Corby Highland Gathering cancelled for second year in a row

Corby's annual Highland Gathering has been cancelled for the second year running after lockdown restrictions made the event too risky.

Last year, the ongoing coronavirus crisis had made it impossible for the weekend of traditional Scottish pipes and dance, funfair and community stalls to take place.

The Gathering had been due for take place on the first weekend in July but dancers and pipe bands have been unable to practise for the competitions.

Organiser Mark Pengelly said: “It is with great sadness that Corby Highland Gathering committee has decided to call off this year's event.

"Many dancing schools up and down the country are still not meeting in full. Pipe band practice is still limited and there are the risks - will it be safe for thousands of people to be on the show ground together at one time?

"With the new local authority also unwilling to give permission to events, we fully endorse their reasons why, we believe there are too many risks to pay out large deposits for example staging with no certainty the event can even happen."

Corby Highland Gathering is an independent organisation and all money for the event running coats is raised by sponsorship.

Costs include £4,800 for the The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association who run the pipe band competition and about £6,000 for the prestigious All England dance competition overseen by the The Scottish Official Highland Dancing Association. Other overheads include security and insurance totalling about £14,000.

Mr Pengelly added: "The Corby Highland Gatherings have been held in Corby for over 50 years and we look forward to coming back to Corby in 2022 with an even bigger and better event."