Former Long Sutton woman remembers riding on Spalding Flower Parade float

It was 40 years ago that a ten-year-old’s dream to ride on a flower parade float came true.

Karen Fidler, now Roxy Love, lived in Long Sutton and was desperate to take part in the 1985 tulip parade — and is ‘thrilled’ about the return of Spalding Flower Parade on Saturday, May 10.

The youngster wrote to George Adams, who ‘fixed it’ for her to appear on his Anthony and Cleopatra-themed float, alongside Miss Great Britain.

Roxy said: “I loved the tulip parade; it was a massive part of my life.

“I knew it had stopped and was really gutted about it — so I am thrilled it is back.”

Roxy, now 50 and married to Darren Love, remembers the day in 1985 as ‘awesome’ — she desperately wanted to keep her costume which had been brought from London — and recalls having her hair and makeup done.

She said: “It was like being royalty and I was made to feel a million dollars.”

“I used to go along with my mum and I always wanted to go on a float.”

Her mum Caryl, who died aged 80, was a member of Spalding Flower Club and heavily involved with the parade.

Roxy said: “I lost my mum a couple of years ago. She would be so chuffed and really happy about this feature.

“She’d be proud — it was a special thing to her.”

Roxy would travel with her mum, who was a professional flower arranger and demonstrator, to events.

She said: “We went all over the country to flower clubs.

“Once we went to Scotland — it would be a tour and they would sell tickets.”

As a student at the former Sir John Gleed School, now Spalding Academy, Roxy would admire the tulip fields on the school bus.

She said: “I used to love seeing the fields of tulips on the way to school.

“I remember that parade well with all the tulips, the flowers and creativity.

“I knew it had stopped and was really gutted about it so I am thrilled it is back.”

Roxy, who has two daughters Daisy, 15, and India, 12, hopes to visit this year’s parade if she is able to work round her job in hospitality.

She said: “We were going through mum and dad's photo albums.

“My daughters think it is really cool

“I shall get on over there if I can.”

Husband Darren also saw the photos her mum and dad Tony, 86, had kept and was ‘wowed’ that she was involved with the parade 40 years ago.

Even though at the age of 24 she left King’s Lynn and now lives in Norwich, Roxy recognises the impact of the parade on Spalding.

She said: “It represents farming and horticulture which is a massive part of South Holland.

“It is great for local advertising.

“It is bringing in tourism and making people aware of the area.”

Being involved in the parade in the future is some-thing that she would welcome and wishes the entrants to become Flower Queen and Deputy the best of luck.

Roxy added: “I would definitely get involved. It is something that is great to put yourself forward for.”