It is with the greatest pleasure I am here today to inform you that the Board of Trustees of the Royal National Rose society, by unanimous resolution, has awarded you "The Queen Mother's International Rose Award" for outstanding achievement in the field of rose breeding.  The Trustees feel this honour is particulaly appropriate as you celebrate your 100th birthday, and for me to be able to personally present this to you on such an auspicious occaision is one of the highlights of my Presidency.
I well remember when you came to St. Albans in 1986 to receive our other prestigious award, the Dean Hole Medal, and at that time being in awe of all your achievements in breeding miniature roses over many decades, and now 21 yours on you are still receiving accolates from around the world for the part you have continued to play in giving us so much pleasure with the countless varieties you have made available to us.  In the United Kingdom miniature roses are extrememly popular with the public by virtue of their wealth of bloom, ease of cultivation and amazing diversity in colour and form; to the exhibitor they are invaluable.  In all our amateur shows we have classes for miniatures which are always contested and provide a unique spectacle - this in itself is a visible tribute to your pioneering spirit and unending search for new and beautiful roses.  These ideals deserve our grateful thanks.

The Trustees join me in expressing our warmest congratualtions to you on what we consider to be a truly well-deserved award, and also, of course, the occasion of your 100th birthday.  In closing, may I just say that we gather at events around the world in the name of the rose, but today we have the added privilege of being in the company of an eminient world rosarian - what and honour for us!


Ann Bird
President
Royal National Rose Society


Photo: Ralph Moore and Ann Bird courtesy of Baldo Villegas.