Part of Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland, in Rotary District 1070, The Rotary Club of Corby Phoenix was first chartered in 1988 under founder president Hugh Mitchell guided by members of our parent club, The Rotary Club of Corby. The club has gone from strength to strength and became dual gender during 1998.
Each year, members partake in and get great satisfaction from district events such as Kids Out. Various projects organised within the club have raised sums that have assisted numerous organisations such as MacMillan Nurses, Community Nurses, Age Concern and the local Lakelands Hospice.
 | Marshalling a series of three health walks in co-operation with Corby Borough Council and the local PCT |
A project memorable to all Rotarians was the Polio Plus campaign during the late eighties. The priority was both simple and totally focused. Eradicate polio from the world – make the global village in which we all live that bit safer and more comfortable for all communities and especially children. Rotary International is, as its name suggests, truly world wide with over 1.2 million members in just about every country. As a result of the Polio Plus campaign over 250 million US Dollars was raised during a year of hectic activity and handed over to the World Health Organisation with which to undertake this major programme. In fact, the sums raised were in excess of requirements so assistance toward the eradication of measles in children has been a further aim.
How did Corby Phoenix get involved? In fact the club wasn’t really formed. Then it was just a loose body of interested people who may or may not form a Rotary Club. But anyway it was decided to enter a team in a local mini marathon. Surely, there are not many Rotarians that would run thirteen miles? You are right, we each only ran one mile, a very loooong mile but it was worth it with over eight hundred Pounds sent to the fund.
 | Shoe boxes for third world assistance collected from Beanfield School Corby |
There have been all sorts of things since then. Help with the establishment, decoration and furnishing of a sadly needed child abuse centre, raising money to assist the elderly and those less fortunate generally including a number of international projects. One member, for example, joined an aid convoy taking much needed goods to Bosnia in the middle of the terrible crises there. Even organ donor cards have been promoted with over two hundred local people signing up for registration.
Why was the club named Corby Phoenix?
Those that know Corby will recall the closing of the steel works, the major local employer, during 1980. Over thirteen thousand workers were made redundant from that one plant alone plus those from all the associated supply and service companies in the town and surrounding area. The industrial heart of the town was torn away.
 | The club's Wishing Well at East Carlton Park near Corby. All proceeds are used for local charities |
