Last Friday was one of those rare moments when fiction and real life briefly collided in the most wonderful way.
For years I have been writing about Space Ranger Fred, a young boy who suddenly finds himself travelling the galaxy with the eccentric space explorer Zando Centauri. Fred’s adventures are filled with rockets, planets, gravity, exploding cakes and the occasional intergalactic problem that needs solving.
But last Friday something rather extraordinary happened.
Space Ranger Fred met a real astronaut.
And not just any astronaut — Tim Peake, the British European Space Agency astronaut who spent six months aboard the International Space Station and became one of the most inspiring figures in modern British space exploration.
A Special Day for Haywards Heath Scouts
The occasion was the opening of a brand new community hub and Scout centre in Haywards Heath. The project has been a major effort by the local community, with supporters raising more than £850,000 to build the new facility for Scouts and local groups.
To mark the opening, Tim Peake was invited to cut the ribbon and officially open the building — a fitting guest given his role as a Scout Ambassador and one of the UK’s most recognisable space explorers.
The atmosphere was fantastic. Scouts, families, volunteers and supporters filled the hall, excited to meet the astronaut who had orbited Earth hundreds of times.
And among the crowd was a slightly excited children’s author holding a stack of purple books.
Introducing Space Ranger Fred to an Astronaut
Naturally, I had brought along copies of Space Ranger Fred and the Great Galactic Bake Off.
After all, if you meet a real astronaut, it seems only polite to introduce him to your fictional one.
Tim was wonderfully generous with his time. We chatted about the books, the ideas behind them, and the importance of getting children interested in science, curiosity and space.
That connection felt particularly meaningful because the Space Ranger Fred series has always aimed to blend adventure with STEM ideas — gravity, space travel, problem-solving and exploration — in a way that children find fun rather than intimidating.
Tim kindly took a look through the book, laughed at the concept of exploding space cakes, and then did something incredibly generous.
Two Signed Books for the Community
Tim signed two copies of Space Ranger Fred and the Great Galactic Bake Off.
But these weren’t signed simply as souvenirs.
They will now be auctioned to raise additional funds for the Scouts and the local community hub — helping support the very organisation that hosted the event.
It was a fantastic gesture and perfectly in the spirit of the day:
community, education and opportunity for young people.
From Space to Story
Meeting Tim Peake also reminded me why stories like Space Ranger Fred matter.
Children are naturally curious about the world — and the universe beyond it.
When they hear about astronauts floating in space, rockets launching into orbit, or planets with strange gravity, their imagination ignites.
Stories can take that spark and turn it into something deeper:
- curiosity about science
- confidence to ask questions
- excitement about learning
- and perhaps even a dream of exploring space one day
In a small way, Space Ranger Fred is trying to do exactly that — making science playful and accessible through storytelling.
The Perfect Audience: Scouts
There was also something rather fitting about this moment happening at a Scout centre.
Scouting has always been about:
- exploration
- teamwork
- problem solving
- practical learning
Those ideas sit beautifully alongside the themes of Space Ranger Fred, where Fred constantly learns by doing — thinking through problems, trying solutions and discovering new ideas.
In many ways it mirrors the learning philosophy behind the wider Menturity approach I talk about so often:
I think → I try → I can → I can explain
Exactly the kind of mindset that exploration — whether on Earth or in space — requires.
A Moment I Won’t Forget
For me personally, it was a memorable moment.
As a child I devoured books about space, astronauts and exploration. Like many children of my generation, the idea of travelling beyond Earth captured my imagination completely.
Standing there with a real astronaut holding a copy of my book was therefore rather surreal.
But it also felt encouraging.
Because if stories can inspire children to look up at the stars and ask questions, then perhaps we are doing something worthwhile.
What Happens to the Signed Books?
The two signed copies of Space Ranger Fred and the Great Galactic Bake Off will be auctioned in support of the Scouts and the new community hub.
Whoever wins them will own a rather unusual pairing:
- a book written by a children’s author
- signed by a real astronaut
Not a bad combination.
A Final Thought
Space exploration has always been about curiosity.
The same curiosity that makes a child ask:
- Why do rockets fly?
- What is gravity?
- What would it be like to live on another planet?
Those questions are where science begins.
And sometimes, those questions begin with a story.
Perhaps even a story about a boy called Fred… and a rather chaotic Galactic Bake Off.
Explore the books:
👉 https://www.spacerangerfred.com
Schools, libraries and events:
If you would like to bring Space Ranger Fred to your school or event for a reading, STEM discussion or author visit, you can find more information here: