Music to their earsWe follow the music prize-winners on tour, and revealthe NZ scholarship winners

Future generationA look at the problems facing Commonwealth children, now and then

Truth laid bearWhy the ice art by memberMark Coreth became anemblem of climate change

Action in NamibiaHow the director of theCentenary DVD caught theproject’s successes on film

O V E R S E A SJournal of the Royal Over-Seas League Issue 1, March–May 2010

O V E R S E A S 3

O V E R S E A S

From the Director-General; Editor’s letter . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chairman’s welcome . . . . . . 5Sir Anthony Figgis: An introduction

Centenary‘The Queen visits Over-SeasHouse’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6A 1960s article from the Overseas archives

Foreword from The Queen . 6The preface to Adele Smith’s ‘History’ of ROSL

WorldSuccess in Trinidad . . . . . . . 7Derek Ingram reports on CHOGM 2009

Cold truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Samantha Whitaker finds the chilling messagebehind Mark Coreth’s ice bear sculptures

Ashes to Ashes . . . . . . . . . . 9A 25,000km charity bike ride from Lord’s to Oz

Capturing success . . . . . . . 10The Namibia project caught on film

Destiny’s child . . . . . . . . . . 11A special introduction to our Focus on childrenfrom the Commonwealth Secretary-General

Make it a better place . . . . 12What Save the Children is doing to improve thelives of children across the Commonwealth

King of care . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Adele Smith on ‘mothercraft guru’ Dr TrubyKing, with a 1921 article by Winifride Wrench

Warrior music . . . . . . . . . . . 16A musical exchange with the Osiligi Maasai

Front cover: Stills from the Centenary DVD – ROSL ARTS and the Barbirolli String Quartet’slandmark visit to the Pakirikiri Marae, as part of the ROSL ARTS/Pettman Scholarship tour ofNew Zealand. See page 20

8

ROSL newsNews and views . . . . . . . . . . 17The latest from Over-Seas House, London

The season to be jolly . . . . . 18Report on the Younger Members’ winter events

Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Reviews of ROSL members’ recent publications

NZ tour is a classic . . . . . . . 20Roderick Lakin reports on the whistle-stopconcert tour and reveals the scholarship winners

ROSL world . . . . . . . . . . . . 22A round-up of branch activities

In the UKTop class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Judith Steiner visits a multicultural primary

In London . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Author Margaret Atwood’s likes and dislikes;and what’s on in the arts

EventsWhat’s on: Edinburgh . . . . 28

Food and drink events . . . . 29

ROSL ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Members’ events . . . . . . . . 32

Discussion Group and London Group . . . . . . . . . . . 34

O V E R S E A SISSUE 1 March-May 2010

The Royal Over-Seas League is a self-fundedCommonwealth organisation that offers clubhousefacilities to members, organises Commonwealthart and music competitions and develops jointwelfare projects with specific countries.

Overseas editorial teamEditor Miranda MooreDeputy Editor/DesignMiddleton MannAssistant Editor Samantha WhitakerTel 020 7408 0214 x205 Email swhitaker@rosl.org.ukDisplay AdvertisementsMelissa SkinnerTel 020 8950 3323 Emailmskinner@onlymedia.co.uk

Royal Over-Seas LeagueIncorporated by Royal CharterPatron Her Majesty The QueenVice-Patron Her Royal HighnessPrincess Alexandra KG GCVOPresident The Rt Hon the Lord Luce KG GCVO DLChairman Sir Anthony Figgis KCVO CMG*Deputy Chairman Mrs Marilyn Archbold*Hon TreasurerMr Simon Ward FCA*

Over-Seas House, Park Place, St James’s Street,London SW1A 1LR Tel 020 7408 0214 Fax 020 7499 6738Web www.rosl.org.uk Email info@rosl.org.uk

Over-Seas House, 100 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 3AB Tel 0131 225 1501 Fax 0131 226 3936

Central CouncilMiss Farah Amin, Mr Graham Archer CMG, MrsShirley Barr*, Mr Ralph Bauer, Mr Clive Carpenter, SirRoger Carrick KCMG LVO, Mr Christie Cherian*, NikRaof Daud, Mr Paul Dimond CMG, Mr John EdwardsCMG*, Mrs Patricia Farrant, Mr Simon Gimson, MsDiana Gray, Mr Robert Gregor MBE, Sir James HodgeKCVO CMG, Mr David Jamieson, Mrs Anne de Lasta,Dr Edmund Marshall, Miss Sheila MacTaggart LVO,Mr David Newman, Mr Ian Partridge CBE, MrsDoreen Regan*, Mrs Judith Steiner*, Mr GeoffreyThompson OBE, Mrs Pamela Voice *Executive Committee

Director-General Robert F Newell LVO Tel 020 7408 0214 x201Director of Admin and Finance Shakil Tayub Tel 020 7408 0214 x209Director of Public Relations and Development Margaret Adrian-Vallance Tel 020 7408 0214 x204Emailmvallance@rosl.org.ukDirector of Arts Roderick Lakin MBETel 020 7408 0214 x325 Email culture@rosl.org.ukMembership Sec/Asst. to DG Fatima Vanicek Tel 020 7408 0214 x214 Email fvanicek@rosl.org.ukCatering Director David LauranceTel 020 7408 0214 x331Email davidlaurance@convexleisure.comEdinburgh House Manager Alan ChalmersEmail reception@rosl-edinburgh.orgScottish Development Officer James Wilkie

Print Broglia Press Tel 01202 621621The journal is published by the Royal Over-Seas League, Over-Seas

House, Park Place, St James’s Street, London SW1A 1LR. Any views

expressed in editorial and any advertisements included are not

necessarily endorsed by the Central Council. ISSN 00307424

March–May 2010

12

first read KamaleshSharma’s introduction toour Focus on childrenwhile I was staying with

my husband’s family inMexico. They live in Chiapas –one of the poorest states –and, as I walked through thecentre of San Cristóbal, while children only a littletaller than my two-year-old tried to sell meornamental animals and others pleaded to shinemy shoes, the Secretary-General’s words onchild poverty were ever more poignant (page 11).With one billion young people living in theCommonwealth, organisations such as Save theChildren and the Commonwealth’s own YouthProgramme can make a real difference (page 12).

Almost 100 years earlier, one man who madea real difference to the lives of newborns, halvingthe infant death rate and setting up ‘mothercraft’centres in the UK at the invitation of Sir EvelynWrench, was Dr Truby King (page 14). I amalways fascinated to read past articles from theOverseas archives (pages 6 and 15) and, as amother, I am particularly interested in WinifrideWrench’s pieces in support of Dr King’smethods. As I return to work after maternityleave, I only wish that a ban on night-timefeeding was still recommended today!

It leaves me to thank my sister JessicaMoore for the two excellent issues she puttogether as acting editor and to wish her thevery best for the future.

Miranda Moore

Editor’sletter

r Stanley Martin’s retirement from the ROSL chairmanshipand the announcement of his successor, Sir Anthony Figgis,was reported in the last issue. Stanley and his wife, Hanni,were to have been guests of honour at the lunch before the

Council meeting on 7 December. Sadly, they were unable to attend asStanley was in hospital after major surgery. The lunch was hosted byROSL President, Lord Luce, who conveyed the best wishes of theCentral Council to Stanley for a speedy recovery, and tributes were paidfor his service to the ROSL. I can report that Stanley is recovering andwe were delighted to see him at the Centenary Launch party on 26January. He was looking very well and was in good spirits. One of thelast events he hosted as Chairman was the Chairman’s Lunch inOctober, at which the speaker was Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor(the former Archbishop of Westminster). The attendance was thehighest yet and members were not disappointed. The Cardinal was adelightful guest and gave an excellent speech.

Christmas and New Year at the clubhouses were happy occasions,with members enjoying traditional fare on Christmas Day. In London, 45members saw in the New Year at a dinner dance in the restaurant, andin Edinburgh, nearly 100 enjoyed the best possible views of the PrincesStreet Party and the fireworks set off from the ramparts of EdinburghCastle. The ROSL Festival of Christmas carols and readings was againheld at St James’s Piccadilly, followed by a Christmas tea at Over-SeasHouse, which, to the delight of members’ children, included a visit byFather Christmas.

Although I wrote, in issue 3, 2009, that bedroom occupancy at Over-Seas House, London was a casualty of the recession, occupancy levelsthen soared. Consequently, financial results at year-end were positiveand ROSL is in good financial health as it enters the centenary year.

Discussion Group meetings this year are held in association with TheRound Table (the Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs), whichis also celebrating its centenary. At the first meeting, Dr Alex May(research editor of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography andSecretary of The Round Table) gave a fascinating talk on our founder, SirEvelyn Wrench.

We have been heartened by the positive response from membersboth in the UK and from all of the world since the Centenary Appeal waslaunched in September 2009 (see page 31). Members also continue tobe generous in their support of our Namibia project (see page 9). As theROSL embarks on its second century, the vitality of our artistic andeducational endeavours reinforces our sense of purpose, inspired byEvelyn Wrench and the directives of our Royal Charter.

Robert Newell

From the

www.rosl.org.uk

Director-General

M I

O V E R S E A S

ONTARIO CHAPTER:Pictured at the chapter’s annual lunch are (l-r)Mrs Shanaz Newell, the British Consul-General to Toronto Mr JonathanDart, the chapter president Miss Ishrani Jaikaran and Mr Robert Newell

4 O V E R S E A S

When our President, Lord Luce, asked me to consider being a candidate to succeedStanley Martin as Chairman, I was a bitconcerned – but delighted. Concernedbecause, compared to Stanley, who has givensuch wise advice and steadfast service to theROSL over so many years, I was (and am) anewcomer. And my direct experience of theCommonwealth is small. I asked Lord Lucewhether he was sure these things wouldn’trule me out. His answer was: “Well, itdepends what you think of the League.” Sothis is my opportunity to say, as I did to him,why I was so delighted.

Our organisation, as Adele Smith’s excellenthistory shows, is a unique beast. It started, allthose years ago in 1910, as a buttress ofEmpire. But it was always more than that – aplace for people to enjoy each other’scompany, and a focus for their interests andconcerns. I sometimes wonder what ourfounder, Sir Evelyn Wrench, would think of us

if he could see what kind of adult his baby hasbecome. He would, I think, be pleased.

Through two world wars, in which the ROSLdistinguished itself in unusual ways, and afterchanges in society undreamt of in 1910, we arenot only still here, but thriving. We have evolvedfrom a prop of Empire to a significant strand ina Commonwealth of equals. But we are morethan that: a forum for debate; an encouragerand funder of the arts, especially for the young;a channel for education, both of others (as inNamibia) and of ourselves. Many ROSLbranches support charities. And all members,whether in Britain or overseas, are made to feelat home in Over-Seas House.

This has been achieved, it seems to me, bytwo main means – the enthusiasm of ourmembers and the dedication of our staff.Without the staff, who come from almost allquarters of the globe, the machinery would notrun, let alone in such a helpful and friendly way.And without a membership willing to give their

time and ideas, it would not be possible tosustain the variety of activities that happen underthe ROSL’s umbrella – the music competitions,the arts scholarships, the speakers programmes,the visits and much more.

Which brings me to the centenary. It wastypically thoughtful of Stanley Martin, once theCentral Council had decided on me as hissuccessor, to suggest that I take over a littleearly, at the end of 2009, so as to have a clearrun at the centenary year. Stanley and Hannihave made an enormous contribution to thelife and success of the ROSL over many years.So I take over the reins with some trepidation.But it is a huge privilege to find myself asChairman, especially in our hundredth year,when my wife Mayella and I hope to meet asmany members as possible, in Britain and inthe branches elsewhere. With the support ofthe Central Council and the membership, andof our superb staff led by Robert Newell, I shalldo my best.

Chairman’s welcomeAs the centenary year begins, Sir Anthony Figgis discusses why he is sodelighted to succeed Mr Stanley Martin as Chairman

O V E R S E A S 5March–May 2010

© MIDDLETONMANN

O V E R S E A S

From HM The Queen

Sandringham HouseSir Anthony Figgis, KCVO, CMG,Chairman, The Royal Over-Seas League.

Please convey my warm thanks to themembers of the Royal Over-SeasLeague for their kind messages of loyalgreetings, sent on the occasion of theLeague’s Centenary.As your Patron, I much appreciate

your thoughtfulness in writing as youdid and, in return, send my best wishesto all concerned during this most specialanniversary year.

Elizabeth R.

15 January 2010

6 O V E R S E A S www.rosl.org.uk

CENTENARY

The highlight of the jubilee year has been thevisit of Her Majesty the Queen, Patron of theRoyal Over-Seas League, to WorldHeadquarters on Wednesday, May 18th.

When Her Majesty’s maroon Rolls-Royce(with no registration number plates) flying theRoyal Standard and bearing the Royal Armson a shield mounted on the roof, drew up inthe courtyard outside Vernon House, theQueen was greeted – as our picture on thispage shows – by the League’s GrandPresident, Lord Mountbatten.

Vernon House and the main entrance wasnewly adorned with the carved and paintedcoat of arms, for which letters patent haverecently been granted.

Accompanying the Grand President wereSir Evelyn Wrench, the Founder, and Sir AngusGillan, Chairman of the Central Council, andLady Gillan. On entering Over-Seas House SirAngus presented Sir Joycelyn Lucas (Vice-

Chairman), Mr. Geoffrey Draper (HonoraryTreasurer) and Mrs. Draper, members of theCentral Council, and Mr. Philip Crawshaw(Director-General) and Mrs. Crawshaw.Presentations to H.R.H. the Duke ofEdinburgh were made by Sir Evelyn Wrench.

Her Majesty was then conducted to theReception Office, Main Hall, Rutland Room,Card Room, and Wrench Room, in each ofwhich members and retired members of thestaff and members nominated by the variousGroups at World Headquarters were presented.

Finally, Her Majesty and the Duke wereescorted to the Hall of India and Pakistan andthe St. Andrews Hall, in each of which areception was in progress for some 200members from the United Kingdom andoverseas, and a number of members werepresented.

Before taking their leave the Queen andthe Duke signed the League’s Visitor’s Book.

An extract from Overseas July, 1960 Read the preface by TheQueen from AdeleSmith’s ‘History’

‘The Queen Visits Over-Seas House’

A ROYAL GREETING: Lord Mountbatten greets The Queen outside Vernon House

The Royal Over-Seas League was foundedby Sir Evelyn Wrench in 1910, the year thatmy grandfather, King George V, came tothe throne. Within six years, he hadgranted his patronage to the young societyand I am delighted to have followed himand my father, King George VI, in beingPatron of the League.

On its fiftieth anniversary in 1960, I washappy to approve the title ‘Royal’ and Ihave appreciated meeting its members,from the United Kingdom and the overseasCommonwealth, on many occasionsduring my reign.

On its centenary in 2010, I wish theRoyal Over-Seas League and all itsmembers every success for the future.

The Queen’sforeword

© PA PHOTOS

t is a staggering thought: one billion peoplein the Commonwealth are under 25 yearsold. Rightly, the Commonwealth Heads ofGovernment Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad

last November focused much of its attentionon the young. In her opening address, TheQueen said the young “need to be convincedthat the Commonwealth can help them torealise their ambitions”.

The Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma,pointed out in his first briefing that theCommonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) hadbeen in operation since 1974, that the youthcredit initiative dated back to 1995, and that helpfor young people to start up businesses beganin 2000. But, he said, much more needed to bedone – and this means more money.

In Trinidad, heads made a declaration‘Investing in Young People’. They set a newscale of contributions to the CYP to startforthwith. Before that, the week-longCommonwealth Youth Forum brought together450 young people from Trinidad and 37 othercountries. They put forward a raft of proposalsfor young people to be represented in decision-making at all levels of governance.

The Commonwealth Games are in NewDelhi this year (3-4 October). In October 2008,India hosted the Commonwealth Youth Gamesin Pune and, this August, Singapore hosts thefirst Youth Olympic Games.

Many good things came out of Trinidad. Onewas a lifting, at last, of the freeze, dating back to1989, on the amount of contributions to theSecretariat’s woefully small budget. Now theyare to be reviewed and adjusted every five years.

About time. Compared with otherinternational organisations, theCommonwealth runs on a shoestring. TheSecretariat budget last year was a mere £14.8million. The other main official funds are theYouth Programme (£2.7m) and the

Derek Ingram reports on CHOGM 2009

Success inTrinidad

ICommonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation– the Commonwealth’s aid arm (£27.1m).

Another important Trinidad decision was tostrengthen the Commonwealth MinisterialAction Group (CMAG), the watchdog body offoreign ministers set up 15 years ago, whichcan recommend the suspension, and evenexpulsion, of member countries for breachesof democracy and good governance.

Strengthening CMAG is long overdue, but thisis a delicate matter that can, and does, involveintervention in a member country’s internalaffairs. The carefully worded communiquépassage said ‘consideration should be given tostrengthening the CMAG in order to enable theGroup to deal with the full range of serious orpersistent violations of the Harare principles’ (asset down in the 1991 Declaration).

Also, a network of election managementbodies will be created to supplement the workof Commonwealth observer groups and toenhance the capacity of member countries tohold credible elections that the people canhave confidence in.

A Commonwealth joint office will be set upin Geneva, for small states that cannot affordseparate staff, to negotiate with the internationalbodies there. A similar Commonwealth office forUN work operates in New York.

The Commonwealth also decided to set upan Eminent Persons Group to look at theformat and content of ministerial meetings andwork out how the many Commonwealthinstitutions can be made stronger and worktogether more effectively. In other words, amuch-needed streamlining.

The Trinidad meeting took place a weekbefore the UN Climate Change conference inCopenhagen and broke totally new ground byholding a session with President NicolasSarkozy of France, the UN Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon and the Danish Prime Minister

Lars Lokke Rasmussen, chair of theCopenhagen conference. The threat of risingsea levels to small island states was first raisedat the 1989 Commonwealth summit in KualaLumpur. The then president of the Maldives,Abdul Gayoom, highlighted the vulnerability ofhis country and the result was the LangkawiDeclaration on Environment, targeting the 1992UN Earth Summit. Despite such early warningsanother decade was to pass before the realdangers were realised.

As expected, Rwanda became the 54thmember of the Commonwealth – only thesecond country without any historical links tojoin. Mozambique was the first, in 1995. Oneor two countries had reservations but did notpush them, given the overwhelming support,led by the UK and all the African countries.

Opposition came from the CommonwealthHuman Rights Initiative (CHRI) and othersections of civil society, arguing that Rwanda isnot properly democratic and does not enjoyfreedom of expression, and therefore does notfulfil principles set down for applicantmembers in the Membership Report endorsedby heads at the Kampala CHOGM in 2007. Astrong case favouring admission, despite thesereservations, is that, in membership, theCommonwealth could exert influence on theRwandan government to liberalise and run freepresidential elections, taking place this year.

It was a good CHOGM, but not always asmooth one. The question of the next venue ledto prolonged argument. Sri Lanka wanted tohost it, but in the wake of the ethnic conflict there most heads said ‘not yet’. In theCommonwealth tradition, a compromise wasreached. Mauritius and Australia offered. Tosoften the blow to Sri Lanka, it was decided thatAustralia would host the next, Sri Lanka wasearmarked for 2013, and Mauritius for 2015.

Next stop Perth 2011.

O V E R S E A S 7

WORLD

March–May 2010

OPENING CEREMONY: Patrick Manning, Prime Ministerof Trinidad and Tobago, speaking at the opening ceremony

© KENROYAMBRIS/C

OMMONWEALTHSECRETARIAT

© SAMANTHAWHITTAKER

Far North, floating over 400 fathoms of blackArctic Ocean on a raft of ice, sculptor andROSL member Mark Coreth searches for apolar bear. Surrounded by ice that shimmerswith a “Doctor Who vibrating blueness” Markrealises that sculpting a polar bear isn’tenough. There is an issue that needs to becommunicated. An issue that is critical to thewhole Arctic environment.

Mark is a master sculptor of animals inmotion. He recently created a 6.5 tonne bronzebull elephant, and regularly holds exhibitions atthe Sladmore Contemporary Gallery in London.To create “a really honest exhibition”, Mark‘becomes’ the creature he is studying. Heimmerses himself in its environment, watching,listening and learning from local guides, with noexpectations, no preconceptions, just open eyes.

Travelling with Inuit guides across the Arcticnear Baffin Island in November 2007, he foundthat the consequences of global warmingbecame “stonkingly real”. The sea-ice – wherethe Inuit live and hunt – is disappearing. Andwhile scientists admit that there is naturalcyclical warming of the planet, a great part ofglobal warming cannot be accounted for by

natural causes, and that is the influence ofhumans. “It’s like a pendulum”, says Mark, “andwe have put a great lump of lead on it so thatnow it’s swinging harder and faster than itwould naturally.”

Mark realised that he was no longer justsculpting a polar bear, but a serious issue. Andas he witnessed the commanding power ofthe Arctic ice, it became evident that bronzealone wasn’t enough, that ice must play afundamental role. And so the idea was born: abronze polar bear skeleton encased in a bodyof solid ice, which would eventually melt,leaving a skeleton, a pool of water and apowerful environmental message.

