A True English Rose....

In almost every English town or city there is at least one open-air or permanent market site.

Typically, stall-holders purveying everything from fine china, and linens, to fresh produce and a virtual plethora of food items.

In earlier times , the towns set aside one day for "Market Day" where buyers and sellers peddled their wares, very often incorporating livestock sales also.

The First Sergeant loved these markets, most every week, he would rummage around, and inevitably bring home a knick-knack or two.

It was at the Warrington Market where we first laid eyes on the Royal Albert, Old Country Rose china.

Exquisitely beautiful, so fine a bone china , one could hold it up to the light and see right through. A dinnerware so timeless, it has become the world's most recognized, and celebrated pattern.

Designed by Harold Holdcroft in 1962, Old Country Roses fine bone china dinnerware was inspired by a typical English country garden with flowers in bloom.

Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to finally own a service for eight of this beautiful pattern, a table fitting for a queen...