Playing for Peace – throughout August

Throughout August, Haverhill Arts Centre will be hosting an exhibition entitled ‘Playing for Peace’, which celebrates the role of sport in bringing together international communities. Amongst the exhibits, for example, is the ‘Stop War Start Tennis’ campaign, which saw Pakistani and Indian tennis stars urge their respective governments to allow a tennis match to be held with a net strung across the only road border crossing between the two countries in the war-torn Kashmir district.

Referring to this exhibition, Sebastian Coe said: ”Sport is a powerful channel for promoting conflict resolution and reconciliation within and between communities.” You may have read that Prince William, on his Middle East tour, joined in a football match in Jaffa, at a sports centre where charities bring together Jewish and Arab people through football. Nearer home, England star Dele Alli has recently revealed how football saved him from falling in with gangs as a boy.

It will be officially opened by Caroline Maclean, who is a Haverhill wheelchair basketball Paralympian.

It will be open from Saturday August 4th. to Wednesday August 29th., at Haverhill Arts Centre, High Street. It’s in the corridor by the coffee bar, so will be open weekdays and Saturdays from 10 to 4 (not Bank Holiday), plus when there is a film or other event on in the evenings. (Arts Centre phone number is 01440 714140)

The exhibition was designed by Bradford Peace Museum.