Rose Friends

raytherose

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Some photos of our friends from the rose world

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Frank August Benardella 1932 - 2010

Pauline and I were devastated to hear that Frank has passed away.

Frank has always appeared a robust, larger-than-life character with a warm caring nature, he loved nothing more than to talk roses with people who loved roses. We will all miss Frank more than we can imagine. I feel sorry for those rosarians who never got to talk with Frank and experience his passion for his life and the roses in it. I feel so grateful to have met him and hope that some of his passion has found a home with me.

We last met Frank and June in California in 2005, in Los Angeles and on the Forum cruise to Mexico. I took this photo of the two of them on the cruise when they celebrated their 5o th wedding anniversary.

Goodbye Frank, thanks for the memories, thanks for your friendship and thanks for the roses.

Our love to June at this sad time and sincere condolences to the family.

Jim Naylor (top) and Lionel Poole (bottom) who both passed away in 2008

Mike Thompson - the Rose King of the Rhondda

Dave Weatherby again, fresh from his success at last year's RNRS Malvern Spring Show

Jim Naylor in action again, presenting Dick Bathe

with his Divisional Champion's award

Mavis Chaplin with her 'Best Miniature Entry

in Show' basket at the RNRS Autumn Show at Harrogate

Ann and Ron Niblett who stage manage

and run all the RNRS roseshows grab

a minute's rest after another busy show.

Mark Hewertson with his bowl of

'Roses and Other Flowers'. Mark

is a new National exhibitor who

has made a great impact in a

short space of time

Jim again, this time with Paul Evans from

Ruabon in North Wales

The ever-fragtrant Agnes Mace with a vase of

Len's prizewinning Sexy Rexy

Gareth Davies is a top quality rose exhibitor of many years standing. A self confessed HT lover, he even has a large red Lionel Poole rose named after him, Gareth will tell tell you quite openly that he is not a huge fan of miniature roses and thinks even less of the new form of minifloras!

As he bade us farewell when we left the Rhondda after their rose show in June, Gareth was once again bemoaning the 'intrusion' of these small roses into his rose world. We had one rose left in the van from our entries of the previous morning, a sad looking, but huge, cabbage like, Buxom Beauty. Gareth gleefully grabbed the bloom and pronounced - "Now that is a MAN'S rose!"

Desert Rose Society friends; Barb Steffenmier, Bob Kerslake and Hal Reynolds (with Max) after a great evening in Palm Desert with Pauline, Mike Thompson and his grandaughter Lowri and me at the back!

Desert Rose Society stalwarts Walt Brown and Chuck Pahon show off their trademark Hawian shirts!

Mike Thompson gives a Master Class in HT (large flowered)bowls to Dave Weatherby

Ivor Mace IS the Master Exhibitor - Roses,

Carnations, Chrysanthemums and Vegetables.

You name it, Ivor shows it and to perfection.

Here's Ivor with a couple of his prize-winning

onions. By the way - that's Ivor in the middle!

David Bryant recieves his National

Championship trophy from Past

President Jim Naylor

John Anthony and one of his winning bowls

of 'Roses and other flowers' at the

Harrogate National Autumn Show

Sam Shuttleworth finds something to

smile about at the AGM!

Alice and Tony Bracegirdle raise a glass

(a goblet actually) to celebrate yet another

RNRS National Championship.

Sian Reese Lewis from the

Rhondda Rose Society

Not to be outshone, Mr Mace recieves 'King' and

'Princess' rosettes from RNRS Pres Ann Bird

at 2006 Show for Miniature Roses

There really is no accounting for the Taffs! Whilst one of the Rhondda Rose Kings dismisses miniature and miniflora roses, another one can't get enough of them!

Mike Thompson (Onkachonk to his internet friends) won a very deserved Miniature Rose Championship at this year's show. With more, new varieties already growing in his Rhondda rose garden, Mike will have us all growing these little beauties. Like it or like it not! Gareth, you have been warned.

raytherose 2008