Former Red Rose (4)
I believe the answer is:
pete
'former red rose' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for pete that I've seen before include "Small 14 [PETER JONES]" , "-- Sampras, tennis ace" , "For his sake" , "- Seeger, US folk singer" , "- Doherty, Babyshambles singer" .)