Haverhill Science Festival will include talks by Lord Robert Winston and Helen Sharman when it launches in April

The first British astronaut and a world-renowned scientist will be visiting Haverhill when the town hosts its first science festival.

Helen Sharman CMG OBE, who in May 1991 created history by going into space, and Lord Robert Winston will be headlining the Haverhill Science Festival when it takes place at various locations from April 22 to 27.

The programme (available in full at https://onehaverhill.co.uk/sciencefestival) includes visits by Lord Winston to Castle Manor Academy to speak to students and to the EpiCentre (invitation only) to meet businesses on April 25, followed by an ‘evening with’ ticketed event, at the arts centre.

Helen will speak on April 26 at Samuel Ward Academy about her life and career and while this is a school-only event, the week will include a range of events open to anyone.

Haverhill Town Council clerk, Colin Poole, explained more about the festival – which is hosted by ONE Haverhill Partnership.

“The inspiration for the Haverhill Science Festival came thanks to the town’s position right in the middle of the Cambridge sub-region.

“Just down the road we have the bio-medical science campuses and there’s huge amounts of science and investment on the whole A11 corridor from Cambridge to Norwich - and Haverhill is sat right there in the middle of it all.

“Haverhill is changing out of recognition from being a London overspill town. The housing mix is rapidly diversifying, providing homes for professionals and wealth creators.

“Our educational offer includes the Samuel Ward sixth form and West Suffolk College.

“There is a whole world of opportunities opening up for our young people in Haverhill and we want to inspire them to grab them with both hands. So, the Science Festival will not only wave the flag for Haverhill, but highlight that studying STEM topics is not dull by any means.

“We want to make sure that people know about Haverhill as a place to do business. We also want to make sure that our young folk are equipped with the tools to be able to take part in that.”

Of Lord Winston and Helen Sharman’s visit, he added: “We hope that will capture region-wide media so that entrepreneurial scientists looking for somewhere to locate their business will think about the advantages Haverhill offers, with employment land available a far lower costs than Cambridge itself.

“Lord Winston and Helen will be encouraging students to study STEM topics for their GCSEs and beyond.

“But we also have networking events for businesses like our Space East event and fun days where families can take part in exciting activities and science experiments.”

Kinetic Science and STEAM Co will also work with all primary schools in Haverhill to bring whole-day science-based activities to over 1,500 children, while the latter will also hold a free Community Science Day on Saturday, April 27 at East Town Park.