This year’s Spalding Flower Parade split public opinion
The crowds once again flocked to town to cheer on the Spalding Flower Parade.
With the sun shining this popular annual event - back for the third year running following a decade-long break - saw thousands in attendance once more.
However, this year’s event brought mixed reviews from the public.
While revellers of all ages cheered on the floats as they paraded around the town, there were some dissenting voices.
Yet the majority of partygoers posting on social media gave the event the thumbs up.
Former Flower Queen Vickie Andrew praised the ‘amazing floats, lovely weather and seeing everyone coming together’ while Marina Helliwell described the day as a ‘joy for Spalding’.
“So lovely that the Spalding Flower Parade is back!” wrote Deborah Hunt, celebrating the third year of the event’s renaissance following a 10-year hiatus.
“We went every year when I was a child - I always remember it as such a lovely day out!”
“It was a lovely day, thank you and well done to all the volunteers hard work. We appreciate it,” said Sarah Carr.
Matt West described Saturday as a ‘lovely day’, also thanking the organisers.
Dave Bavington travelled into the county especially for the event.
“We visited from south Norfolk. We thought it was great to see this celebrated once more,” he said.
“Thanks for all the effort everyone put in.”
With the Castle Sports Complex currently undergoing a multi-million-pound makeover, this year’s parade began and finished at Springfields on the outskirts of town.
“I had a lovely day, the floats were great, yes fewer amounts but didn’t make a difference to us,” said Sandra Algar.
“I would say by the amount of people on the main field dancing, eating and drinking that hundreds of people had a great day. Lots of families together having fun. Great day.”
However, Martin Bent would like to see the after-party return closer to the town centre.
“What must happen is it’s kept away from Springfields, it needs to be in town,” he said.
Mandy Underwood praised the ‘good atmosphere’ along West Elloe Avenue, adding ‘we had a little sing along’, while Sallyann Bracher-Amos gave a thumbs up to the gang of witches who ‘danced their backsides off through the whole of that parade’.
Further praise came from Kirstie Jane Barnes who described the parade as ‘fantastic’ and Trude Maynard who enjoyed a ‘lovely day’.
However, not everyone was enamoured with the parade.
Click here for all our Flower Parade coverage.
Gerry Davey said ‘pathetic comes to mind’ while Michael Handford claimed the annual event ‘needs to end now’.
“What a load of rubbish it was,” he said. “(It) will never get back to how it use to be.”
He wasn’t the only one comparing the parade - run by a newly-created committee for the first time this year - to years gone by.
“It has had it's day now. There is no relevance to a flower parade any more, this is no longer a tulip town,” wrote Darren Enderby.
Karen Brassett added: “I was looking forward to watching the Flower Parade for the first time and I was so disappointed. Where was the atmosphere and energy?”
Jade Price described the parade as ‘pretty dead’ citing ‘no music from the bands on the floats’.
However, Anthony Fell replied stating: “I was on the float which had the band on. It is impossible to play continuously for two hours.
“You stop to change music, have a break to give our lips a rest… it was unfortunate that we had stopped at where you were standing.”
Ali Howard called the parade ‘lacklustre’ and a ‘shocking day’, also gaining a response.
Iwona Konior suggested the detractors play their part in making next year’s more to their liking.
“If you didn't like it, come to us as a volunteer and help us do it better,” they wrote.
“Not enough fresh flowers? Throw a donation in the bucket so we can do more and better. It all costs a lot of money and a lot of work by volunteers who do it out of love for the Flower Parade.
“And for that they deserve respect and huge thanks.”
This was a call to arms that won Kurt Vincent over.
“I say well done to everyone involved. Who do I speak to about volunteering for the next parade?” he stated.
Indeed, there was more push back aimed at those who didn’t enjoy the day.
“Lovely parade as always. To the detractors out there, remember it’s a free event put on by volunteers,” Lynda Barnes pointed out.
“If you want bigger and better I suggest you make an effort and volunteer to help in future.”
Wendy Priestley added: “If people think it was poor then why not join in and build an extra float!
“No they won't do that. They will do nothing to help them complain about the efforts of others. Shame on them. Typical selfish culture of today.”
Also defending the organisers, John Bland opted to praise those who gave up their time to put on a show.
“It is abundantly clear that people have been working tirelessly after stepping up to ensure the parade happened this year,” he said.
“Without them it would not have happened at all.”
And finally, there was also jokey criticism from Philip Sanderson who highlighted water pistols being fired at the crowds from a float.
"All the people on the floats were smiling and waving, ‘brilliant’ I thought, until the pirate ship came and squirted water.
“All the children loved it. But I never got even a splash. Please get this sorted for next year.”
