Malcolm The Fishman and Arnie the Arndale Dragon are among two of the most local celebrities in Kettering and Wellingborough.

Malcolm The Fishman and Arnie the Arndale Dragon are among two of the most local celebrities in Kettering and Wellingborough.

25 things you would only know if you have grown up in Wellingborough and Kettering

By Carly Roberts

Digital Editor

Published 8th Feb 2021, 14:20 BST

Updated 11th Feb 2021, 17:18 BST

Whether you like it or not – if you’re from Wellingborough or Kettering you are part of a community who share similar memories, accent and anecdotes.

From epic days out Wellingborough Zoo and Wicksteed Park to local town celebrities including Karaoke Karen, barber Vince Geranio and Malcolm the Fishman – these are the 25 things you'll only understand if you come from Kettering and Wellingborough areas.

Malcolm The Fishman and Arnie the Arndale Dragon are among two of the most local celebrities in Kettering and Wellingborough.

. Malcolm and Fish

Malcolm The Fishman and Arnie the Arndale Dragon are among two of the most local celebrities in Kettering and Wellingborough. Photo: UGC

The only reason you let your parents drag you round the Arndale was so you could play on Arnie the Dragon, which will go on display at Wellingborough Museum post-pandemic.

. Arnie the Dragon

The only reason you let your parents drag you round the Arndale was so you could play on Arnie the Dragon, which will go on display at Wellingborough Museum post-pandemic. Photo: UGC

You always get into really heated discussions with others over how to pronounce the River 'Nene'. Do you say Nen or Neen?

. Nen or Neen?

You always get into really heated discussions with others over how to pronounce the River 'Nene'. Do you say Nen or Neen? Photo: UGC

Going into town as a teenager and getting your ears pierced at Claire's accessories was a rite of passage.

. Claire's

Going into town as a teenager and getting your ears pierced at Claire's accessories was a rite of passage. Photo: UGC

You've spent more nights than you care to remember (or can remember) stood on this corner with a bag of chips while trying to flag down a taxi after a night out at Cutters. RIP.

. Cutting Room

You've spent more nights than you care to remember (or can remember) stood on this corner with a bag of chips while trying to flag down a taxi after a night out at Cutters. RIP. Photo: UGC

If you're of a certain age group, you will remember grand days out at Wellingborough Zoo with your family. The park opened in 1943 and between the 1940s and 1970s, Croyland Gardens was the filled with the sounds of lions, tigers and bears.

. Wellingborough Zoo.jpg

If you're of a certain age group, you will remember grand days out at Wellingborough Zoo with your family. The park opened in 1943 and between the 1940s and 1970s, Croyland Gardens was the filled with the sounds of lions, tigers and bears. Photo: UGC

Going into Northampton was thought to be a grand day out once up a time. You might even still remember the voice booming over the Tannoy machine at the bus station, which said: "This is a customer announcement! Please hold the handrail..." But you never wanted to.

. Big days out

Going into Northampton was thought to be a grand day out once up a time. You might even still remember the voice booming over the Tannoy machine at the bus station, which said: "This is a customer announcement! Please hold the handrail..." But you never wanted to. Photo: UGC

You've definitley taken part before in Wellingborough's famous Waendel Walk, which is also, incidentally, a very good reason to stop off at Great Doddington Club for a pint!

. Famed international walk

You've definitley taken part before in Wellingborough's famous Waendel Walk, which is also, incidentally, a very good reason to stop off at Great Doddington Club for a pint! Photo: UGC

You test your mates who don't live in Northamptonshire on how to say Cogenhoe and Bozeat to make yourself feel smug that you can pronounce it properly.

. 'You don't say it like that'

You test your mates who don't live in Northamptonshire on how to say Cogenhoe and Bozeat to make yourself feel smug that you can pronounce it properly. Photo: UGC

If you're part of a certain generation you will probably have a bit of a twang to your accent and say words like ent, kent, shent, daredn't, wun't - and refer to a loved one as 'ere'.

. Ent, kent, shent

If you're part of a certain generation you will probably have a bit of a twang to your accent and say words like ent, kent, shent, daredn't, wun't - and refer to a loved one as 'ere'. Photo: UGC

You've definitley been taken to the Embankment on a Saturday to feed the swans with your family.

. Swans

You've definitley been taken to the Embankment on a Saturday to feed the swans with your family. Photo: UGC

You definitley hit the big time if your parents took you to the splash park in the summer holidays with a mate and a picnic.

. Splash Park at Embankment

You definitley hit the big time if your parents took you to the splash park in the summer holidays with a mate and a picnic. Photo: UGC

The only reason you let your parents drag you round the Arndale was so you could play on Arnie the Dragon, which will go on display at Wellingborough Museum post-pandemic.

1. Arnie the Dragon

The only reason you let your parents drag you round the Arndale was so you could play on Arnie the Dragon, which will go on display at Wellingborough Museum post-pandemic. Photo: UGC

You always get into really heated discussions with others over how to pronounce the River 'Nene'. Do you say Nen or Neen?

2. Nen or Neen?

You always get into really heated discussions with others over how to pronounce the River 'Nene'. Do you say Nen or Neen? Photo: UGC

Going into town as a teenager and getting your ears pierced at Claire's accessories was a rite of passage.

3. Claire's

Going into town as a teenager and getting your ears pierced at Claire's accessories was a rite of passage. Photo: UGC

You've spent more nights than you care to remember (or can remember) stood on this corner with a bag of chips while trying to flag down a taxi after a night out at Cutters. RIP.

4. Cutting Room

You've spent more nights than you care to remember (or can remember) stood on this corner with a bag of chips while trying to flag down a taxi after a night out at Cutters. RIP. Photo: UGC

Wellingborough Kettering Wicksteed Park