Occasionaly !
• I talked with a guy that was playing steel drums in the Market.

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Last updated: 2008-02-20