Alan Irwin (GMB Northants Branch Secretary) was born and raised in Corby, he worked in the local steelworks for 17 years from 1970, age 15, before leaving to pursue academic studies at Ruskin College, Oxford, in 1989. A prominent trade union figure in the town, he served as a local district and County Councillor for six years and was an active member of the local Labour Party. He was among several councillors who faced a visceral backlash from the right-wing militant Labour group at the time, for questioning the economic direction taken immediately after the steelworks closure. This essay titled 'Corby The Wasted Years - Steel in Their Blood' is part of a broader thesis he completed as a student at Ruskin College in 1991.
Alan comments: I’m sure many people would/may have watched Corby -Toxic Town recently on Netflix.
There was another story at the time, one of a group of Councilors who challenged the local town council leadership (with consequences). Mainly on their economic strategies that were heavily influenced by Thatcher's government, to bring employment back into the town after the closure in 1980.
The focus of the thesis is not on the environmental consequences of dismantling a steelworks after closure, although reference is made in the thesis and now well documented. It’s the struggle of the unions to hold the leadership of the Council to account on decisions that were taken without proper, inclusive consultations.
It’s not the full thesis (written in 1991) but a shortened version (10,000 words). It’s called Corby the Wasted Years - Steel in their Blood.
It’s dedicated to those Councilors who have now passed on and two very special children born into a steel town during that period.
There was another story at the time, one of a group of Councilors who challenged the local town council leadership (with consequences). Mainly on their economic strategies that were heavily influenced by Thatcher's government, to bring employment back into the town after the closure in 1980.
The focus of the thesis is not on the environmental consequences of dismantling a steelworks after closure, although reference is made in the thesis and now well documented. It’s the struggle of the unions to hold the leadership of the Council to account on decisions that were taken without proper, inclusive consultations.
It’s not the full thesis (written in 1991) but a shortened version (10,000 words). It’s called Corby the Wasted Years - Steel in their Blood.
It’s dedicated to those Councilors who have now passed on and two very special children born into a steel town during that period.
Download and read 'Corby the Wasted Years - Steel in their Blood' by Alan Irwin below:
| corby_the_wasted_years_steel_in_their_blood_by_alan_irwin.pdf |
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