Many of us would not understand thecomplicated science behind climate changeand the melting of the Arctic ice, but Mark’s icebear gets the message across in a simple pieceof sculpture that can be understood by all.Everyone who touches the bear can feel the icemelting beneath their hand: the humancontribution to climate change. A flat hand leftfor a long time causes significant damage, but ifyou touch it with the tip of a finger for only asecond, the impact is minimal. As the skeletonemerges, the bronze conducts the heat andmelts the bear from the inside, just as the ArcticOcean does as the sun warms it. And as themajestic bear thaws into a fearsome skeleton,the effect is frightening. Just as it is frighteningthat even the scientists don’t really know whatwill happen when the Arctic ice melts.

The first ice bear in Copenhagen becamethe art icon of the United Nations ClimateChange Conference (COP15), and media fromall over the world used it as their backdropwhen reporting on the talks. As the bearmelted, Mark and his team returned to London,where, on 11 December at 5.30am, the secondbronze polar bear skeleton encased in ice wasdelivered to Trafalgar Square. During the

morning, Mark, with Duncan and JamieHamilton, furiously chipped away, and bymidday the second ice bear was complete.

For the next fortnight, people became‘sculptors’ themselves as they touched the ice.For many children, when they touched it for thefirst time, the effect was like an electric shock,which they will hopefully remember, even ifthey don’t fully understand the message. “Onecouple had been dragged down to Londonfrom Blackpool by their children!” said Mark.And so the message spreads.

An ice bear will very soon travel acrossCanada, hopefully as far as Vancouver, to theWinter Olympics in February. It will then go toWashington for Earth Day, to Denver, and thento New York. The London skeleton will go toSydney in August, and then hopefully to HongKong and China. “Everywhere you do it, it willbehave differently,” says Mark, “but itsmessage is the same.”

Mark asks that everyone does whatever theycan – from putting pressure on the scientistsand politicians to take the big but necessarysteps, to simply switching off the light as youleave a room. Some people can do more thanothers, but if we all work together to reduce theweight and calm the pendulum, then naturemight be able to regain its balance.

Visit www.icebearproject.org to find out more.

Mark Coreth’s ice bears are not just prettysculptures but carry a powerful environmentalmessage. Samantha Whitakermeets the artist to find out more

Cold truth

BARE BONES: The sculpture in TrafalgarSquare on day one (below) and dayeleven (above)

WORLD

8 O V E R S E A S www.rosl.org.uk

© BRIANSKILTON

O V E R S E A S 9

WORLD

March–May 2010

Oli Broom writes home with the first report on his25,000km bike ride from Lord’s to Australia

Ashes to Ashes

In October 2009, I left Lord’s Cricket Ground inLondon to cycle to the next Ashes cricketseries, starting in Australia in November 2010.By that time, I will have pedalled through 25countries and covered more than 25,000km,through some of the harshest environments onearth. In doing so, I hope not only to introducea few people to cricket (yes, I am carrying a baton my bike!), but also to raise £100,000 for twocharities: the Lord’s Taverners and the BritishNeurological Research Trust.

Between long stints in the saddle, I aim toplay cricket in as many countries as I can. I haveso far played in some surprising places,including the National Sports Academy in Sofia,

inside a fourth-century Belgrade fortress, andoutside the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. As I write, I am in the bustling Turkish city of Adana, havingspent the last three weeks pedalling across a1,000m-high plateau that spans this vastcountry. I am a two-day cycle from the Syrianborder. From there, I will head through Africa asfar as Kenya, and then hop on a boat to India.

I often get asked why I chose to cycle toAustralia, instead of jumping on a plane. “Forthe adventure,” is my answer. Each morning Iwake up not knowing who I might meet, orwhere I’ll be that evening. I am constantly onthe move, seeing things I have only dreamtabout seeing. Yesterday I was drinking tea with

a Turkish cotton farmer on top of a mountain,and today I am sure to meet more strangers,who will look at my bike, ask me what I amdoing, question my sanity and not let me leavebefore I am well fed. It’s a very different lifestylefrom the one I was used to in London. I am outof my comfort zone, and I’m loving the challenge.

For more information visit:www.cyclingtotheashes.com.

© SELDAKURAL

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Because members have so generouslysupported and taken an interest in theROSL/Namibia project since 1995, it will befeatured in a short section of the ROSLCentenary DVD, directed by Chris Swann. TwoROSL bursary alumni will also be visiting theUK during the centenary year.

Distilling the project’s 15 years into threeminutes of film presented a challenge, bothbefore and during the visit. Who, what andwhere to film? And how to do this in aneconomical way?

In the event, Chris covered Hippo andKatora Primary, interviews with Elias Araeb andEllie Velskoen in the Omaheke, Tamigu Garisebin Swakopmund and Clara Bohitile MP in

Windhoek. My co-monitor, Paul Oosthuizen,and I filmed ROSL bursary recipients inTsumeb and the Nyae Nyae Conservancy.

There is nothing like working with adocumentary filmmaker in a hot climate toconcentrate the mind. As well as an ability toconjure up instant shade, silence, coffee,wildlife and telephone numbers, you need tomake sure interviewees are on time, schoolsadvised and accommodation pre-booked. Paulwas a great support in this and, as it laterturned out, very good with a Handycam.

It was great to see that all ROSL bursaryrecipients were, indeed, in the right place atthe right time, getting off buses from far-flungcorners in the sweltering heat, and answeringChris’s questions with thought andconfidence. And all were so grateful to theROSL donors who had helped them with life-changing school and college bursaries. In acountry that was under South Africa’sapartheid rule until 1990, it is pleasing that somany are now teachers.

Some spoke frankly about the challengesof striking out into something new. A quotefrom Rajan Naidoo, Principal of MasibambaneSecondary School, Western Cape, sums upthe situation: “This cycle of poverty is where,if I ask a child, ‘Where does your motherwork?’ she might be a domestic or farmworker. ‘Your father?’ Very likely, an unskilledlabourer. ‘Grandparents?’ The same. There isone way we can break this cycle and that isthrough education.”

In this respect, there can be few greater

challenges than that facing ROSL bursaryrecipient Cwisa Cwi, in the remote Nyae NyaeConservancy, where the Ju’hoansi live inisolated communities connected only by sand tracks. Subject to flooding, drought and damage by elephants, there is also theproblem of tuberculosis. There is littleelectricity, only one water tap per community,and difficulties in getting around in this hugearea. Cwisa is now principal of five bushschools, and one of the most memorableaspects of this visit was how he is combiningtradition with modern education.

At the remote Nhoma Camp, we heardthat a BBC film crew had just spent a weekfilming a traditional hunt for a five-minutepiece in an upcoming documentary. Perhapsjust as interesting is the search for a way ofbringing education to those who want it inthis remote and fascinating area, and theconsistency of support from ROSL memberswho are helping people such as Cwisa toachieve this.

The triumphs of ROSL bursary awardees in Namibia were caught on film duringa recent visit to the country. Margaret Adrian-Vallance reports

Capturing success

NEW GENERATION: Traditional huntersin Nhoma village (left) and ROSLbursary recipient Cwisa Cwi and his wife,Anna Angula, with their son TsamkxaoSimeon (above)

O V E R S E A S 11

We may say it a thousand times: it is a self-evident truth that children are our future. Iwelcome this special Focus on children, for it isour young people who are inheriting thisCommonwealth and this 21st century, and it isour task to make it fit for them.

