Top medal awarded to rose breeder

Shropshire-based rose breeder Chris Warner has received the highest award in the rose world, the Dean Hole Medal. Chris was given the coveted medal by The Rose Society UK for his outstanding contribution to the rose world and wizardry in breeding exceptional rose varieties.

A founder member of the Amateur Rose Breeders Association, Chris is also renowned for encouraging budding hybridisers. After first planting a rose by his front door in the 1960s, his interest was piqued. After reading every book available, Chris began rose breeding in 1968, raising thousands of seedlings from seed. One of his abiding principles is to produce vigorous varieties with exceptional disease resistance. In 1990 his compact climber ‘Warm Welcome’ was given a gold medal by the Royal National Rose Society. Other noteworthy climbers include ’Alfesco’, ‘Ali Baba’ and