“I’m sure the team will pull off a 2025 Spalding Flower Parade!” Former organiser calls on public to back committee in out-of-town move
The man behind the return of the Spalding Flower Parade has urged the public to back plans to keep the event running next year.
It’s crunch time for the 2025 showpiece, with the organising committee asking the public to vote on whether the parade continues at an out-of-town venue or is cancelled.
And Stephen Timewell, who breathed fresh life into the popular parade in 2023 following a ten-year absence, believes there should only be one outcome.
“From my point of view I totally support the team 100% in the awful decision they’re having to make,” he said in a video statement posted online.
“It’s a very difficult one but I give them my support and I hope you’ll do the same.
“I’m sure the team will pull off a 2025 Spalding Flower Parade, I’m certain of it.
“Please give them your support and backing, it’s really important Spalding continues to have the Flower Parade.”
For the last two years the event - which attracts crowds into the tens of thousands - has started and ended at the town centre Castle Sports Complex.
However, due to the site undergoing a £26 million development it will be unavailable next year.
It is now planned to run the 2025 parade from Springfields Exhibition Centre.
While the parade would still run through the centre of Spalding, the finish venue of of great significance to organisers.
A celebration event with live music, a funfair and craft and food stalls is held after the parade, allowing revellers to keep the party going while getting a closer look at the floats.
The sponsorship and money raised from this event forms a significant part of the £80,000 costs of putting on the parade, so organisers need to be certain the public would still be behind the idea.
“It’s really quite a sad situation and we knew this was a possibility when we lost the Castle site because of the upcoming development, which is obviously very important to Spalding,” Mr Timewell added.
“With the Flower Parade being at Springfields it takes the base away from the town centre. However, the parade would still go through the town centre, so the town would benefit.
“I’ve also made a suggestion to the team that maybe a little bit of funding is sought to put on more activities in the town centre on parade day. It would split the audience and take away from any overcrowding issue.
“It may be very different to the parades we’ve had in the past, but when I started the Flower Parade two years ago I had a vision it would come back to Spalding and that’s exactly what we’ve done and I’m sure the team will continue that legacy.”
Click here to find out how you can place your vote.
Town centre sites such as Spalding Grammar School field, the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, the park near Pennygate, Ayscoughfee Hall and Gardens and land behind XO nightclub were among the options looked into but found to be unviable for a number of financial and safety reasons.
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