The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Spalding Flower Parade ambassador Star Perry and deputy Holly Kendrick represented this area in the Battle of Flowers Parade in the Channel Islands.
Organiser Steve Timewell has rekindled the link between the area’s event and its representatives from St Helier.
Both Star and Holly were invited to be on the Jersey float which was themed on The Great Gatsby.
Arriving in Jersey on Thursday, the girls were invited to a civic reception with the Constable (Mayor), Simon Crowcroft where gifts were exchanged.
Steve gave a short speech about the Spalding Flower Parade and presented the Constable with a floral crystal vase on behalf of the people of Spalding.
After a visit to the Jersey museum and time for a little shopping, the ambassadors joined the Flower Queen on the float and took part in the parade.
This was followed by the traditional moonlight parade where all the floats were illuminated.
Despite some light rain, the parade attracted over 10,000 visitors and was finished off with an illuminated drone display, which replaced the traditional firework display.
Steve hopes that the St Helier Flower Queen will come to Spalding next May and take part in the Spalding Flower Parade.
“I feel that rekindling this friendship is an important step in our cultural development,” Steve said, we used to have a close relationship with Jersey and it’s a shame that it faded away. I’m sure that this will continue for years to come and I have to admit, I’m very proud of the girls.
“The people of St Helier made the girls very welcome and they came home with some great memories and new friendships.”
Tulip Talk with Jan Whitbourn.
This weekend has been such an experience in Jersey for the Battle of Flowers with the South Holland Ambassadors, Star Perry and Holly Kendrick and Steve and Sandra Timewell.
It was good to return to the island with new ambassadors to join their ambassador Scarlett Camacho and ride on their float The Gatsby Mansion.
Scarlett helped to create it alongside volunteers and it won the prestigious Prix d’Honneur de Papier.
For the first time in its history, the Battle of Flowers took place on a Friday where 20,000 lined the south coast for the 121-year-old tradition.
It is an annual carnival held in the Channel Island of Jersey on the second Friday and Saturday of August.
It includes funfairs, dancers, majorettes and a parade of flower floats alongside various street entertainers.
The parade was inaugurated in 1902 to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII.
The battle itself originally consisted of dismantling the floats to provide floral ammunitions for a literal battle of flowers between participants and spectators, but this aspect has long been abandoned.
Since 1989, a night time Moonlight Parade with the floats festooned in lights has been introduced.
Until this year it ended with a firework display but this time 100 drones, lit up the sky for the finale in St. Aubin’s Bay.
Star, our South Holland ambassador and Holly, deputy South Holland Ambassador, both said it was wonderful to have been given the opportunity.
It was incredible and a once in a lifetime experience.
Star said: “We both felt honoured to meet the St Helier ambassador, Scarlett, and all the dignitaries, who treated us like royalty and made us both feel welcome.
“We had an interview with BBC Radio Jersey, which was interesting.
“It gave us the chance to introduce ourselves to the wider Jersey community and to tell them about our parade in South Holland and the history of Spalding’s horticulture.
“It was also great to be able to tell everyone in Jersey how much we were looking forward to their parade, mainly their Moonlight Parade.
“We had heard all about it and how spectacular it was, it certainly lived up to our expectations. It was amazing.”
Holly said: “We were introduced to a team of volunteers who had created the float we were going to be on with their ambassador, Scarlett.
“We visited the Jersey Arts and Design Museum to learn more about the culture and history behind their parade.
“It was also interesting to learn about Jersey’s new potatoes being UK’s favourite for their unique taste and we both had an ice cream after being told it was made 100 per cent from milk produce from pure-breed Jersey cows.
“I’m definitely going back to Jersey, just for the ice cream!
“The highlight of my trip was seeing the sky lit up by over 100 drones in St. Aubins Bay whilst sitting on the float.
“It was spectacular.”
The girls were so enthusiastic and said it was lovely to be able to wear the beautiful dresses again on the float over the weekend, once again thank you to Fancy Frox, who kindly supported the South Holland Ambassador competition.
It was a privilege to be able to present Simon Crowcroft, St Helier’s constable, who had helped to rekindle the relationship with South Holland with Steven, with a gift from leader, Nick Worth from South Holland District Council, after he had presented him with a gift from the flower parade.
It certainly was great to be back there. It was a great show and a memorable few days for the South Holland ambassadors.
