‘I’m looking forward to us winning this bid, it’s our turn.”
This message is ‘strictly’ for all Grimsby people out there and it comes from our home-grown dancing and theatre star Kevin ‘from Grimsby’ Clifton. In Grimsby today, Kevin took time out of his schedule to back GY28.
“We’ve got to win this bid, it’s a brilliant town full of brilliant and talented people. Sometimes people may just need that bit of investment or an opportunity. Me and my sister were afforded opportunity and went to the moon as we appeared on Strictly Come Dancing. There are so many others who could do great things,” he says.
Kevin, and his sister Joanne, have both taken the dance and musical theatre world by storm and are international stars. However, they have never forgotten their Grimsby roots – where their equally famous and former dance champion parents, Keith and Judy, founded Cliftons Dance Academy.
The GY28 team caught up with Kevin, who was in Grimsby to support his close friend Sam Neal of Samuel Neal Kitchens on Wellowgate, who had organised an event to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity – a cause close to the hearts of both friends.
And Kevin loves coming back: “Me and my sister Joanne grew up in Grimsby and dancing was our everything.
“I have danced with different partners and all around the world – but it’s always been ‘Kevin Clifton, from Grimsby. The very first time we were on Strictly Come Dancing, Sir Bruce Forsyth introduced me as ‘Kevin from Grimsby’ and now nobody knows my surname – people just call me Kevin Grimsby, or even just Grimsby! It’s become a massive part of my identity, which I am very proud of.
“I always love coming back to Grimsby. I don’t live here now, but I still call it home. Grimsby’s a great place, full of great people. Let’s win this.”
Grimsby’s UK Town of Culture 2028 final bid will be submitted to the Government at the end of November – it is one of 15 towns vying for the title. The winner and two runners-up will be announced next Spring.
To find out more about The Brain Tumour Charity please go to: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/
Visit www.gy28.co.uk for more information about our campaign!
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