Meet Stephen Timewell, the man behind the Spalding Flower Parade revival
In early June, inspired by a need for a celebration to bolster our district, West Pinchbeck man Stephen Timewell took on a task like no other.
Little did he know that a simple comment on social media would snowball into 18 hour days planning the highly anticipated return of Spalding’s beloved Flower Parade.
While everyone is kept up to date with the work of Steve, who turns 60 in November, and his committee via the media and online, he hasn’t yet given much away about himself.
Speaking to the Spalding Guardian, Steve has given us a look into his life, his passions and the reason why reviving the parade was so important to him.
Steve, who lives with his wife Sandra, grew up in Yorkshire with a grandmother who was an avid visitor to the Spalding Flower Parade - which is how his love of the event began.
His knowledge of the legendary event grew after he met Sandra and moved to Holbeach before spending time in Boston and then returning to Spalding.
“I remember Spalding being such a beautiful place and I must admit it has gone downhill a lot,” he said.
“I suppose it’s like any other town - I think apathy plays a big part in it. That was the same with the parade. When you met people and explained where you were from, they would say ‘Oh, Spalding. They used to have a flower parade there didn’t they?’ and I found that really quite sad. It was all in the past. We should never have lost it.”
Steve’s passion for the Flower Parade shines through without question - when we met he was carrying with him a thick folder filled with information he had collated - but he has other passions too.
At one point, he lived in Spain with Sandra where he spent several years travel writing and to this day he still produces a magazine all about drones used by photographers.
Photography is a real love of Steve’s and it links in to his involvement with the flower parade too.
“During the last parade I was part of the production team who made a video all about the event,” he said. “We sold 50,000 copies of the DVD.
“Other than photography and writing, I really love travel and I spent years travel writing.”
However, Steve doesn’t have much time for his hobbies at the moment.
Running on about five hours of sleep a night, he is putting all of his time and energy into planning.
“I’ve always liked running off the adrenaline,” he says.
“I’m very fortunate in the fact I don’t work a nine to five job because if I did, there’s no way I would be able to do that with what I’m doing now. I’m working around 18 hours a day on planning.”
While it seems as though the parade has taken over Steve’s life, Sandra is there behind him to make sure he rests and eats - even if she did have her doubts at first.
Steve said: “Sandra thought I was totally mad when I took this on - she thinks I’m having an old age crisis!
“She said no one in their right mind would do this and I think she was very worried about the cost. She just didn’t want to see me with egg on my face.”
The house the couple share in West Pinchbeck is currently full of supplies for making floats, but Sandra hasn’t complained much.
Steve added: “She is very patient and very supportive. I literally wouldn’t eat if it wasn’t for her making food so that I can stop and have a break. She’s definitely fed up of it now.”
Steve, who has also campaigned to save Spalding’s old Johnson Hospital, says that while he is putting all of his efforts into turning a dream into reality, all of his thanks go to the people of the town who have supported him.
He said: “I just want to keep thanking the people who are supporting this idea. I’m just amazed and humbled by everything really.
“I’ve said it before, but all I have done is light the fire and fan the flames. Everyone else is putting the fuel on.
“I just know that saying ‘thank you’ isn’t enough.”
Pleased with support from Spalding councillors
Steve says he is thrilled with the support thrown behind him by Spalding Town Forum.
The group, which is made up of district councillors and residents and fills the void of a town council, agreed last week to fund a float to take part in the event on May 6, 2023.
It was decided that the forum would apply for £10,000 from the Spalding Special Expenses Account at a meeting called solely to discuss the plans.
Steve said: “I think the council have done an incredible job so far.
“Coun Gary Taylor was very helpful when we met to discuss my preferred venue which is the Castle Sports Complex, and had an answer with me just hours after we met.
“I know that Gary Porter (leader of the council) values the parade as he knows what it did for Spalding.It’s in his interest to support it and I think the fact that we are removing the risk factor for them is a big advantage.
“Gary (Porter) looked terrified when I first met with him and told him my plans but he is so supportive. He always said he would be.”
Fundraising social event this weekend
On Saturday night there will be a fundraising social night event taking place for the Spalding Flower Parade.
The event begins at 7pm at West Pinchbeck Village Hall and those in attendance will have a chance to watch some old 8mm movies of past flower parades.
Entry to the event is free and there will be a bar and fish and chip van on offer - as well as a raffle with several prizes up for grabs.
Additionally, there will be two bingo nights taking place in aid of the parade over the next few weeks.
Both events will be held at Spalding Services Club with the first taking place on Thursday, September 22 and the second on Thursday, October 20.
It will be ‘eyes down’ at 7.30pm on both evenings - with cash prizes, vouchers and a raffle on offer too.
