Rose breeder tony bracegirdle passes away at 83

Tony Bracegirdle, a renowned amateur rose grower and exhibitor, has passed away at the age of 83.

Life of roses

Bracegirdle's love affair with roses began in 1965 when he saw the stunning 'Ena Harkness' blooming at his new wife's childhood home. He was instantly captivated and resolved to become a rose grower.

In 1974, with the guidance of friend and mentor Wilf Taylor, he started breeding roses. The success of his floribunda 'Nikki' in 1983 earned him the Torridge award for the best amateur rose.

Some of his most notable creations included 'Lancashire Glory', 'Holcombe Honey', 'Peel Brow Gold', 'Summerseat Son', 'Little Emily', 'Florence Favour', and 'Alice', named after his wife.

Several of his roses were sold commercially, among them 'Radio Lancashire', 'Thora Hird', 'Sir Harry' (after the comedian Harry Secombe), and 'Help the Aged'.

Commitment to the rose world

Bracegirdle's dedication to the world of roses extended far beyond his own garden. He served as a committee member, show chair, and judge for the Royal National Rose Society, both nationally and internationally.

He also wrote a weekly column for Garden News and appeared in various media outlets. As Nancy Banks-Smith noted in a 2006 review of Gardener's World, 'Tony has all the breezy ebullience of Fred Dibnah: comfy with the camera, pleased with himself, and thrilled to share his skill. Arty-farty he is not.'

Despite his many accolades, Bracegirdle's greatest ambition remained unfulfilled – to breed a rose with 'hand-painted' yellow petals, a feat no one had yet achieved. After a decade of perseverance, he finally succeeded with 'Tony's Perfection'. A perfectionist indeed, he did not use the word lightly.