Spalding Flower Parade 2023 live coverage
The 2023 Spalding Flower Parade has now finished – with the floats returning to the Castle Sports Complex.
The parade included past Flower Queens, the current ambassador Star Perry and deputy Holly Kendrick, Moulton’s windmill themed float, a ‘nightclub’ float, characters from Star Wars, dancers and Pinchbeck WI.
Our team was on hand to capture the return of the event.
Our news editor Victoria Fear was on hand at the start to see the beginning of the proceedings.
Reporter Bridie Short was also on hand to capture the moment the parade began. You can see more photos and videos on our Instagram profile too.
Our reporter was on hand to witness one of the floats becoming stuck. A tree was cut so that it could pass – but then another float also became stuck meaning the fire brigade were called back into action. With those hiccups out of the way, the procession could fully begin.
Reporter Kat Wakefield is on one of the floats, capturing the crowds who are lining the streets.
Police also captured aerial footage of the crowds.
The 58-entry parade headed along Pinchbeck Road to West Elloe Avenue and then up to Twin Bridges and Holbeach Road before turning into Queen’s Road.
It passed along Halmer Gate and through Church Street before heading across the historic High Bridge and down through the town centre before heading along New Road and back to the Castle.
The event – which has not run since 2013 – certainly attracted large crowds, who lined the streets eager to see its return.
Our reporter Duncan Browne took a tour through the town as crowds gathered in anticipation.
While the Peterborough Highland Pipe Band were the warm up act – helping to get visitors into the parade spirit.
It took about two and a half hours in total – with a flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster a little later than expected to cap it all off.
The town was filled with song from the carillon of bells at the South Holland Centre – in a rare performance – before the start of the parade. You can read more about the bells in our feature here.
There were reports that a member of the public collapsed near to the Castle site, with medics and fire crews attending to them. The parade also paused briefly on Holbeach Road to allow an ambulance to pass.
Follow @spalding2day as well as @spaldingvikki, @duncanbrowne_, @spaldingkatw and @spaldingandrewb to see our coverage on Twitter.
What do you think of the parade? Post your comments and thoughts below – or email andrew.brookes@iliffepublishing.co.uk
