Residents and carers from Southfield House worked together to create hundreds of crochet and pompom flowers to decorate their "Elvis Blue Hawaii" themed float for this year’s Spalding Flower Parade, a long-standing community event.

The craft project began several months in advance as part of the home's regular activities programme. Residents, colleagues, and some family members worked together to create the large number of flowers needed for the float. 

In addition to the handcrafted flowers, the float included tropical props, leis, and stickers, in tribute to Elvis Presley's film Blue Hawaii and the parade’s musical theme.

Several residents also took part in the parade by riding on the float, wearing Hawaiian-style shirts and accessories.

Jean is among the residents who created the flowers and joined the parade. Her family used to run a local pub near Spalding railway station, called ‘The Station’. She recalls happy memories of busy parades, when her family welcomed visitors straight from their train journeys, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as keeping the drinks flowing. One year, her daughter was voted deputy flower queen and they all proudly watched her in the parade and attending local events.  

After hearing her enthusiastic memories of the parade, the home voted Jean to be Southfield House’s very own deputy flower queen. She proudly wore her sash as she rode in the float with her daughter Mandy and other residents. 

Jean said: “I was so happy and grateful to be part of the parade.  It has been a fantastic day! I can’t stop talking about it.” 

The care home plans to re-use the handcrafted flowers in its entry to OSJCT’s Trust in Bloom competition.