Lincolnshire Flower Queen could soon crown first man
IN A break with tradition this year’s Lincolnshire Flower Queen – chosen to celebrate the area’s bulb-growing heritage – could be a man.
A software consultant nicknamed Mr Pink has become the first male to make the shortlist of candidates to lead the historic annual flower parade.
Keith Ratcliff, 63, said he entered because he thought it “would be a bit of fun”. However, critics have questioned his place among the finalists, with one suggesting it amounts to “gaslighting women”.
The role of Flower Queen dates back to 1950 and involves riding a float decorated with flowers in the parade.
Mr Ratcliff, who “enjoys paddle boarding, dancing and loves pink”, said he was “very pleasantly surprised” to be a finalist. “It’d be amazing to be up there on the float going round the town.”
He has even won the support of his fellow finalists, with Molly Ireland, 18, saying that it is great he’s is taking part.
“If I wasn’t in the running I’d be all over it. I’d be like: ‘Go Keith!’” she said.
Nine finalists for Flower Queen have been selected and the winner will be chosen in March.
The pageant’s organisers have acknowledged that not everyone will be happy with the inclusion of a man among the finalists, but organisers say the competition has to be “inclusive”.
But some have criticised the choice of as another example of men being allowed to take over women’s spaces.
One woman wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Man takes a woman’s place among the finalists for Spalding’s flower queen & you call it inclusive. How about the woman who will have lost out, do you think she is feeling included? Gaslighting women into thinking this is OK is not a good look.”
A further comment stated: “How about a little common sense? They could have a King and Queen.”