Corby really is Ace, say 10,000 people

Corby is Ace! reached the milestone this week. The group was set up by mum-of-two Gail McDade, who has lived her entire life in the town.

She had the idea while reading a negative stream views about the town on the social media site.

The group has become so successful that it even has its own spoof site - Corby is Even Betterer, which itself has more than 2,500 members.

Gail, a former Lodge Park pupil who now works on Labour party campaigns, said: “I hurt my back in the middle of 2014 and was lying in my sick bed reading a constant stream of people with nothing good to say about Corby.

“One girl had been dumped by her boyfriend and she even found a way to blame the town for that.

“So I started Corby is Ace.

“We grew slowly at first but it got really busy when people started posting old photos of Corby.

“Other people were tagged in them and they started requesting to join the group.

“It got to the point where we were getting 100 requests per day and until December it was just me running it. So I decided to rope in some people to help out a bit.”

Last year, members held collections in the town centre to encourage donations to Corby Foodbank, and there is currently a poll running on the site to decide on a chosen charity that members can raise money for throughout 2016.

The site only allows positive or helpful posts about the town, as well as adverts for businesses on Wednesdays. Some members who wanted to post other items decided to set up their own spin-off, Corby is Even Betterer, which allows all types of posts about the town.

There is good-natured banter between the sites and the two factions are to come together in April for a fundraising quiz featuring questions about the town’s history.

Gail said: “You know you’re a success when you’ve got your own tribute site!

“We’re going to be holding a TV-style quiz show at the ex-Servicemen’s club in Lloyds Road.

“There will be five representatives from each site on opposing teams. I’ll be trawling through our members to find the people who I think are going to do the best. I’m taking this very seriously - there’s no way we’re going to lose.”

The funds raised will be split between a children’s cancer charity nominated by the Betterers, and an as-yet unnamed charity to be decided by the Acers. The evening will be presented by Corby Radio’s Martin Brown. Tickets will be on sale soon.