We are a very young Commonwealth – halfof our two billion people are under 25, and aquarter are under five. Our youngest areentering a world of greater possibility than everbefore: the ledger of achievement andprogress, even in the last 10 years, is colossal,and the advances that we can offer in areassuch as health, education and technology areever greater.

But the fact remains that the challenges weface, the world over, are intimidating in theirbreadth – and their depth. UNICEF tells us that25,000 children die each day due to poverty.These children die quietly in some of thepoorest villages on earth, far removed from thescrutiny and conscience of the world. Beingmeek and weak in life makes these dyingmultitudes even more invisible in death.

The litany goes on: there are 2.2 billionchildren in the world, of whom one billion are inpoverty. In the developing world, one in threechildren have inadequate shelter, one in fivehave no access to safe water, one in sevenhave no access to health services. Thirty millionof our Commonwealth children never go evento primary school; a further 40 million completeprimary, but never go through secondary school.

So we ask the question: is our world in factfit to offer its children the future they deserve?And how committed are we to making it so?

It is a question of priority. Consider the factthat it would take only 1% of what the worldspends on defence every year to put everychild through primary school. Yet still that doesnot happen. We would need five millionteachers in Africa alone in order to meet the

Millennium Development Goal of putting everychild through primary education by 2015. Thepainful truth is that we, as adults, have tendedto live for ourselves and for the moment, andnot for our children. If they are our future then,too often, we have lived for the present.Nowhere could this be more apparent than inthe way we have abused our surroundings bydegrading our own environment. How well theCommonwealth knows this, in that some of itslow-lying island states in the Indian and PacificOceans face what is quite literally an existentialthreat from climate change.

So what sort of world will be left for ourchildren and grandchildren? And what can we,in the Commonwealth, do for them?

The inter-governmental Commonwealth –in the form of its executive body, theCommonwealth Secretariat – has run targetedand powerful programmes, awareness-raisingon both maternal and infant mortality, andsupporting primary school teachers, not least inequipping them to teach a multitude of subjectsto a multitude of children of different ages.

Standalone projects – such as ourrehabilitation centre for children who havebeen caught in the crossfire of civil war in

northern Uganda – provide extraordinarytestimony to what young people can do if theyare given not just education and training, butalso compassion in equal measure. Add to thisthe work of some of our non-governmentalCommonwealth organisations – for instance inproviding bursaries for young girls in thedeveloping world – and a richly textured picturedevelops. It is also the best possible strategicforerunner for the work of the inter-governmental Commonwealth in the area ofyouth empowerment. We have a 35-year-oldCommonwealth Youth Programme of training,advocacy and empowerment, which is a globalleader in its field.

It is the Commonwealth’s task to see thatchildren and young people are the highestconcerns of its member governments in theirpolicies and budgets. And our other core work– in strengthening democratic institutions, anddeepening economic development – istargeted at the same ultimate goal: to improvethe lives of Commonwealth citizens, and thelives of its citizens to come. In this, thecentenary year of the ROSL, Overseas’s Focuson the future – our children – is to bewelcomed and encouraged. All of us mustcontinue to hold to the most basic andprofound of truths, that children are, indeed,our future.

March–May 2010

We would need fivemillion teachers inAfrica alone to putevery child throughprimary school

With half of the Commonwealth aged under 25,children are our future. The Secretary-General,Kamalesh Sharma, introduces our Focus on children

Destiny’s child

COMPASSION: A rehabilitation centre helpschild soldiers and other children in Uganda

WORLD

Save the Children is recognised, around theworld, as the pre-eminent children’s charity. Itwas founded in 1919 by Eglantine Jebb, aftershe saw starving and displaced children inEurope and the Baltic, following the First WorldWar. This brave woman from Shropshire wasresponsible for the first Declaration on theRights of a Child, in 1923.

By 1930, the Save the Children Fund, as itwas then known, was working in 25 countriesacross four continents. Today, the Save theChildren Alliance is made up of 29 nationalorganisations worldwide and is present onevery continent. The charity is fortunate to havean extraordinary and dedicated Patron in HRHThe Princess Royal.

Save the Children has a global staff of14,000, supporting the work of many thousandsof volunteers. As with any large charity, it iscontinually striving to keep administration coststo a minimum so that every penny can bedistributed to the children who so desperatelyrequire assistance.

One of the charity’s founding principles is tosupport children in times of catastrophicemergencies, such as armed conflicts, floods,tsunamis and other natural disasters. After thehorrific and devastating earthquake that hitHaiti, one of the world’s poorest countries, inJanuary, the UN asked Save the Children to takethe lead in coordinating the child protectionaspect of the disaster. As in Sri Lanka, followingthe 2004 tsunami, this involved setting up safespaces where children could play and resumesome sort of normality. Reuniting them withtheir families is always a priority, as is providingfood and clean water.

Save the Children campaigns for child rights.The vision for the future is a world that respectsand values each child; a world that listens to

children and learns from them; a world whereall children have hope and opportunity.

Even now, more than nine million childrenworldwide die every year before the age of fivefrom preventable causes, measles, pneumonia,malaria, hunger and malnutrition, HIV and Aids.Millions still have no access to education orbasic medicine. The organisation has beenactive in Commonwealth countries for manyyears. The Commonwealth is of great nostalgicand real importance to Save the Children.

In India, about 50% of children do notcomplete primary school because they have towork to supplement the family income andbecause schools are often a great distancefrom their homes. Save the Children has set upeducational facilities in remote areas where thechildren can easily get to school, or can go after

work to catch up on classes they have missed.To date, 12,600 child workers that were notbeing educated are now attending school,thanks to the project.

Programmes are also being put in place toaddress the very high mortality rate amongmothers and infants. HIV and Aids are a vast

problem in African countries. It is said thatgrandmothers bear the brunt of Africa’sproblems. Lucy, aged 50, lives in the Merudistrict of Kenya. Her husband and daughterdied of Aids, and her son-in-law ran away. Shecares for five children, including her fourgrandchildren, and is supported by Save theChildren. Lucy was given a goat, blankets,second-hand clothes, school uniforms,mattresses, and an energy-saving stove. Shewas taught to make clothes and shoes, andhow to grow her own vegetables and maize.

In Bangladesh, Sulieman was five when hebegan working as a waste collector in a slumin Dhaka. However, he earned so little that hewas soon pulled into the drugs trade. At 14,he heard about Child Brigade, a local NGOsupported by Save the Children. He joinedthe organisation, learnt about the rights ofthe children and how he could change hislife, and left the drugs world, although hisfamily disagreed, as it meant his incomewould drop. Sulieman became activelyinvolved in the Brigade’s activities, motivatedby his brother.

He now works in a garage, learning how to

12 O V E R S E A S www.rosl.org.uk

More than ninemillion childrenworldwide die beforethe age of five frompreventable causes

Save the Children NZ President Ros Stace reportson the work the charity is doing to help the billionchildren living in the Commonwealth

Make it abetter place

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O V E R S E A S 13

repair cars, and has started school. He takespart in the Brigade’s dramas, which show howthe lives of children like him have beenchanged. With his friends, he now runs literacyclasses and provides medical support forchildren in the slum.

