Proud parents of Spalding Deputy Flower Queen say it was like a fairy tale

‘A fairy tale’ is how the proud parents of Deputy Flower Queen Demi Fontaine Gilchrist described watching their daughter take pride of place in Spalding Flower Parade.

Mum Denise Hutchinson, dad Livingston Gilchrist and sister Montana Gilchrist along with Demi’s partner Joshua Campion and his mum Lizzie cheered and waved as the Spalding Flower Queen float passed through Halmer Gate.

Demi was proudly waving from the key float alongside Spalding Flower Queen and new friend, Becs Roberts.

Speaking after the parade Denise said: “It was fantastic.

“Demi gave us a wave as she went past and we were all waving and smiling.

“Never in a million years could I have envisaged something like this. It is a dream come true. It is like being in a fairy tale as both Demi and Becs looked like princesses.

“I am a very proud mum.”

Demi has used her position to raise awareness of hidden disabilities after suffering from anti –NMDAR encephalitis, affects her brain and presented itself when she was 17.

Denise said: “She has opened the door for many young girls and for disabilities and ethnicity.”

Livingston had driven up early that morning from London to proudly watch Demi and in the run-up to the parade said he was ‘overjoyed’.

He said: “She deserves this.

“Demi is mindful of the responsibility that goes with this role. People have watched the flower parade for many years so it is part of Spalding’s history. Demi did research into other parades.”