We report, with great sadness, the passing of another of one of rose`s gentlemen and a great friend to the WMRS.

Sid Barker passed away on 8th February 2011.

Please click on the picture to go to Ray and Pauline Martin`s website for their memories of Sid

We recently learned of the death of Dennis Pugh.  He was a founder member of our Society and served on the Committee for a time.

My first recollection of him was at a Society meeting I attended at Quinborne Community Centre around 1970.  It was a Rose Quiz Night with Phillip Wesson as Question Master.  At the break I remember talking with him and John Cummings about budding and exhibiting in general.  Between them they gave me encouragement to take showing roses farther afield.

Dennis, for as long as I have known him, has lived in Shirley, Solihull.  He exhibited roses along with another member, Geoff Busby from the same area.   They were successful at those early shows.  Their blooms of Red Lion at our show at Watkins Roses still remain in my mind.

Dennis became an R N R S Rose Judge about the same time as myself in 1975, although he had been judging locally before then.  He was a regular at the Blue Bird Toffee Factory Rose Show I recall, when roses were at their peak.

He continued to judge roses both nationally and locally until recently and was the judge at our Kings Heath Show in 2008. The last time I met him was at a talk I gave to Shirley Horticultural Society.  He had made an effort to be there, having seen the talk advertised locally.  He said how pleased he was to meet up and talk about roses.

I will remember him from those early days and his passion for roses.

                                                                         John Anthony

OBITUARY – BILL  MORGAN

Bill Morgan who died recently was at one time a keen WMRS member and exhibitor.  We learned of his death from Jean Coleman who had been at a meeting of the Sutton Coldfield and District Gardeners Mutual Improvement Association where Bill had also been a keen member.  He always appeared to be a quiet man, but he was a man of many talents and had built up a thriving Law Stationery business.  A one minute silent tribute was paid to Bill at the meeting.   

Bill lived in Sutton Coldfield and grew and exhibited roses and other plants.  He won the Silver Rose Bowl at the Garden Society for his roses ten years running and then twice again a few years later.  In recent years before he was taken ill he would enjoy exhibiting at our WMRS Shows.  At the Kings Heath Gardeners’ Weekend he would exhibit plants including Dahlias and Roses.  Although he staged in the less than 100 bushes section, he would often stage a few entries in the Open Classes and he won Best Bloom in Show on at least two occasions.

He became disabled, but still remained interested and came to the 2009 Kings Heath Gardeners’ Weekend where his son took him around the show in a wheelchair.  He spent a little time reminiscing with us at our Society Stand and that was the last time I remember seeing him.  As his condition deteriorated I understand he was being cared for in a Nursing Home in Walmley, Sutton Coldfield.

                                                                                    John Anthony
 

OBITUARY – FRANK  PULLEN

Frank Pullen died suddenly in early December at his home at Stowe in Buckinghamshire.  His funeral was held on Wednesday, 14^th December 2011 and our Vice President Ann Bird attended and took flowers on behalf of our Society members.

My first memories of Frank come from those halcyon days of the Northampton and District Rose Society.  They had a good number of National exhibitors amongst their ranks and Frank was one of them.

I do remember him challenging my reasoning about Mildew when giving a talk to the Northampton Society on one occasion.  For Frank, being a farmer, had much more experience than I, particularly in those days.  I found he was a kind reasoned man who was always ready to give advice.  He became a member of our West Midlands Society on the demise of the Northampton Society and exhibited at those glorious Summer Rose shows at Shugborough.

Like many exhibitors, he took to growing and showing exhibition Miniature Roses when they became popular in the 1980’s.  I recollect his generosity in passing on ‘cuttings’ material when many of us were building up our collection of new varieties and new stock was not easy to come by.

When the late Sid Barker was no longer able to drive, it was Frank who found time to transport him to RNRS Spring Shows at Malvern, and also take along his own roses.

Two years ago, Frank with his sound knowledge of roses was invited to join the RNRS Trials Judging Panel, sadly he was only able to complete one year of judging.

I knew little of Frank’s life outside roses, but I will remember him as a gentle caring Rosarian.

                                                                                   John Anthony