Papua New Guinea is a very lawless society,with poor roads and communications in remoteareas. Violence in the home and the abuse ofwomen and children is endemic. HIV and Aidshave reached epidemic proportions. Manywomen migrate to the cities and become sexworkers, as there is little other employment.Children as young as eight are pushed into theindustry. They have no idea of the risks.

The Poro Sapot clinic in Port Moresby is a safe place where people can be tested for HIV and given advice and education on howto prevent infection. Save the Children’soutreach project in the Eastern HighlandsProvince targets young people in remoteareas by training out-of-school youth, aged 15-25, to become volunteers and spread theword on safe sex, drugs, violence and otherissues that are relevant to young people. Theimpact of this work is not just slowing the

spread of HIV, but it is helping young peopleto gain respect in their communities. Somehave even joined their village councils asyouth representatives.

In New Zealand, there are variousprogrammes aimed at helping children andyoung people to reduce levels of aggressionand violence in the home, and bullying atschool. Just Write is a project that mentors anddevelops the skills of young writers fromaround New Zealand. The aim is to teach young

people community and literacy skills, anddevelop their understanding of global issues.These children can then become peereducators, motivating other young people towork towards a more just world. What betterway to educate the children of the world thanthrough other children. Save the Children sowsthe seeds, gives the support and helps.

It is an ongoing battle, but the organisationis dedicated to making the world a safer andbetter place for children. We can all help insome small way. Every coffee morning, fair, tea party, concert and fashion show held bycommittees and groups worldwide to raisefunds helps to keep the work going, andsupports the dedicated men and women whoare working to achieve our aim.

Ros Stace is President of New Zealand’sHastings Branch of Save the Children.

For the past two years, Save the Children’sHastings Branch has hosted a concertfeaturing the winners of ROSL’s Annual Music Competition, with 100% of theproceeds going to the charity.

March–May 2010

Lucy was given a goat, blankets,second-hand clothes,mattresses, and anenergy-saving stove

LIFE LESSONS: Save the Children is improving the quality of education for 14,800 primary school children in India

BRINGING UP BABY: Childcare methods improved

WORLD

In November 1912, Evelyn Wrench and hissister Winifride arrived in New Zealand on theirworld tour of the emerging branches of theOver-Seas Club. They were welcomed by thePremier W F Massey, and introduced tonotable New Zealand citizens. Prominentamong them was Dr Frederic Truby King,already well-known for his pioneering work onbehalf of mothers and babies. This work wasof particular interest to Winifride Wrench, asshe was involved in child welfare in England.

Dr Truby King was an outstanding doctor,who had abandoned a career as a bank clerk inNew Zealand to study medicine at EdinburghUniversity, working for some time in Scotlandin preventative medicine, and taking the newqualification of a BSc in public health. On hisreturn to New Zealand, he becamesuperintendent at Seacliff Mental Hospital andlectured on mental illnesses at the University ofOtago. Attached to the hospital was a largefarm, and Truby King had the idea of providinghis patients with healthy occupation in caringfor the animals while simultaneously studyingmethods by which the health of the animalscould be improved. In this very basic way, theworldwide crusade to establish a healthyregime for mothers and babies began.

The animals had a simple environment withplenty of fresh air, their natural food and anordered life, which transformed their physicalhealth and resulted in prizewinning pigs andcattle, to the extent that independent farmerscomplained of the unfair competition from agovernment-owned enterprise.

Dr King realised that such methods couldreasonably be applied to the care and rearingof babies. At that time, the infant mortality ratein New Zealand was 2,000 per 25,000 of theinfant population, and around the world therates were considerably higher. WinifrideWrench, in one of her many articles for

Overseas on the subject, later wrote thatthough the 19th century had seen greatadvances in medicine, cutting the death ratefor adults, the welfare of the newborn hadbeen completely neglected, largely because itwas widely believed that mothers knewinstinctively how to feed and care for babies.The medical profession had ignored theproblem, and even maternity nurses andmidwives had only very basic training to helpmothers with immediate post-natal problems.

Truby King’s study of the animals and histraining in public health convinced him that asystematic and hygienic approach to diet andthe environment lay at the centre of a child’sability to thrive. Breastfeeding was establishedas the only completely sure way to feed (orscientifically modified cows’ milk in extreme

cases). Feeds should be given four-hourly andlast no more than 20 minutes, and there shouldbe no feeding at all during the night. An airyenvironment was necessary, whatever theweather. He found dirty bottles, unsafe milkand water, unsuitable food and a dusty,unventilated environment at the root of mostbabies’ digestive and lung problems, and earlydeaths. Over-feeding was also a common

problem. King described his methods as“common sense scientifically applied”.

By the time the Wrenchs met Truby King, hehad already established the Plunket Society forthe Health of Women and Children in NewZealand, with the help of Lady Plunket, wife ofthe Governor of New Zealand. It was foundedin 1907, and within five years, due to thetraining of nurses and the instruction and helpgiven to mothers in all aspects of pre- andpost-natal care, the infant mortality rate in NewZealand had been halved. The doctor’s famewas beginning to spread, and WinifrideWrench and Lady Plunket discussed ways inwhich his methods could be introduced toEngland, with the help of the Over-Seas Cluband the financial support of its members.

By 1917, in the middle of the Great War, thisambition was realised. Evelyn Wrench obtainedTruby King’s services from the New Zealandgovernment for a six-month period, to be paid forby the Over-Seas Club (already members werecontributing to many War Funds, for aircraft,tobacco, comforts for the troops, etc). The aimwas to establish a mothercraft training centre inLondon, and with his eye for an attention-catching phrase, Wrench called the venture ‘The Babies of the Empire Society, a crusade’.

In a war notable for terrible loss of life,people were anxious to promote the health ofthe next generation. Medical opinion in Englandwas carefully cultivated in advance to promotethe new regime. St Thomas’ Hospital took over

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Feeds should be givenfour-hourly and lastno more than 20minutes; there shouldbe no feeding at night

Why Evelyn Wrench brought Dr Truby King to Londonafter he halved infant deaths in NZ. By Adele Smith

King of care

O V E R S E A S 15

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the medical direction of the centre, whicheventually became the Mothercraft TrainingCentre in Highgate. The Over-Seas Club raisedmoney to support the project, and regulararticles by Winifride Wrench and Mabel Liddiard,its first director, promoted interest in the centreand its methods throughout the Empire.

When the centre opened, a long article inOverseas recorded: ‘We were made to realisehow fortunate we are to have Dr Truby King onthis side of the world and how much we shallhave to learn from New Zealand with her splendidrecord in saving babies and rearing a vigorousrace – a record unsurpassed by any other country!’

Quite quickly, more training centres wereestablished in England. During the 1920s and1930s, Dr King’s methods spread worldwide,partly due to the publication of his book TheFeeding and Care of Baby, and through thework of the doctors and nurses who supportedhis methods.

Courses of all kinds were organised for pre-and post-natal care, and women had access tovast amounts of advice and information. Kingwas the first guru on mothercraft matters. Inthe period leading up to the Second World War,his was the decisive voice in the field. TheOver-Seas Club, by then the Over-Seas League,had the distinction of helping to spread hisinfluence at an early stage in England andthroughout the Empire.

