Final curtain for showman Stephen Timewell who brought back Spalding Flower Parade as he bids farewell

It is curtain down and a final farewell from the showman who resurrected Spalding Flower Parade .

Stephen Timewell is stepping away as director of Spalding Flower Parade after his ‘life consuming commitment’ to bring the parade back in 2023.

A committee has now taken on the organisation of next year’s parade - which costs £90,000 to stage - with Mick Deveney at the helm and Ray Clements as chair.

Mr Timewell and his wife Sandra moved to Dorset last year in order to care for his mother shortly announcing that he was stepping away from running the parade. But he has now made the decision to move away all together - but has given the committee his full support.

He said: “The parade will always be a part of me.

“I am honoured by the respect people had for me.”

“I feel confident that the team will carry on and keep the parade as I fully intended.

“I felt that I couldn’t take it any further.

“The commitment required is life consuming and I felt it was unfair living 250 miles away.”

Mr Timewell was inspired to bring back the town’s parade following a ten year break after people in the town had expressed disappointment in the events organised in Spalding to celebrate the 2022 Platinum Jubilee.

After months of organisation and fundraising, the parade once again rolled out from the Castle Sports Complex in 2023 to make its way around the town - bringing thousands of people to Spalding.

The crowds also returned the following year when Mr Timewell led the parade in his Showman’s outfit, which he wore again for the 2025 parade.

But Mr Timewell is now calling on South Holland District Council to give more support to this major event for the town.

He said: “I am disappointed in the lack of support received from the local council and councillors who claim they do so much for the community.

“On parade day there was only one councillor who volunteered to help.

“Shame on them considering the importance of the event and that it is the largest event in Lincolnshire now.”

Sir John Hayes MP for South Holland and The Deepings is keen to secure funding from Arts Council England and Lincolnshire Community Foundation for the future of the parade.

Ensuring the future of the parade was one of the Conservative MP’s pledges in the 2024 general election.

Meanwhile the committee and volunteers who worked hard for the first time to put on this year’s event are now turning their attention to 2026 event.

New director Mr Deveney said: “Stephen was fantastic in the effort he put in bringing it back.

“I have spent some time with him and we are aligned in what we want for the parade.

“Spalding owes Stephen a debt of gratitude in resurrecting it.”

Mr Deveney is happily taking the reins of the parade and the committee will begin to raise the £90,000 needed to put on the event.

He said: “The challenge is now over to me.

“We have a great committee. and we are adding people to the team to get moving.

“Float applications are coming in and there are quite exciting things to come.“

South Holland District Council has been contacted for comment.

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