Council planning event to mark 300th anniversary of Sir Isaac Newton’s death
The event is set to take place in 2027
Last updated 7th Feb 2026
A council is planning to put on an event to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Sir Isaac Newton’s death.
Members of South Kesteven District Council’s culture and leisure overview and scrutiny committee discussed a proposal for an event to mark the death of Sir Isaac, at a meeting on Tuesday, February 3.
The event, which has been named ‘Newton 300’ is set to take place next year in memory of Sir Isaac Newton – the physicist renowned for discovering the laws of gravity. He died on March 31, 1727 at the age of 84.
Sir Isaac Newton was born in the small hamlet of Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth and attended The King’s School in Grantham.
Councillors heard that the district council is planning to take a similar approach to ThatcherFest which was held last year to mark 100 years since the birth of the late former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who was born in Grantham. Visitors numbers for that event ‘exceeded’ the council’s expectations.
The Newton 300 event is part of a series of wider events which are proposed to take place, subject to approval in the authority’s budget.
The district council said it’s currently in the process of planning a programme of events to commemorate the former physicist.
Karen Whitfield, assistant director for leisure, culture and place, told the meeting: “The reason that ThatcherFest worked was because we had the hook which is the anniversary and it is incredibly difficult to get those organisations together.
“It did work because people recognised that as an opportunity. But we’re currently looking and we’ve had the first stakeholder meeting this week about what we can do around the 300th anniversary of Newton’s death.
“That will be that type of approach with other organisations, arts practitioners, being encouraged to work with us to put on a fabulous range of events.”
Coun Matthew Bailey (Conservative – Grantham St Wulfram’s) said the proposal would help to recognise South Kesteven’s history.
He added: “We seem to be spending a lot of time talking about Newton 300 and rightly so.
“I think it’s a fantastic event and something that we should be proud of in the whole district, not just in Grantham.”
Coun Emma Baker (Green – Bourne Austerby) said that she thought that the proposed ‘Newton 300’ event would be a great educational experience for students.
She said: “I am an arts teacher in a school and actually at my school, I am a tutor in Newton House, so obviously lots of links there.
“I know as a drama teacher, that I would be absolutely willing to bring my students to see live events.
“I think that is something that they don’t have access to and they would love to have.”