IF DAISY Ivatt never feels like a princess in her life ever again, at least she can look back to her term of office as Flower Queen and know she had a year of being treated like royalty.
“It’s been hectic and crazy, but I have really loved it,” says 24-year-old Daisy, who will soon be handing over the mantle to a successor, due to be chosen and crowned at a reception at Ayscoughfee Hall in Spalding next month.
“It’s been such an eye-opener and I have met loads of different people,” added the head of drama at the Sir John Gleed School. “I have really felt I have had the chance to get out into the community and hear what people are interested in and what they wanted to see at the parade. A lot of people miss the carnival atmosphere that the youth theatre group Centre Stage used to add to the parade.”
Daisy has many fond memories, in particular of Flower Parade day and the Pumpkin Parade, when she rode through the streets in a carriage. She recalls turning in her seat and seeing “hundreds of people carrying lights and singing”, a memory that will stay with her a long time.
Above all, Daisy says it has been enjoyable to mix with people of all ages in the community and, as she puts it, “share people’s best days with them”.
Daisy says: “The fact you are there really brightens people’s day. I think that’s an important part of the role, trying to brighten up the lives of people that might not have such a happy time.
“I think if you don’t do that you have wasted it. You have got it for a year, so you may as well brighten people’s days up.”
However, Daisy admits it has also been lovely to have the excuse to enjoy a bit of glamour for a year, not something she does normally. Her sister Amy has been her chief stylist, and occasionally accompanied Daisy to events when boyfriend Marcus Drury has been unavailable.
“Everyone has been really supportive around me, which has been nice,” says Daisy. “It’s been nice to feel like a princess, especially on parade day when it’s all about getting dressed up and glamorous.”
She feels she has many people to thank, such as the Rotary Club, which she says has supported many of the events she attended, and Jan Whitbourn of Tulip Radio, who Daisy says has been “a happy, friendly face” through the year. She had thanks too for family, friends, parade organisers Kenyon Communications and these newspapers.
The only sad point of the year was the death of Daisy’s grandfather, Eric Ivatt, the man responsible for Daisy’s entry in the Flower Queen contest in the first place.
Daisy admitted: “I have mixed feelings about handing over the title. I am looking forward to a bit of a rest because you are out most weekends, so it’s busier than people realise. But in another way it is sad to give it up because it’s been my special thing for a year and suddenly you have to pass it on to someone else. I am excited to see who is going to be my successor.”
However, Daisy has much to occupy her time and look forward to, including a new production of High School Musical in June by a cast of 40 to 60, to celebrate the opening of the Sir John Gleed School, as well as doing up the house she and Marcus have bought in Donington. There is another important date in her diary – parade day on Saturday, May 5 – when another Flower Queen will feel like a princess... for one year only.