The rose was named in honour of the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977.

The rose was awarded the Royal National Rose Society's President's International Trophy, the Belfast Gold medal, the Portland Gold Medal and the James Mason Memorial Prize.

'Silver Jubilee' blooms in flushes from spring to fall, but does not thrive in warmer climates.

[7] During the Second World War, Cocker joined the Civil Defence Service, where he met Anne Rennie (1920-2014).

The hybrid tea, 'Alec's Red' (1970), was awarded the Royal National Rose Society's (RNRS) President's International Trophy in 1970.

[8] Alec Cocker's most famous rose variety was the hybrid tea, 'Silver Jubilee'.

[8] 'Silver Jubilee' won the Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) President's International Trophy (Britain) in 1977, the Portland Gold Medal (United States) in 1981, the Belfast Gold Medal (Northern Ireland) in 1985 and the James Mason Memorial Prize (Britain) in 1981.