INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Editorial 1 The Chairman 3 Notes Gareth Davies - 5 Chats about Gophers! Derek Lawrence - 7 Looks back a hundred The Rose Times years Dave Kenny’s 11 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2020 Irish Icons Eric Stainthorpe 14 remembers Samuel Hole’s words; Big Jack Charlton Rose ‘20 15 “He who would grow beautiful Roses must have them in his heart” Festival have never been more relevant or important than they are now. A John Howden 18 considers the Joys of few short weeks ago the phrase on everyone’s lips was; “Be Kind” Spring after the tragic death of Caroline Flack. This current COVID-19 Paul Evans 21 pandemic has brought that even more into focus. Neil Duncan in a 22 reflective mood Lockdown, self-isolation, quarantine. Call it what you will, the result is Roberts Wharton’s 27 view that we are now facing up to a spring, summer and possibly autumn Pauline looks around 29 of cancelled events and all of us ’staying at home’. Those of us, lucky her greenhouse enough to have gardens and allotments, will be able to get outside Jill Kerr, Peace and 32 and lose ourselves in the tranquillity and peace of nature. Many of VE Day course are not so fortunate. Our new Facebook Group has been very SOS - Support Our 34 Sponsors well received with so many sharing their rose pictures and stories WFRS News 35 with other ‘friends-in-roses’. I know Facebook is not everyone’s ‘cup Southport Flower 36 of tea’ but perhaps this is the time when Social Media can actually Show - The First 90 Years compensate for Social Distancing? Registering new 38 roses The Rose Society UK has been well represented at some of the country’s biggest flower shows but not this year. Harrogate Spring Stay Home - Keep 40 Talking Show, RHS Malvern Spring Festival and our own Festival of Roses at Squires Shepperton have all fallen victim to the virus. Every day it We should always seems another show is cancelled and although sad for the exhibitors remember Dean Samuel Hole’s and public alike it is entirely understandable and the Rose Society UK words . support these decisions. We have not heard yet whether Chorley in “He who would grow August, Harrogate (Newby Hall) or Malvern in September will run. It beautiful Roses must is unlikely that The Rose Society UK will participate at any of these have them in his shows and will concentrate on keeping the society running as heart” The Rose Society UK - SPRING 2020 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 P A G E 2 efficiently as possible, keeping in touch with our members and preparing for 2021. Speaking of 2021, we have just heard that following the cancellation of the Heritage Rose Convention in June, the World Federation of Rose Societies Convention in Adelaide has now been postponed until 2022. An entirely reasonable decision since the event will involve air travel from all around the world. Several members had expressed a desire to attend the event in Adelaide and now we have an additional twelve months to make our plans. I’m grateful for all members’ contributions to our newsletter and ask, once again, please keep sending them. Sharing our experiences and of course our roses with others is what we are all about. Our on-line sales of Uncle Tom’s Rose Tonic via the website have been very brisk. We offer a 500ml bottle for £15 plus £3.60 post and packing. In fact, all items in the shop are still available. Branded shirts, fleeces and coats are all sent direct from the manufacturer but are taking a little longer to process. This year will be one that we will not forget! Today as I complete this newsletter, we should have been packing up the stand at Malvern Spring Show and heading home (hopefully with another Gold Medal). Unfortunately that didn’t happen and, as if to pile on the personal agony, the roses in the greenhouse have been superb. Not just for us, but also for our small but determined band of Malvern Spring exhibitors. We’ve all had to settle for a wonderful show in our own greenhouses and of course sharing them on the society Facebook Group page CLICK HERE So that’s where we are, tonight’s broadcast by Mr Johnson was encouraging, Garden Centres will be allowed to open under strict social distancing regulations. When we have further news of events during the year, including our own AGM we will pass it on as soon as possible. The Spring shows that didn’t happen ended today. We hope you have a safe and productive time in what’s left of Spring as we look forward to what we are sure will be a rose-filled Summer. The Rose Society UK - SPRING 2020 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 P A G E 3 The Chairman Notes How things have changed since I compiled my notes for the last Rose Times Newsletter. There have been massive changes to our lives the current conditions have meant most of the activities I mentioned then are on hold or even abandoned now. I am fortunate in having a large garden and greenhouses that has enabled me as part of the “at risk group” to stay at home. I guess we all must take whatever positives we can for now. One of these positives has been the warm dry spring which has meant rapid growth and the trees here on Pelsall common outside my home are fully two weeks early in coming to full broad leaf. Because of the mild weather my roses had made strong shoots when it came to pruning time in March and I do not usually have to remove that amount of growth. The dry spell after pruning and lots of sun for most of April and with above average temperatures there was little growth and I began to wonder if I had pruned too late. Now following a couple days of rain strong leaves have begun to emerge and within a few days abundant growth has appeared, and they look fine. I guess sometimes we all forget that growing and gardening in general is not about fixed dates , but about seasons and nature always catches up and comes good. The ramblers over the front entrance to my cottage where I have lived since 1963 grow along the boundary wall with a public footpath adjacent to my garden and are now clothed in lush growth. The roof over the entrance gate is completely covered by Alberic Barbier the pale lemon flowered rambler rose which is virtually evergreen. This year in late April it is covered in new growth and has blooms emerging. It grows along the boundary wall for more than thirty feet and the thorny growth makes a good deterrent to intruders. The Rose Society UK - SPRING 2020 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 P A G E 4 My love with roses began in the mid 1960’s and whilst growing all types of roses at that time my interest in exhibiting began in 1968. That was on being awarded best bloom at the local horticultural society show. I still remember the bloom today it was Grandpa Dickson a great lemon HT and a new variety at that time I still grow a few bushes today. Also have two bushes of the variety in pots showing colour in the Greenhouse for our Malvern Spring competition which sadly now will only be for my own enjoyment. I will miss meeting members and visitors alike at Malvern and all the shows this year. Malvern has always been the friendliest show for me having helped with the Rose Society stand every year since its introduction except 2011 when I was unable to return after staging my blooms. In recent years helping with setting up and staging the Rose Society stand at the shows has become part of my main summer activity sadly this will not happen this year. In common with most people I am part of the new slower way of life and will just enjoy my garden and grow my Roses without cutting them so often. Maybe I will benefit from some of these changes as I reflect on what might have been. I look forward to returning to normal whatever that will be. Perhaps we will have an idea about that by time of our next Newsletter. The Rose Society UK - SPRING 2020 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 P A G E 5 Our Vice-Chairman Gareth Davies is an accomplished gardener and a top exhibitor He has won countless awards for the roses he produces in his garden in Talybont, Brecon where he is currently locked down Today he reports on . The Unsung “Rose Gophers” A “Gopher” is an unsung member of the rose species “Rosa persistantus”. The breed are usually loyal and faithful to their mates for life. They are to be seen in their natural habitat at rose shows and showgrounds. Their name came about, as they cheerfully admit, by “going for this” and “going for that”. Unless they are joint exhibitors with their spouses, their names never appear on prize cards, awards or trophies. Under-rated, they are in need of consideration, protection and care. Sometimes, under extreme stress, they have been known to rebel, but they are easily placated by gifts of flowers, chocolates and such like “treats”. Now listen to the troubles and tribulations of a “rose gopher”, my wife, Eirona: It is June and the show season is almost upon us.