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Football legend Peter Shilton will officially open the Haverhill Leisure Centre at 12.30pm on Saturday 12 September, following its multi-million pound refurbishment and marking a day of free, fun activities for everyone to enjoy.

The day begins at 10am with free taster sessions to allow people to try out the new facilities. Before the official opening at 12.30pm, Peter Shilton will take part in a penalty shoot-out with the winners of a children’s competition. Football fans are invited to watch the ceremony and bring along their England shirts, balls and gloves to be signed at a free autograph session with Peter from 3pm to 4pm.

Taster sessions include Thai fit; boxercise; legs bums and tums; body vibe; basketball; aqua aerobic; ultimate Frisbee and dodgeball. Kids City and Tots Town will be free until 1pm and there are free swimming activities throughout the day. England Squash and Raquetball will run a coaching clinic for all ages and abilities.

Abbeycroft Leisure’s new mascot, a red dragon, will be appearing in town on Saturday, looking for a name.

Leisure Centre owners St Edmundsbury Borough Council have invested £5.2m in upgrading facilities and providing new activities and state of the art equipment. The centre boasts fitness facilities, a swimming pool, a completely new Kids City children’s play experience, a new health suite and spinning studio, sports hall and studios, a dedicated combat and martial arts area, squash courts, a new multi-purpose room, a new cafeteria, party rooms and crèche.

Warren Smyth, Chief Executive of Abbeycroft Leisure, operators of the centre, said,
“We have been overwhelmed at the response from Haverhill people to the new facilities. They have been delighted with their new Leisure Centre. It is a really impressive community asset.”

Cllr Lynsey Alexander, St Edmundsbury Borough Council Cabinet member for Culture and Sport, said,
“The Haverhill master plan highlighted how important the Leisure Centre is to the life of the town. As well as being a great facility for residents, it is creating a buzz and attracting users from outlying areas who then see all the good reasons to make the town their local shopping and entertainment base. “