At the Annual General Meeting
of the Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) held at their headquarters in St. Albans,
Saturday July 23, 2005, it was announced that the Dean Hole Medal for 2005 was
awarded to Dr. Tommy Cairns, Immediate Past President of the American Rose Society
(ARS) and currently serving as President of the World Federation of Rose Societies
(WFRS).
The "Dean Hole Medal" is recognized as the highest honor in the
rose world. ARS and WFRS members will share in the pride of this award
to one of its most favorite American sons of the rose.
In the letter informing Dr. Cairns of this award, RNRS President Peter Beales
commented:
"It is with very great pleasure that I write to let
you know that the RNRS Board of Trustees, by unanimous resolution, have awarded
you the Society's highest honour, the Dean Hole Medal. This is to mark your
outstanding contributions to the many facets of roses, both internationally
and in your own country. Furthermore, your continued generous support of the
RNRS during its difficult time has been a source of inspiration to the President
and his Board.
I know you will be in Glasgow for the International Rose Trials in August
and we would very much like to present the medal at the Civic Lunch held
in the City Chambers on Friday 26th August, 2005.
In the meantime, please accept warmest congratulations from all the Trustees
and staff of the RNRS and could I say that it gives me much pleasure to be
able to write this letter to you."
Tommy Cairns is only the second American to be have this honour bestowed
upon him. Legendary Ralph Moore of Visalia, California was awarded the medal
in 1990. Dr. Cairns was also the first recipient of the ARS Klima Medal for "Excellence
in Rose Education" awarded at the 12th World Rose Convention in Houston,
Texas in 2000.
Tommy is a graduate of the University of Glasgow, Scotland, holding both a PhD
in Chemistry and a DSc in toxicology, biochemistry, art conservation and archaeology.
We offer our congratulations to Dr. Tommy Cairns.
