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This page will carry pictures and stories of roses with a Midlands connection
Looking down the Membership List of the West
Midlands Society it is interesting to see that four of our members have bred their own roses and won Trial Ground Certificates and other awards for them.
Several of the roses are in commerce today and
are often seen on the Show Benches.
Maurice Guest bred the well known Jan Guest which he named for his daughter, plus its various sports. His large flowered Hybrid Tea rose Cerys Ann which won a Trial
Ground Certificate was named in memory of his five year old granddaughter. Other roses of Maurice's are Birthday Wishes and a climbing rose named Just Reward.
In the rose world Len Scrivens is known for several of his roses, Baby Love, Pretty Lady,City of Worcester all still seen on
the Show Bench. Ones that are not so well known are Lilly the Pink, Roydon Hall which gained an award in 1982, Albert
Whedal named for the Birmingham Institute of the Blind, and Frank McMillan named for the local Headmaster of Kingswood School, Allbrighton where Len went to school.
One member who turned from exhibiting to full time hybridising, is the late Bill Driscoll. Bill bred the rose Dave Hessayon for the author of the Gardening Books .
Bill at work selecting roses.
Just William
Another of Bill`s introductions Just William,named for his great grandson.
Jackpot 99
Bill also grew the rose Jackpot 99 which was given a Trial Ground Certificate in 1996.The rose was bred from Silver Jubilee crossed with Pink Favourite.
He was a founder member of the Amateur Rose Breeders Association ARBA.
I was privileged to visit Bill's greenhouse to see his seedlings and found this absolutely fascinating. Rows upon rows of pots,
each with their reference tag and tender shoots with bright green leaves. - some tall, some short,some with a bud to open,some in flower.
A highlight of the visit was being given the opportunity to do some cross-pollinating myself and I often wonder what the flowers came out like on the roses that I did.
Jean Coleman.
Molineux
Named for Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
There is a Birmingham Post Rose
named after one of the Birmingham Newspapers bred by Watkins roses.
The International Registration Authority for Roses has approved the name Olympic Champion for a rose grown by member Dennis Pugh.
It is a beautiful pale pink high centred rose and is a sport of Champion.
CONGRATULATIONS TO PETER JAMES
Congratulations to member Peter James. His new rose Blue for You has taken the rose world by storm. The new rose has
caused a lot of interest because blue is a much sought after colour in horticulture and until now there have not been many
successful blue roses. To confirm the blueness of the bloom French Rosarians have taken it to their hearts and named it Pacific Blue in their plant lists.
Peter’s rose has been introduced onto the British market by C & K Jones. It is slightly taller than a dwarf floribunda and has
a sweet perfume. Another rose Big Eye, a white with reddy-pink eyes is doing very well in America. Keep up the good work Peter.
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