Spalding Flower Parade appearance on Channel 5’s Grand Day out with Susan Calman was a ‘boost’
The organiser of Spalding’s Flower Parade says appearing on a TV show will bring a ‘massive boost’ to the town.
Stephen Timewell featured on Channel 5’s Grand Day Out with presenter Susan Calman, who visited the area for the show.
Mr Timewell’s intrepid fundraising for next year’ s Flower Parade has reached more than £50,000 and the television programme will bring ‘great publicity’, he believes.
“We’ve got a massive team behind us,” he said.
Former Strictly star Susan Calman, who Mr Timewell described as ‘very funny’, hit the road across the Lincolnshire fens in a campervan called Helen, named after Helen Mirren.
In the programme - which aired on Friday, October 20 at 8pm - the Scottish comedian described Lincolnshire as ‘beautiful’ and a ‘cracking cracking place.’
She found driving in the county easy as ‘75% of the idyllic countryside is flat’ and tried plum loaf as well as visiting Burghley House, a stately home that featured in television series The Crown.
Meeting Mr Timewell, the star offered to help with decorating some floats that will appear in next year’s parade following a ten-year break from the event.
Never turning down a volunteer he said: “The whole community is buzzing about it.”
Some of the floats date back to the 70s and 80s which have been restored.
Mr Timewell said: “We found them all over Lincolnshire – in gardens and farm sheds.”
The duo drove the dragon float into Spalding and the presenter says: “It’s a showstopper Steve.”
With two more fundraising events including a quiz at St Mary’s church hall in Pinchbeck and a Christmas event on Remembrance Sunday, there will be plenty of funds to make next year’s flower festival one to remember.
The show has also helped to bring attention and Mr Timewell, who told the comic that he was the only person who had faith in doing the parade again, said: “Every single person who sees it is a potential person to visit Spalding.
“It is great publicity and will bring a massive boost to the flower parade – it is a real showcase.”
A team of volunteers will help to make the event happen – including Sue Jackson who features in the episode.
Susan Calman stated in the show: “You have well and truly planted the seed in Spalding – flower power for ever.”