Highland Heroes modest champ admits ‘I must be doing something right!’
A LIFETIME of devotion to improving the lives of young people has seen a former Highland councillor named community champion of the year at this year’s Highland Heroes awards.
And Peter Corbett’s dedication to making things better for the next generation in the Merkinch area of Inverness also saw him named the evening’s ultimate hero of heroes as well.
Mr Corbett, who grew up in Merkinch, hung up his coaching boots for the last time after stepping away from Merkinch Football Academy after 33 years at the end of last year.
It ended an involvement that began back in 1991 when he started helping then-Merkinch Primary School head teacher Trish Hossack on the touchline.
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Over the decades that grew into the academy which ran both primary school and street football teams, providing an outlet for hundreds of youngsters to develop both football skills but also, perhaps more importantly, skills for life more generally.
Mr Corbett also works three days a week with the Merkinch Partnership, helping young people in the area into work.
The 71-year-old was named community champion at the Highland Heroes awards organised by Northern Times publisher Highland News and Media and held at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness last night - before going on to be named the evening’s hero of heroes as well, for which he won a standing ovation.
Clutching both trophies at the end of the evening he admitted he was honoured, but a little shocked by it all as well.
“It’s really nice,” he said. “You don’t expect awards for these things but it’s nice, especially knowing the public voted for it (the community champion title) and when there are so many good stories (of what other people are doing).”
The hero of heroes title is decided by event judges from among all the evening’s category winners and asked about receiving the ultimate accolade Mr Corbett admitted it was “fantastic” but again took the opportunity to talk about the many other nominees and winners of the night, before admitting: “I must be doing something right!”
Although he has stepped away from his football involvement now he intends to keep on working with the Merkinch Partnership, he says, getting “most enjoyment” out of seeing the young people he works with there “do things they never thought they could do”.
And as for where he is going to keep his double trophy haul he said he is “hoping” to keep them on display in the living room - at least “before my partner notices!” and makes him tidy them away.
The community champion of the year award was sponsored by High Life Highland, with hero of heroes sponsored by Pentland Ferries.
Keep watching our website for more of this year’s fantastic Highland Heroes winners.
