(Co-crob)
Floribunda, 1970, 2ft-3ft
This attractive Floribunda has been around for over forty years and is still a very popular bed rose. Beautiful large crimson scarlet flowers that are very centered and elongated like hybrid tea flowers. The large, impressive flowers are up to 4 inches (10 cm) wide.
They open somewhat loosely, in open clusters, maintaining a good light color tone and with weather-resistant flowers, a good long flowering period throughout the summer until the first frost in autumn. Shake your head to promote more blooms and you’ll have color all summer long. Nice shiny, healthy foliage that makes this gorgeous rose one of the best red floribundas with excellent disease resistance. A good colored rose for cutting or buttonholes and it is fragrant.
It is named after Robert Roy Macgregor, the famous Scottish warrior who lived during 1671-1734.
Royal National Rose Society Proving Ground Certificate. 1969
He was raised by Alexander Cocker in Scotland. (Evelyn Fison x Wendy Cussons)
The Cocker family has been in business for over 100 years and in 1976. In recognition of the quality and high standards achieved, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II granted the late Alexander M. Cocker Royal Authorization as a Rose Supplier. In 2008 Alec J. Cocker, the current senior partner, was awarded the royal order. Receiving a royal authorization is a remarkable achievement that the family is rightly proud of.
ROB ROY: 1671-1734
Robert Roy MacGregor or more commonly known as Rob Roy or Red Macgregor due to his red hair was born in Glengyle on the shores of Loch Katrine, Stirlingshire, Scotland. Over the years, Rob Roy became known as a rogue, a Scottish Robin Hood, a hero, and even a petty criminal. Keep in mind that life in those days was hard, and many of the alleged crimes he committed were due to the need to eat and stay alive. As the son of a high-ranking member of the clan, he was well educated and spoke and wrote in Gaelic and English. Rob obtained some land on the east side of Loch Lomond and tried to make a living from the cattle trade. He had reasonable success buying cattle in Scotland and selling it at a profit in the south.
However, when times were difficult, he often resorted to theft or protection of livestock. He thrived for a time while making a living protecting the herds of other livestock owners from thieves (including himself). However, trouble began in 1712 when he borrowed a thousand pounds from the Duke of Montrose to increase his livestock. Unfortunately, his main cattle driver ran away with the money and was never seen again. The duke blamed Rob and held him responsible for the debt and took him to court for defaulting on the loan or stealing the money. He filed for bankruptcy and was a thief. Rather than face incarceration, Rob fled north to safety and was assisted by a distant relative, the Campbell Duke of Argyll. In retaliation, the Duke of Montrose evicted Rob’s wife, Mary, seized the property and burned it. Rob’s wife is said to have been raped and flagged by soldiers during the eviction, which only further fueled Rob’s hatred of Montrose. Rob remained at large in the Highlands for some time, but eventually the Duke of Argyll gave him some land in Glen Dochart. He relaunched his livestock protection and whispering business, especially targeting the Duke of Montrose’s herds. His enmity with Montrose lasted for many years, and it was during this period that he gained his legendary status. His skirmishes with the law and Montrose were frequent, and during this time he was captured many times, but he always seemed to escape and avoid imprisonment. He became an excellent swordsman and won several duels that only enhanced his reputation. Many of the locals were experiencing financial problems with the Duke of Montrose, and Rob helped many of them, which is where he earned his reputation as “Robin Hood”.
Eventually, Montrose gave up trying to capture him, and for the rest of his life, Rob led a peaceful existence.
Rob died on December 28, 1734 after a brief illness. He rested on New Year’s Day at Balquhidder and the funeral attended by many of his clanmates. Later, his wife and two children were buried in the same grave. A simple tombstone erected with a sword engraved on it. In the 1980s a new tombstone was erected with the following wording:
“Macgregor despite them”
Rob Roy’s life and reputation have been reinforced by many books and plays, two films, and William Wordsworth, who wrote the famous poem “Rob Roy’s Grave.”
