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.

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.

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.

Molineux

Named for Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.

  Birmingham Post

There is a Birmingham Post Rose
named after  one of the Birmingham Newspapers bred by Watkins  roses.

Olympic  Champion

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.