Rotary Jubilee Rose Garden

In the year 2005 – 2006 Rotary International celebrated 100 years of service to the community, locally, nationally and internationally. To mark this special occasion it was decided that Rotarians in the UK and Ireland would commission a special rose to be planted locally for the benefit of all. The rose was bred by James Cocker and Sons in Aberdeen, who are one of the foremost rose breeders in the world and are also proud to be Royal Warrant Holders.

They produced a hybrid tea rose with dusky peach petals of outstanding beauty and colour, with a delicate perfume and excellent resistance to pests and disease. The plant is bushy and upright with an abundance of large, dark green and glossy leaves. Since being bred the rose has gained international recognition winning the Gold Medal and Prize of the City of Belfast.

The naming of the rose was the subject of a national Rotary competition and after much deliberation by a panel of four judges; the rose was named ‘Heart of Gold’.

For every ‘Heart of Gold’ rose bush sold at the time James Cocker & Sons donated £1.50 to our own charity, The Rotary International Foundation, eventually reaching a staggering £25,000.

Fast forward to the year 2012 and the 75th Anniversary of Wilmslow Dean Rotary working for the local community, and coinciding with the Diamond Jubilee of HRH Queen Elizabeth II

In celebration of these historic milestones and to provide a lasting and appealing landmark for the good people of Wilmslow and its visitors, it was proposed by Rotarian Geoff Shelmerdine and agreed by members of Wilmslow Dean Rotary that we consider establishing ‘Jubilee Rose Beds’ in a high profile location in Wilmslow Town centre.

After approaching the Wilmslow Town Council with our idea and eventually having considered a variety of locations suggested to us by the Council, we requested three beds in the Memorial Garden and our wishes were granted with the proviso that we maintained the beds ourselves plus the additional six brick planters in the gardens.

With members of Wilmslow Dean Rotary and additional local help we removed old plantings and a considerable amount of hardcore materials. Once the groundwork was completed we purchased the 100 – ‘Heart of Gold’ roses (dry root) and 24 – shrubs for the brick planters.