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MEETINGS FOR 2011
After analysing the results of the Members’ Survey sent out earlier this year, it has now been decided that for a trial period starting with the Annual General Meeting next March, our monthly meetings will be held on Saturday afternoons commencing at 2.00 pm in the Church Hall at Pelsall. Other suggestions put forward were for meetings to be held at Garden Centres or local Libraries in the hope of attracting new members and this is being investigated. We will keep members informed of the results of this change.
RNRS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Several members from our Society went to the RNRS AGM at St Albans and the following are a few points that emerged from the meeting.
Awards were given to Anne and Roz from Headquarters for their work in helping to keep the Society going by dealing with the office work and sorting out the membership lists. The President, Ann Bird, then presented her husband Geoff with a silver medal for – how she put it – putting up with her for the four years she had been President. She said she could not have managed without his help and support during this time.
The incoming President, Rod Petty, then presented Ann with the Dean Hole Medal. This particular one was rather special as it had been awarded to Frank Bowen in 1974 which was the year Ann had joined the Society and it had been given back to the Society on his death to be reused. Mr Petty said in his address that he couldn’t try to emulate Ann and could not devote so much time to the Society affairs as she had done. He did not want to lose her and therefore she had been offered a position on the Board.
Regarding the fact that the Gardens still did not have a proper car park, we were told that the legal team who had overseen the sale of the property and omitted this item was to be sued by the Society when they could find enough money. A new team had since been engaged.
Answering questions about the Society finances, a set of interim accounts would be made available up until September but these had not yet been calculated and should be ready for publication in the Rose next April. A figure of £90,000 not yet accounted for was mentioned but we were told that the Society should break even this year.
Jean
GRAHAM THOMAS IS WORLD’S NO.1 ROSE
At the recent World Federation of Rose Societies held in Canada David Austin’s rose Graham Thomas was voted the World’s No.1 Rose.
Named after one of the top horticulturists of the 20th Century the late Graham Thomas, it has been responsible, more than any other variety for the success of the English Roses group of roses bred by David Austin.
The award was announced at the Rose Convention in Vancouver and the rose was inducted into the society’s Rose Hall of Fame, an honour shared with just13 other roses.
The rose was released in 1983 and has already won a number of awards including the Henry Edland Medal for fragrance and the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for a plant of outstanding excellence for ordinary garden decoration.
Congratulations to David Austin from our Society.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ROSES
The 27th edition of Find that Rose is now out listing 3,650 varieties of roses and where to obtain them. Also a booklet entitled What’s in a Name which tells the stories behind various varieties, including those which raise cash for charities.
You can buy both books for £6.00 as long as they are sent to the same address. Payment should be made out to Find that Rose and sent to Angela Pawsey, 303 Mile End Road, Colchester, Essex CO4 5EA.
(Both of the above items taken from a recent edition of Garden News).
GARDENING with Ken Tudor (from the Express and Star)
Local rose growers who rejoice in the recent confirmation that the gorgeous blooms they grow are still Britain's favourite flowers are looking forward to another successful year - with the help of a bit of hi-tech imagery.
For the members of the West Midlands Rose Society - one of the most prestigious and happy groupings in local horticulture - are putting out feelers to find new members.
And as the green shoots appear on those rose shrubs, climbers and ramblers, the group is hoping to get more members to help the battle all societies have these days to keep its membership numbers stable.
Now the group, which was formed in about 1968 at Old Hill, wants to find all those people who love growing roses and want to learn a bit more about them.
Society secretary John Anthony, one of the best growers of roses to be found, said: "We want to find more people who love roses - but they need not be interested in exhibiting them.
"We are a friendly lot at the Society and are here to help people to try to get more out of growing roses."
To help them on the way they have launched a website - http://www.wmrs.orgfree.com/ or http://www.wmrs.org.uk- on the Internet to promote the Society and to offer hints and help to rose lovers.(The site is also mirrored on wmrs.150m.com to ensure maximum up time)
It is in the capable hands of Jean Coleman and she has been surprised at the international 'hits' the website has had in recent weeks. "The site has been contacted by the American, Canadian and Swiss Rose Society who have left very appreciative comments in our guest book," she said.
"One lady needed help in finding a rose in remembrance of her dog Sally who recently died,We were able to give her information about a rose called Sally's Rose and told her where to purchase it."
But the important thing is to offer helpful tips and to give information about lectures and shows which will hopefully produce new members.
"Like most societies, we are very keen to get new members - they can link up on the website " said John, who has been West Midlands champion many, many times.
The society is a superb organisation and anyone who wants to go to talks, chat to members at shows or gets in touch with John will get a very warm welcome
Jean Coleman shows West Midlands Rose Society founder member Philip Wesson the new website.
WEST MIDLANDS MEMBERS HONOURED AT RNRS AGM
Four members of the West Midlands Rose Society were given awards at an RNRS Annual General Meeting.
John Anthony, Secretary, was presented with the Society’s Silver medal for his work on three of the Council’s Committees, his work with Judge’s Training Events, Judging at RNRS Rose Garden in Birmingham, being an Area Representative, helping as a volunteer with his wife Vera at shows and being a dedicated worker for the Society.
Ann Bird was also presented with the Silver medal for her work on the Council, being Chairperson of the Historic Roses Group, promoting her love of roses by lecturing, especially on Old Garden Roses on which she is a Scholar, directing staff at Training Events, being a qualified Judge and an Area Representative.
Chris Warner of Warner’s Roses received the Queen Mother’s International Rose Award for his work in breeding disease resistant varieties of roses. His rose “Warm Welcome” won the Presidents International Trophy in 1988 and a Certificate of Merit followed this for “ Laura Ford” then a steady number of new roses including “Little Rambler”, “Good as Gold” and “Open Arms”. Chris had to leave early to catch his train so was unable to be in the commemorative photograph.
Jean Coleman received the Silver Rose Award-much to her surprise-for helping at Society Exhibits and Promotions across the country, editing the WM Newsletter, being instrumental with Stewart in setting up the WM Society Website and helping to promote the love of roses.
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