Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL)

Bournemouth branch Secretary, Gordon Irving, reports on the Queen's Birthday Garden Party and celebrating its twinning with the ROSL Tasmanian branch. 

Congratulations to Makena Onjerika, winner of the 2018 Caine Prize for African Writing, with her short story Fanta Blackcurrant. 

Last night the Princess Alexandra Hall was heaving with members and guests as they eagerly awaited the next instalment of the Evelyn Wrench Lecture Series, focusing on the Post-Truth presidency of Donald Trump. 

To celebrate Canada's sesquicentennial in 2017, ROSL has put on a number of events over the past month which highlight our club's connection with the country. 

It seems apt to be celebrating both the 150th anniversary of Canada's confederation and the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, where the sacrifice of Canadian soldiers' awakened a budding patriotism in Canadians, in the same year. To commemorate both of these important landmarks, ROSL has planned a month of Canadian-themed events to suit all tastes this October. 

When King George opened Canada House on 29 June 1925 he stated: “Canada is a great country: alike in the literal sense of cast extent from ‘sea to sea’ and great in achievement and in promise: and it is right and necessary that its official representatives here should be housed in a manner worthy of the Dominion and adequate to the discharge of their ever-growing and important duties.” 

Last night, members gathered around the Christmas tree in the Central Lounge to get ROSL's festivities underway. 

This year, at ROSL ARTS we are celebrating our 65^th Anniversary, and next month we are putting together a weekend of concerts to celebrate all the musicians we have worked with, past and present. To kick off our celebrations we are going back through our history to see where it all began…

Last night saw the return of a club favourite, the Chairman's Gala Dinner. Attended by Alexander Downer, as well as Director-General Diana Owen and several members of ROSL's Central Council, it was the perfect opportunity to meet fellow members, enjoy fine wine, food, conversation and music. 

Last night members and their guests gathered at our London clubhouse for this popular staple of the ROSL event calendar. Starting in the central lounge, there was a chance to catch up with old friends and meet new ones over a glass of wine, before the concert started. 

Music and film are two things that you automatically place together. Films such as Star Wars, Jurrasic Park and Harry Potter are instantly recognisable by their iconic theme tunes. However, 100 years ago there in the silent film era, there was only music to accompany a motion picture, but no dialogue. See this recreated at ROSL on 19 November with live instrumentation as part of our Rush Hour series.

I know it's only January, but many of you will already be making plans for the sunnier months. ROSL has received its allocation of tickets for the Chelsea Flower Show in May and Trooping the Colour in June, so if you would like to be entered into the ballot, now is your chance. 

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is due to get underway in London on Monday, with a wealth of events celebrating the shared history, values, and purpose of the 53 member states, and you have the chance to get involved. 

There was a glimpse of Spring and now storm Gareth has brought wind and rain to the UK. Not to worry though, ROSL ARTS have a life drawing class to keep you occupied while the weather is at its worst.

Christchurch branch President Judith Leckie reviews their latest concert, held on 9 August.

Monday 11 March marks Commonwealth Day, a celebration of the 53-nation family which was formed 70 years ago. ROSL will be joining in with the festivities here at the clubhouse. 

What another remarkable Commonwealth Day we witnessed yesterday! 2.4 billion people across 53 member countries came together to celebrate in a variety of ways the unique union focusing on this year’s CHOGM theme: ‘Towards a Common Future’. 

Looking for something to keep the kids amused tomorrow? This February half term, celebrate a coming together of families and cultures as the Royal Commonwealth Society partners with Westminster Abbey for a day of Commonwealth-themed activities delivering Commonwealth Family Day on Friday 22 February. 

The opening ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, held on the Gold Coast of Australia, is now only hours away. Find out why this year looks set to the best ever. 

Celebrating its 30^th anniversary, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) is organising a unique set of civil society events from 11-18 April 2018 alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London. 

Yesterday and today has seen the Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, together with the Royal Over-Seas League, the Commonwealth Association and others Commonwealth partners, organise a two-day conference  focusing on the aims and likely outcomes of the CHOGM 2018 summit in April 2018. 

Celebrate Christmas at your home-away-from-home with our special festive packages. So let us worry about the turkey and the washing-up while you enjoy delicious dinners, winter walks and sparkling drinks receptions. Unfortunately, an error in the new edition of Overseas lists the 2018 prices. Read on for the correct 2019 prices, we apologise for any confusion.

Last night we welcomed Hugo Corney and Lisa Harvey from Court Garden Winery and Vineyard to the Royal Over-Seas League. Court Garden were introduced to the club by Davys Wine Merchants and their wines will slowly be introduced to our everyday menu. To properly introduce the wines, we organised for Hugo – who owns the vineyard – to come and talk members through the history of this East Sussex vineyard and what goes in to making the wines. 

It was a great turnout as we welcomed the new exhibition ‘Moving Figures’ by Damian Callan to ROSL Edinburgh. 

All those who have visited our Edinburgh clubhouse most certainly remember the view, the cityscape that captures Edinburgh, from the busy, modernised Princes Street to the historic, iconic castle. Being from Scotland, looking across the green of the gardens and up to the fortress on the rock there is a sense of pride that for thousands of years’ people have gazed across this land with the same feeling. It is this view that will be forever depicted and documented, from historic maps and paintings to the modern photograph that is shared across the globe with one click.

The final event in our series celebrating the UK-India Year of Culture and 70 years of Indian independence, takes place on Thursday 3 August, with a talk from Abhaey Singh, aimed at demystifying India.

On Friday night, members made their way to the Tower of London for the last time, for a black tie dinner in the Fusiliers' Mess. To mark the occasion, guests were treated to a tour of the Jewel House out of hours, where the Crown Jewels are kept, and a talk from the Director of the museum. 

To coincide with the new edition Overseas, which is due out next week and takes architecture as its theme, the clubhouse will also play host to a new exhibition from Thursday 12 September; Drawn to Architecture. 

Last night saw the launch of ROSL's latest exhibition, Drawn to Architecture, which sees 11 artists displayed around the clubhouse, who work in a range of media, but all who take architecture as their subject. 

On a scorching Saturday, with weather more akin to Mumbai than Mayfair, the London clubhouse played host to the annual Summer Ball, this time themed to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Indian Independence.