Spalding Flower Queen Erika Yao and deputy Briony Mann reflect on the 2025 Spalding Flower Parade
Spalding’s royal pair shone in the sunshine as they led the 2025 flower parade in style.
Spalding Flower Queen Erika Yao and deputy Briony Mann had a starring role in Saturday May 10’s event — and enjoyed their time in the spotlight, both in beautiful dresses from Fancy Frox.
Erika spoke to reporter Jenny Beake just after the parade came to a close at Springfields in Spalding.
She said: “It was very exciting and I am very grateful.
“I have seen that even just building these floats takes a huge amount of work.
Read all of our 2025 Spalding Flower Parade coverage here
“This parade is a great way to get people together.
“Spalding is flat, yes, but it’s far from boring!”
She added: “I was so happy to see the town so alive with lots of attendees coming from all over the country and I want to send my gratitude to the volunteers and committee.”
Erika also vowed to do her bit to help with the year-round parade effort.
Erika and partner Andrew Blach are the owners of Spalding’s Sessions House and are keen to play an active role in the community.
A proud Andrew said: “This was one of the reasons we moved here - to be involved in the community and now we are.
“It’s great to see so many people in the town centre.”
Deputy queen Briony Mann said: “It’s been so much fun. It is so lovely seeing everyone coming together and seeing people smile and having fun.”
Erika and Briony were recently crowned at a glamorous — and hotly contested — event at Springfields.
The two are the latest to take the roles of flower and queen and deputy — with predecessors also part of the event.
Jean Tooley, who will be 90 this year, was the Flower Queen in 1953 and stopped for a photo with Erika and Briony at the end of the parade.
Jean said: “I thought this one was very well organised, the volunteers have all been wonderful.”
*All photos from the event can be purchases at photos.iliffemedia.co.uk
