David Austin Snr was born in 1926 as the son of a farmer and began his working life as a farmer. He has always lived and worked in Shropshire, England.
In the 1950s on a part-time basis, David set out to create repeat-flowering old style roses. He felt that “the Old Rose Flower had a charm and beauty that was quite different to that of hybrid Teas”. He wanted shrubs of grace and beauty in a variety of sizes, with good foliage, capable of producing flowers of all shapes in a range of colours and fragrances. Only then did he want to consider the more practical aspects of reliability, toughness, disease resistance and freedom and regularity of flowering.
To do this he went back to the Old Roses such as gallicas and crossbred them with modern hybrid teas and floribundas. He calls these “English Roses”. In his own words “English Roses are in fact new “Old Roses”, if I may be forgiven for the apparent contradiction in terms”
His first release was the cross between the Gallica rose Belle Isis and the floribunda Dainty Maid. This was introduced jointly in 1961 by Sunningdale Nurseries and Roses and Shrubs Ltd of Albrighton (no mention of David Austin). The rose was Constance Spry, a once flowering pink climber – in the Heritage Border Section HB> The lady in question was a famous pioneer of flower arranging in the 1950s and 60s.
From that point on there was an explosion of creation by breeding and crossbreeding and it continues today with the next generation of Austins. Many of the roses are named after characters from English books and plays.
He married the sculptress, Pat Austin and they have a daughter and two sons. His son, David and daughter Claire are both engaged in the business.
David Snr is the founder and head of the firm of David Austin Roses of Albrighton. At Albrighton there is a display rose garden of nearly two acres with over 700 different varieties. In strategic places throughout the garden there are fine examples of Mrs Pat Austin’s sculptures. Visitors are always welcome.
The Bud at the VSRG was gifted by David Austin Roses. When visiting the BUD, you will see alternative names on the bricks. To meet legal requirements, roses that have been patented are allocated a unique nomenclature so that it will be identifiable anywhere in the world. For example Mary Rose is Ausmary, Abraham Darby is Auscot.
Wal J 20 Jan 2016