Truby King died in 1938. He was the firstNew Zealand citizen to be given a State Funeral.

greatly in the first half of the 20th century

March–May 2010

A friend of mine has a little son of a few monthsold. She is an intelligent and devoted mother,and did all she could to learn about babiesbefore his arrival. She went to the Babies of theEmpire Training Centre in London, and wastaught how to wash a baby; she studies Dr.Truby King’s book, “The Feeding and Care ofBaby.” As she lives in the country, naturally sheemployed the local doctor, who engaged whathe considered a competent nurse.

She tried to discuss matters with the nursebeforehand, and told her she was going tonurse her baby and follow Truby King’smethods as far as possible. Neither doctor nornurse had ever heard of the man or of hisbook. The nurse told my friend, whom we willcall Mrs. Brown, that it was doubtful whethershe would be able to nurse her child, and hewould of course have to be fed every twohours day and night, for the child would surelystarve if he were fed only every three to fourhours during the day and not at all at night, asthis madman from New Zealand maintainedwas the correct way to feed a child […]

[She felt] obliged to submit to the orders ofthe doctor and nurse. It was natural. Theyknew, or thought they did; she did not know;it was her first child and she was not feelingvery strong. I hoped for the best, which meantI hoped the child was strong enough toweather the storms of his first few monthswithout too much damage being done. But Iwas not a bit surprised when Mrs. Brownwrote and told me that her little Harry was notthriving, and she and he were going to stay atthe Babies of the Empire Training Centre tofind out what was wrong.

The child was losing weight, was fretful, wasalways getting sick, and, instead of being a jolly,happy baby, was always sad and sorry forhimself. It did not take the matron and staff longto find out what was wrong, but it is taking the

baby weeks to get right. He was being over-fed.Nothing else whatever was the matter! […]

Well do I remember listening to a brilliantlady doctor, who had two little girls of her own,standing up in a public meeting and telling usthat at the end of a long and expensive trainingto qualify for her medical degree, when herbaby arrived, she knew absolutely nothingabout babies. But why did she not knowanything? The explanation is simple, buthumiliating. Every woman is supposed to knowall that is necessary by instinct when her ownbaby arrives, and this wild and madsuperstition dies hard. It follows, of course,that it is unnecessary for a doctor to have anyspecial knowledge about the feeding of babies.

It is at least a consolation to know that thissuperstition is dying by inches, and I can onlyhope that this little article will prove to beanother nail in its coffin […]

It is for us to inform ourselves of what is beingdone in these matters, for us to have a vision ofhealth, for us to insist that a course of baby-craft –call it what you will – should form part of thetraining of every child’s doctor, or every child’snurse, and I would go further, of every woman inthe country, of every woman in the Empire […]

Science versus ignorance. Solid groundversus shifting sands. And the matter is vital. Itmeans no less than the well-being of our race.Will you help us to carry on this pioneer work?

Baby-craft – A Little-known Science by WinifrideWrench. An article from Overseas, May 1921

Open archive

TRUBY KING: The first guru on mothercraftmatters

16 O V E R S E A S

John Curtin is a large, avuncular man who hasspent most of his life working as a theatreproducer. He retired to live with his wife inSuffolk but soon received a call to assist in thebusiness development of a prestigious localschool and this, in turn, has led to a mostunusual series of events in what he thoughtwas going to be a quiet later life.

“A parent contacted the school, who hadseen an outstanding Maasai musical groupperforming for tourists in Kenya and thought itwould be wonderful if the school couldestablish links with them somehow and maybeeven bring them over to the UK,” he says. “Theheadmaster was intrigued and decided to sendme to Kenya. What I found not only made a bigimpression on me, it was to become a largepart of my life for a number of years.”

The Osiligi Maasai Warrior Troupe is an eight-strong group that comes from a small villagearound 30 miles from Nairobi. The Maasai aretraditionally nomadic people, but the Kenyangovernment has been trying to get them to liveon settled land and this has led to a number ofchanges in their traditional way of life.

The Osiligi Troupe is largely uneducated, ina formal sense, but a number of them –including their leader, Tajeu or Richard – havetaught themselves English, and their cultural

skills are there for all to see. The group, whichhas a strong Christian ethic, performs songs,dance, and small dramas, such as weddingceremonies. One of the highlights of the showis the world-famous Maasai jumping.

Their appeal to people of all ages – but toschoolchildren in particular – is amazing. Ihappened to see a performance at a specialneeds school and the transformation of a loud,unruly group of children to an enrapturedaudience was something to behold. The Osiligialso conduct question and answer sessions,which can meaningfully complement Africanprojects in schools and church concerts.

There is also a more serious purpose to the group. Their already-poor villages arecurrently ravaged by drought and they seek toearn money, not only to improve the lives oftheir own extended families, but also to engagein wider community work. Curtin has recentlysecured the support of a benefactor who hopesto give a new school to the community, and agroup of West Country farmers has agreed toassist with improvements to the land.

“I have come to love these people,” saysJohn. “They are so humble and content with theirlives. They do not seek fame or wealth, merely tomake modest improvements to the village life towhich they are most happy to return.”

WORLD

James Wilkiemeets the Osiligi Maasai Troupe

Warrior musicHost

Families Required

Occasional host familiesneeded in London for short stays (normally 1 to 4 days) for overseas students through the English Speaking Union(ESU). A small fee ispayable.

Please contact Diane Jonesby email as soon as possible msnomad2001@yahoo.co.uk or donaldemiller@btopenworld.com

For more details pleasevisit www.esu.org

www.rosl.org.uk

CULTURAL EXCHANGE: The Kenyan dance troupe visits the West Country

5Lord Luce (ROSL President) was the host at the lunch that preceded the Central Council meeting in December. (L-r) Lady Luce,Lady Figgis, Lord Luce and Sir Anthony Figgis, who took over as ROSL Chairman that day

3During his private visit to London, Mr Jason Ronald (ROSL AustraliaChairman and President of the Victoria Branch) attended the meeting of the Executive Committee in August. (L-r) Mrs MarilynArchbold (Deputy Chairman), Mr Stanley Martin (Chairman), Mr Ronaldand the Director-General

6Guest of honour and speaker at the Chairman’s Lunch in October was Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor (the former Archbishop ofWestminster). He is pictured with (l-r) the Countess of Inchcape, MrStanley Martin and the Earl of Inchcape

6During his visit to London in October to meet The Queen, the Governorof Tasmania and his wife stayed at Over-Seas House, where a lunch wasgiven for them. (L-r) the Earl of Buckinghamshire (ROSL member who alsoholds the title of Lord Hobart), the Countess of Buckinghamshire, HE theHon Peter Underwood (the Governor), Mrs Hanni Martin, Mr StanleyMartin, HE Mr John Dauth (the Australian High Commissioner), MrsFrances Underwood and Mrs Shanaz Newell

ApologyWe apologise forcutting off the guestof honour andspeaker Sir DavidBrewer from thisphoto in theprevious issue ofOverseas. Here is the complete photo of (l-r) Sir AnthonyFiggis (Chairman-elect), Lord Wraxall (former Vice-Marshal ofHM Diplomatic Corps), Mr Stanley Martin, Mrs Hanni Martinand Sir David Brewer (Lord Lieutenant of Greater London) atthe Central Council lunch in September 2009

O V E R S E A S 17March–May 2010

ROSL NEWS

News and viewsThe latest from the London clubhouse

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ROSL NEWS

www.rosl.org.uk

The season to be jollyFrom the ‘reverse dinner’ to the Burns supper, winter’sevents went down a treat, says Alexandra Debarge

September 2009The ceilidh was once again a great success,as members descended on the CaledonianClub. The glamorous crowd, dressed inblack tie, were greeted by the ‘scirl o thepipes’ (a very talented young man, the sonof a Caledonian Club member) before achampagne reception. Scottish fare andwhisky were served for dinner beforeeveryone took to the dancefloor to thesound of George Buchanan and his CeilidhDance Band. After dancing the night awayto dances such as the ‘Dashing WhiteSergeant’ and ‘Strip the Willow’, thedelighted crowd finished the evening with a midnight supper.

