The UK Rose Society has given the Dean Hole Award – its top honour – to John Anthony for 60 years of devotion to the rose.

John has been exhibiting exceptional roses at Society shows for six decades. He was a stalwart of the Royal National Rose Society. A Council member and Officer of the Society John was also on hand to assist in any role at its famous show garden at St Albans, before financial challenges forced the closure of the garden and Society. He helped create the new UK Rose Society to uphold the original mission and values of its predecessor.

Derek Lawrence, Chair of the Honours Committee, said: “John’s integrity, expertise and unwavering professionalism have helped build a respected and thriving new Rose Society. His strong work ethic, diplomacy, and tireless commitment have charted a clear course toward a bright and flourishing future.”

The Society has also honoured the well-known garden writer Charles Quest-Ritson and his wife Brigid, with a Lifetime Achievement Award for over 50 years’ dedication to the rose.

Charles – often with Brigid’s help – has written many books, including his definitive Climbing Roses of the World, which describes over 1,600 varieties and took five years to research. Together they wrote the RHS Encyclopaedia of Roses, published in 2003 and still a fantastic resource for rose lovers.

They helped found the Historic Roses Group in the UK and both have served in roles for the World Federation of Rose Societies (WFRS), particularly in supporting the heritage rose movement. The pair are both linguists – Charles has lectured in five languages and on six continents. For a while they ran their own nursery, propagating own-root roses. Later, while living in France, they grew over 1,000 roses in their 12-acre garden.

Ray Martin, Secretary of the UK Rose Society, said: “Charles’ and Brigid’s knowledge comes not just from travelling the world and researching, but from practical experience. Charles is uncompromising and unafraid to speak his mind in defence of older roses, challenging gardeners and rose lovers to do more to protect our precious rose heritage. He and Brigid have bent their knee to the Queen of Flowers, both metaphorically and physically, for five decades. They have served with diligence and distinction and are profoundly deserving of this honour.”  

The Society gave three other awards – The Silver Tudor Rose Medal – to garden writer Martin Stott, author of the Storyteller Garden blog, to Derek Lawrence, former Executive Director of the World Federation of Rose Societies, and to Nick Baldwin who works tirelessly, in the background, dispatching sales from the Society’s website shop. All three are active supporters of the UK Rose Society.

The honours were given at the Society’s AGM, which included a Spring Rose Show for members. A fine exhibition was put on with several prizes given.

• The Kilbee Cup - Spring Champions - Pauline and Ray Martin
• The Gardener's Company Cup - most points in hybrid tea and floribunda classes - Stella and Frank Morris
• The Arthur Cox Trophy - most points in miniature and miniflora classes - Pauline and Ray Martin
• Best exhibit in show - Class 31 - basket of miniature roses - Irresistible - Pauline and Ray Martin

Pic shows John Anthony, left, winner of the Dean Hole Medal, being congratulated by UK Rose Society Secretary Ray Martin.