Since I joined as ROSL Editor in March 2017, I have tried to make sure the website is updated every weekday with news on what is going on at the club and at the branches, the events that have been happening and are coming up, giving you an inside look at the behind the scenes workings of the staff, picking out interesting articles from the Overseas archive, and marking important and interesting anniversaries throughout the year. Hopefully, these daily snippets have kept you all interested.
Today, I have chosen some of the most popular articles, based on their viewership, over the past 15 months. Take a look below at what has been keeping you and other members glued to your screens. If you would like to see more of anything in the daily news, please get in touch with me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your suggestions.
ROSL Welcomes Dr Diana Owen as Director-General
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Diana Owen as Director-General; who will take up her appointment on Monday 4 December.
Diana Owen brings extensive experience of working in the not-for-profit sector, with the National Trust, and for the last ten years, as Chief Executive of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT) in Stratford-upon-Avon, a global hub for Shakespeare fans everywhere. Diana has grown the SBT’s national and international profile and reputation, leading significant cultural and capital projects in Stratford and with partners worldwide. Read more
Commonwealth Announces 2018 Theme
Ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (2018 CHOGM) meeting in April next year, UK Prime Minister Theresa May took to the stage at the UN General Assembly, alongside Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, to announce the theme and priorities for the summit: 'Towards a Common Future'. Read more
ROSL is situated over two houses; Vernon House and Rutland House. Vernon House is the property in which the Brabourne Room is located. The building is named after Admiral Edward Vernon whose family lived here.
He was the Admiral nicknamed ‘Old Grog’, after the shabby Gogram coat he wore, and his prescription of a daily ration of 80% water and 20% rum per man was adopted by the Navy to contain and reduce the terrible drunkenness prevalent at the time. (Grog is now used as a slang term for alcohol). Read more
Last night saw the culmination of the 2018 ROSL Annual Music Competition, with four exceptional young musicians competing for the chance to win the Gold Medal and £15,000 first prize. The Queen Elizabeth Hall was filled with the sounds of Chopin, Enescu, and Rachmaninov as Florian Mitrea piano, Emmanuel Bach violin, Michael Mofidian bass-baritone, and Jonathan Radford saxophone, performed for HRH Princess Alexandra, ROSL members, guests, and music industry professionals. Read more
Margaret Adrian-Vallance delves into the past to discover the significance of ROSL’s great fireplace.
In 1702, eight-year-old Richard Francis was the only son and heir of Sir Nicholas Shireburne, head of a wealthy Roman Catholic family that harboured long-standing religious and dynastic ambitions. They live at Stonyhurst Hall in Lancashire, an Elizabethan mansion with many chapels, grand staircases, corridors wide enough to drive down and a recently planted maze in which Richard played. Read more
