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Spalding Flower Parade (CIC) Group introduces Giovanna Grieco who runs Aphoenix Care in West Pinchbeck as committee chairperson




A businesswoman has stepped up to take a leading role with Spalding Flower Parade after being inspired by her fond memories of the event as a child.

Giovanna Grieco is Spalding Flower Parade (CIC) Group’s new chairperson — and the team is taking the reins from Stephen Timewell, who brought the event back from the dead after a ten-year break.

It will return for its third year in its new revived guise on May 11, 2025, and Giovanna, who runs Aphoenix Care in West Pinchbeck, intends to continue the success of the first two years with her large group of volunteers.

Giovanna Grieco, centre, with Becs Roberts and Demi Fontaine Gilchrist. PHOTO: SUBMITTED
Giovanna Grieco, centre, with Becs Roberts and Demi Fontaine Gilchrist. PHOTO: SUBMITTED

She said: “My personal reasons for joining the committee are that when I was a child I used to watch the Tulip Parade and I am honoured to be chairperson.

“I have been involved with the committee from the beginning and when Stephen stepped down it was a shock to all of us.

“He is a legend and when that happened we knew we couldn’t let it go.”

The Winter Wonderland at Ayscoughfee Hall will raise funds for next year's Spalding Flower Parade
The Winter Wonderland at Ayscoughfee Hall will raise funds for next year's Spalding Flower Parade

Finding a venue was difficult for the committee — with the Castle Sports Complex unavailable in 2025 due to likely works to revamp the ageing leisure centre. But after a lot of ‘hard work’ it was decided that next year’s parade will start and finish at Springfields — a decision that has drawn some criticism.

Giovanna said: “We have tried to keep it as much in town as we can.

“It is very frustrating when we face criticism as all the volunteers are awesome.

The Spalding Flower Parade was brought back by Stephen Timewell and is now run by a committee
The Spalding Flower Parade was brought back by Stephen Timewell and is now run by a committee

“Every day we all do something and I don’t know how Stephen did it on his own.”

Giovanna’s mum, Jennifer Grieco, and her late aunt, Janet Blackamore, supported previous parades by pinning the flowers on to floats — and she’s now keeping that proud family tradition going.

She said: “Family is important and the parade is great for the children.

“It is all about the fun, flowers and fair and I feel so honoured.

Stephen Timewell led the Spalding Flower Parade 2024
Stephen Timewell led the Spalding Flower Parade 2024

“You can feel the pride in the town - it brings people together.”

Giovanna’s business Aphoenix Care is sponsoring the current Flower Queen and deputy Becs Roberts and Demi Fontaine Gilchrist.

She said: “I was in the parade and it was nice to get everybody involved.

“As we turned every corner there were hundreds of faces and people supporting us.

Thousands of spectators lined up to see the floats at this year's parade
Thousands of spectators lined up to see the floats at this year's parade

“It gives people in the town a sense of worth, something bigger, so we intend to keep it going.”

Giovanna travelled in August with Becs and Demi to the Battle of the Flowers in Jersey and took some tips while she was there.

She said: “Their parade is amazing and I hope that it can be twinned with Spalding.

“We learned how to make paper flowers.

Volunteers who helped to put on Spalding Flower Parade PHOTO: PATRICIA POXON
Volunteers who helped to put on Spalding Flower Parade PHOTO: PATRICIA POXON

“It is great watching Becs and Demi grow in confidence which I also saw in Star and Holly, the previous ambassadors.”

Mr Timewell won a community award for fundraising and the committee is equally as committed with putting on events to raise funds for next year.

A bingo night will be taking place on October 28 and a Winter Wonderland will be held at Ayscoughfee Hall on Saturday, December 7 — two key dates to raise funds to keep the parade going.

Giovanna's mum worked on this float in1965 when she was 15. PHOTO: SUBMITTED
Giovanna's mum worked on this float in1965 when she was 15. PHOTO: SUBMITTED

For further information about Spalding Flower Parade visit the website https://www.spaldingflowerparade.org.uk/ and visit their Facebook page

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