My Mixed Memories Of Corby

A Memory of Corby.

How different we can be! I absolutely did not like Sister Veronica at Our Lady's Junior School, she frightened me to death. I remember Sister Anthony and Sr Hilda and they took us to Gerrards Cross where their order had a convent for afternoon tea. I also did not like Mr Moon but thankfully was never taught by him. I passed the 11+ and went to Corby Grammar School for 5 years and then Corby Technical College. I was baptised in this Catholic church and also married there to my first husband in 1968. Sadly, I buried my son in Rockingham Road Cemetery in 1971, he was almost 3 years old, and my parents are both buried there also. I emigrated to Australia in the seventies and again in the 90's but returned to UK 3 years ago and now live in Whistable, Kent as do my sisters and brother in law. I still keep in touch with a few people in Corby with whom I went to Corby Grammar and I was last there visiting two years ago when we (my sisters and I), stayed at the Raven Hotel which brought back many memories of the dances we attended there (and our Mother before us). I remember my mother also getting ready to go these 'at homes'. I can vividly see her now in her purple taffeta dance dress and silver sandals thinking how lovely she looked. She didn't really wear make-up but would dab a bit of lipstick on her cheeks and a tiny amount on her lips to complete the look! My mum was a good friend of Nellie Connaughty, who ran the dances on Sat nights at the 'Bin' which I loved as did my younger sister Cate. I left Corby for good when I was just 18 years old and got a job as a Civil Servant in London (Kensington) but the people I still keep in touch with have never moved far away, two are in Corby still; one in Desborough and the other in Northampton. I too, remember Father Cronin at this church and also Fr Brennan (*who married me and my ex). Also the Irish and Scottish dancing we learned at Our Lady's Junior School and the concerts. I remember being in a school play there called the Laird of Cockpen, I think there was a photograph in the Evening Telegraph. I could honestly write a book about my memories of Corby town and who knows I just may do that .