The Minister's Cat, Blind Man's Bluff, Hide the Thimble. No these aren't the ramblings of an Editor who has enjoyed a little too much mulled wine. These are, of course, just a few of the many parlour games enjoyed at this time of year. 

A Christmas message from the December 1938 edition of Overseas, sees our founder Sir Evelyn Wrench reiterate the founding principles of ROSL. 

Come and sit by the fire. Ignore the flickering of the candle light, the rattling windowpanes and the creak from upstairs. A noise you say? Probably the neighbour’s cat startling a bird outside. That tap, tap, tapping noise? Oh, just the branches from our apple tree outside, you should see it in spring. Now… are you sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin. 

Celebrating its 88th anniversary this year, the Royal Christmas Message has been a staple of Christmas Day for people in the UK and around the Commonwealth for most people's entire lives, but how did the tradition begin? 

A Christmas Message from Director-General Annette Prandzioch. 

Towns and cities throughout the country and the world will soon be adorning public squares and civic spaces with Christmas trees, festooned with lights and decorations, for everyone to enjoy in the run up to Christmas. The most famous in the UK is the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree, one of the tallest and most photographed in the country. Have you ever wondered how this beautiful tree makes its way to central London every December? 

In line with the new London restrictions announced by the government today, the clubhouse will again be forced to close temporarily from Wednesday 16 December.

ROSL’s charity postcard exhibition Incognito returns next week, now in its third year! Over 150 artists from all over the world have created and donated artwork. 

In July, ROSL announced two new scholarships for young musicians in Scotland thanks to a generous £65,000 from Miss Evelyn Small, the first of which has now been awarded to guitarist William Timothy Beattie for study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. 

ROSL has been busy putting on a host of online events during the last month as England has once again been in lockdown. If you didn't catch any of our talks or concerts, watch them again here.