Pinchbeck’s Rebecca Roberts is excited to take over the Spalding Flower Queen role
The newly crowned Spalding Flower Queen impressed judges with her bubbly personality.
Rebecca (Becs) Roberts, 36, was announced as the winner on Saturday at a glitzy ceremony in The Vista, Spalding, where contestants stepped out of Dr Who’s TARDIS, made by organiser Stephen Timewell, onto the stage.
Judges, including1953 flower queen Jean Toolley, awarded the deputy role to Demi Fontaine Gilchrist and both will attend the Battle of the Flowers Floral Parade in Jersey this summer.
Virtual finance manage Rebecca, known as Becs, 36, lives in Pinchbeck and has a four-year-old daughter called Poppy, said: “Honestly it means the world to me - I am so excited to fulfil my role as flower queen and Jean was wonderful.
“It is great to be a good role model to Poppy and show how important it is to give back to people and that things may scare you but you should do it anyway.
“I am a bit overwhelmed but really excited – my partner Terry now calls me Queenie.”
The judges Giovanna El Greco, Laura Louise Hudson (Miss Oceanworld 2023), Star Perry (2023 ambassador) Jean Toolley (1953 flower queen) Holly Kendrick (2023 deputy ambassador), Cheryl Carter (care assistant) and Sue Jackson (flower parade’s head volunteer) were impressed by her volunteering role with a foodbank helping out with a Facebook page and her busy role as a mum.
She said: “I talked about the job and the house and how it is untidy because of the kids.”
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She will officially take over the role on May 11 from current Flower Queen Star Perry and will be attending her first meet-and-greet at Spalding Library this Saturday (March 16) at 10am. She said: “I was very surprised to win as everyone was unique in their own way.
Demi, 27 from Spalding - who is a ‘little bit of a Dr Who fan’ - will take over the deputy role from Holly Kendrick.
She said: “That was a great experience stepping out of the TARDIS and onto the stage
“Hopefully I will get to experience it again.”
The duo will work together attending official events and will fly to Jersey in August.
Demi said: “I am really excited for Rebecca as well – she is such a lovely person and definitely a worthy winner.
“I was speaking to the previous deputy and she said it is very much a team effort.
“With the trip to Jersey I will be supporting the Flower Queen throughout the process - that is what I will be doing.
“I am very excited about Jersey and flying.
This year’s contest saw nine finalists including one man, Keith Ratcliff aka Mr Pink, for the first time, apply for the coveted crown : Abigail Sara Ferrell, Beth Donnelly, Ellie Warfield, Louise Hoppe, Millie Gent and Molly Ireland.
Demi, who is studying performing arts at Boston College and works at the Tulip Queen pub in Spalding, said: “It was great meeting all the girls and Keith who was a worthy contender.
“Everyone was so lovely.
“I am very excited and I can't wait to represent Spalding and share the values that I have.”
Demi lives with a brain injury and is keen to represent those like herself who have a hidden disability.
She said: “Sometimes it affects me on a day-to-day basis.
“I can have a bad day or an amazingly wonderful day and feel super energetic but then fizzle out.”
Demi has praised the people who helped put on Saturday’s judging event with organiser Stephen Timewell.
She said: “I was so impressed with the volunteers of the flower parade who made the effort of making all the props.
“The amount of time it must have taken to make – I am so impressed.
She was supported on the night by family members – her parents, nan, sister, aunty and boyfriend and said: “My mum and dad were over the moon.
“I could hear my dad shouting my name and ‘go Demi’ – he is so proud.”
Her work colleagues at the Tulip Queen were also supportive and posted her achievement on their Facebook page.
She said: “Everyone was so happy for me.”
Nerves and excitement were shared by all the contestants on the night and Demi added: “All the contestants were feeling nervous as we didn't know what to expect.
“It all went so fast.
“One-by-one we all went up and when we sat in the Green Room there was an instant sigh of relief.
“Everyone was so kind and egged each other on and there was a positive energy in the room which was really important for everyone.”
Demi is working and studying hard in an additional night course to eventually create a business offering beauty treatments.
She said: “I am training to be a nail technician doing a makeup and beauty course.
“I want to combine them both to create a service for people who can't necessarily afford those kinds of services.”
Her journey to become deputy flower queen has impacted her in a positive way and she added: “I just wanted to say I wish all the contestants all the very best in whatever they do next.
“They all have amazing hearts.
“I have definitely made friends for life.”
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