Spalding Flower Parade Committee to meet with South Holland District Council leader Nick Worth to discuss 2025 event
The council leader will meet members of a committee of volunteers this week for key talks on the future of the flower parade.
The Spalding Flower Parade committee has been set up in the wake of organiser Stephen Timewell’s shock announcement to hand over the reins following this year’s parade, which attracted tens of thousands of visitors.
Leader of South Holland District Council Nick Worth will meet with Flower Queen Rebecca (Becs) Roberts and committee members on Friday (May 30) to discuss how to make the event a success in 2025.
Becs, nominated spokesperson for the committee, said: “It will be a shame to let it go and if it dies this time then I don't think it will come back.
“We found out probably five minutes before Steve put it out publicly and there were messages going around, so we decided to have a meeting and everyone put their hand up wanting the parade to continue.
“Nick Worth has cleared his diary for us and the feeling we are getting is really positive. Hopefully we can work with the council and find a way to make it happen.”
The parade was brought back by Mr Timewell in 2023 following a 10-year break — and organising the last two events have taken a huge amount of time and effort from his team of 200 volunteers.
The official committee of about 11 members will delegate and lead on certain tasks to take the pressure off just one person.
Becs said: “I think it is too big a thing to run on your own now.
“Steve gave us a 300 page document and I don't think we have the time or the skillset and the council have got skills in some of the areas we are lacking.
“We have to break it down into different tasks and segregate the duties so it doesn't become too much.
“It is about making use of people's skill sets, social media and things like that and using them where they are strongest.”
Becs believes it will be vital to have the support of the council to make the parade happen next year and is excited to be representing Spalding as Flower Queen this year, regardless of whether the event happens in 2025.
She said: “We know how important this is to the people of Spalding.
“I spoke to four or five councillors at the Spalding Festival this weekend who were saying they are positive and want to make it work.
“We need help with logistics — and also with management on the day such as the running of the road closures which is where the council’s expertise is.
“They do it for memorials and events and they have got experience of it.”
Read our full Spalding Flower Parade coverage here
One potential hurdle is the venue for next year since plans to redevelop the Castle Sports Centre may be underway.
Becs said: “While it is likely work on the Castle Sports Centre won’t commence until 2026, the council aren’t prepared to offer us the site in case work is brought forward which is completely understandable and we wouldn’t want to have the venue pulled at the last minute.
“There are other options on the table and we remain hopeful.
“We are all really excited and, from our side, it has a really positive vibe despite some negative comments on social media.
“We are determined to make it happen and Steve has been really helpful and talked us through any pitfalls.”
Deputy Flower Queen Demi Fontaine Gilchrist was initially shocked that Mr Timewell had stood down but understands his reasons, one being to have more time with his family.
She said: “I am thankful that we are surrounded by a good team of people who are very dedicated who have been with the committee since day one.
“They have been doing it for quite a long time and the fact that we have got those kinds of people around us to give us the support we need is really reassuring.
“I am hoping that we get full support from the council to share the workloads, like they say a problem shared is a problem halved and help guide us as a group effort instead of it being all down to one person.”
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