Dean of Rochester christens ‘Always in my Heart’ rose
In many countries it is common for new roses to be ‘christened’. Usually a gardener, the breeder, a celebrity or even royalty will pour beer or champagne over the plant. On Saturday Britain’s first new rose christening took place at Rochester Cathedral..
The Dean of Rochester, Dr Philip Hesketh, sprinkled holy water on three bushes of a new rose from Warners Roses. He blessed the rose – ‘Always in my Heart’ [CHEWrepose] – with a prayer.
After splashing water over the plants with the cathedral’s aspergillum, the Dean joked about the risks of watering roses from above. He said: “If these get blackspot, don’t come complaining to me!”
It was particularly fitting that the ceremony should take place during a visit of the Rose Society UK to the cathedral. This was the home of Dean Reynolds Hole. Hole was the founding president of the National Rose Society when it was formed 150 years ago and one of the 19th century’s most popular writers on the rose. Tennyson called him “The Rose King”. The name of the rose was also apt.
‘Always in my Heart’
Dr Hesketh said: “Dean Hole wrote that if you want beautiful roses in your garden, you must have roses in your heart. So, it’s highly appropriate that we’re going to bless them and they’re going to live here.”
Exceptionally free-flowering and healthy, though with only light fragrance, the floribunda has already won an award at the Rochfords International Rose Trials and been given an RHS Award of Garden Merit.
The rose was bred by 89-year-old Chris Warner – Britain’s oldest professional breeder. Catherine Shaw, MD of Warners Roses, said: “At the Rochfords Rose Trials it just bloomed its head off, wowing the judges. The buds can be quite large and bright red – like love hearts – and then they open to cream, with hints of peach and pink.”
She added: “The name was inspired by the poem and choral song ‘I carry your heart with me, I carry it in my heart’. Chris and I felt that the name ‘Always in my Heart’ works as a romantic gesture for the living. But it also satisfies an important need for a universal remembrance rose – whether you’re remembering a mum, a dad, a friend or a much-loved pet.”
‘Always in my Heart’ will now be planted in a new bed at the cathedral for roses produced by winners of the Dean Hole medal. This is the highest award in the rose world. Chris Warner won the award four years ago. Other winners since its inception in 1909 include Ellen Willmott, David Austin, Wilhelm and Reimer Kordes, Peter Harkness and Peter Beales.
Dean Hole medal
The Dean of Rochester also presented the Dean Hole medal to Ray and Pauline Martin. Ray is the Secretary of the society; Pauline is Chair of Shows. The couple stepped in when the Royal National Rose Society – the world’s oldest specialist plant society – went bust in 2017. They were at the forefront in creating the Rose Society UK and have dedicated two decades to reviving its fortunes. They’ve run around the country tirelessly, setting up rose shows. Their humour and warmth has helped attract new members and made it a thriving organisation.
I had the privilege to read the citation. My voice was breaking as I reached the last paragraph.
“This is the first time the Dean Hole medal has been awarded at the spiritual home of the man known as the Rose King. The honours committee could think of no-one worthier to receive it on this special occasion. We hope the old Dean is smiling down upon us, nodding his head in approval and sharing our appreciation of Ray and Pauline’s immense fortitude and creative vision in promoting the infinite beauty and charms of his beloved rose, the Queen of flowers.”
The Rose Society will also give the Dean Hole medal to recenty-retired Northen Ireland breeder Colin Dickson. The ceremony will take place next month at the Belfast rose trials. The Dickson rose nursery in Newtownards dated back to the first half of the 19th century. Colin’s family began breeding roses in 1879 and he is the sixth generation of Dickson nurserymen.
To pre-order ‘Always in my Heart’, contact The Garden Rose Company: hello@thegardenrosecompany