WINTER WONDERLAND: YoungerMembers pose with the Ice Queen at theNarnia-inspired Christmas ball at theHurlingham (main picture); and (above) getin touch with their Scottish heritage at theBurns supper in January

ForthcomingeventsFriday 26 March Concert pianist classical recital at theOriental ClubFriday 23 April Casino night, dinner and disco at theRoyal Automobile ClubFriday 14 May Inter-Club quiz at the Carlton ClubFriday 25 June Centenary Summer Ball at the Royal Over-Seas League

For more information on events, visitwww.inter-club.co.uk. To join ROSL’syoung members network, emailconrad.purcell@res-ltd.com.

October 2009Members’ taste buds were really put to thetest at the ‘reverse dinner’ at the Savile Club,where more than 100 members were treatedto a delicious meal – but backwards. Theevening’s reverse menu started with whiskyand coffee, followed by a three cheeseselection. Then came a chocolate tart, asucculent fillet of beef with artichoke heartand, finally, spiced crab and champagne. Thiswas served in the Savile’s elegant Georgian-style ballroom, where guests were entertainedby their host Ashley. Afterwards, membersended the successful night in the club’s oak-panelled bar. No doubt the event will berepeated soon.

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ROSL NEWS

March–May 2010

BooksReviews of recent works by ROSL members

‘Sarabande’Marcus FedderDexter Haven Publishing, 2008ISBN: 978-1903660034, £8.99A gripping love story of a young womanwhose family ties in her war-strickenhomeland of Sarajevo conflict with herdesire to forge a new life and direction in London.

‘Death DyedBlonde’Stanley ReynoldsQuartet Books, 2008ISBN: 978-0704371354, £15The story of Parker ‘Boomer’ Daniels, thesheriff of a small New England town, is fullof suspense, intrigue and wry humour ashe hunts for the perpetrator of severalsavage murders in his quiet village.

‘The Six-Day War of 1899’Patrick H HaseHong Kong University Press, 2008ISBN: 978-9622098992, £31.50Subtitled ‘Hong Kong in the Age ofImperialism’, this is a day-by-day account of the fighting, which looks at the differences of opinion between the Governor of Hong Kong (Blake) and the Colonial Secretary (Lockhart).

‘The Sword of France’Hilary Condé-MarkIndepenpress Publishing Ltd, 2009ISBN: 978-1906710835, £8.99The compelling story of Napoleon Bonaparte, themilitary and political leader of France, whoseactions shaped 19th-century European politics.

Reviews by Samantha Whitaker

November 2009The port and stilton tasting, hosted by theCarlton Club, was extremely popular. Memberssampled an incredible selection of ports fromJusterini and Brooks of St James’s, rangingfrom young tawnies to a 40-year-old vintage.Richard Grenfell-Hill of J&B gave a talk on thehistory of port. Fortunately, many cheese-lovingmembers made a bee-line for the excellentselection of cheeses, which guaranteed that anappropriate port-to-cheese ratio wasmaintained.

December 2009The Hurlingham was transformed into amagnificent winter wonderland for the NarnianChristmas Ball. Members were greeted by allsorts of creatures from Lewis’s books,including the Ice Queen and her helpers.However, the entertainment did not stop there,as many marvelled at Prince Caspian’sstockings, the stunning Ice Bar and the vodkaluge, while feasting their eyes on the hugechocolate fountain. They then enjoyed a

scrumptious three-course meal and manychanced their luck at the casino. This magicalnight ended another successful year of Inter-Club events in style.

January 2010The Burns supper was hosted by theCaledonian Club, with plenty of fine wine,whisky and renditions of the Bard’s Verse. Theprogramme included a stirring version of ‘ScotsWha Hae’ by Russell McMillan, ‘Address to aHaggis’ by Adam Watson, a highly entertaining‘Toast to the Lassies’ by Paul Rodgers, someexpert piping from Andy Parsons, and a versionof ‘Auld Lang Syne’ to close the evening. Thehigh standard of singing made it a memorableevening and gave everyone a true feel forScottish heritage. It has really set the standardfor the 2010 Inter-Club programme.

TINGLING TASTEBUDS: Members begantheir ‘reverse dinner’ (right) with chocolatetart; and enjoyed a variety of ports at the

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ROSL NEWS

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NZ tour is a classicThe Barbirolli Quartet performed and a scholarship winner was chosen, but atrip to the traditional Marae was the highlight of the tour, says Roderick Lakin

The fourth annual Pettman/ROSL ARTSscholarship tour of New Zealand, inNovember 2009, was the most ambitious andsuccessful yet. The object is twofold: firstlyto select an outstanding young New Zealandchamber group for a month-long study visitto the UK and secondly to give UK-basedROSL ARTS prizewinners the opportunity toperform in New Zealand, and to act asscholarship jury members and mentors toparticipants in the auditions.

The Pettman/ROSL ARTS scholarship ofNZ$50,000 is one of the most valuable andhotly contested music awards in NewZealand, and groups from university musicdepartments in Auckland, Christchurch,Dunedin, Hamilton and Wellingtonparticipated in four days of auditions at theUniversity of Waikato in Hamilton.

Three groups were selected for the finalconcert, which was recorded for transmission

by Radio NZ Concert: The Matariki StringQuartet (Victoria University, Wellington), theLeonari Piano Trio (University of Waikato), andthe clarinet, violin, piano Clavino Trio(University of Auckland).

The winners were the Leonari Trio – HilaryHayes (violin), Edward King (cello) and MariaMo (piano). The Barbirolli String Quartet –Rakhi Singh and Katie Stillman (violins), EllaBrinch (viola) and Ashok Klouda (cello) – and Iwere joined on the jury by Euan Murdoch,CEO of Chamber Music New Zealand, and theNew Zealand pianist and ROSL prizewinnerStephen de Pledge, who was recentlyappointed Professor of Piano at the Universityof Auckland.

The musicians from groups not selectedfor the final participated in coaching sessionsand play-throughs of major chamber workswith Stephen de Pledge and members of theBarbirolli Quartet. These culminated, on the

final day, in a mass performance ofSchumann’s Piano Quintet with six pianists at six grand pianos and more than 30 stringplayers. These sessions, performancefeedback and a career development seminarensure that the scholarship weekend is apositive and valuable experience for all theparticipants, not just the finalists.

For the Barbirolli Quartet, the Pettman/ROSL ARTS auditions came at the midpoint of a whistle-stop 10-concert tour of NewZealand (plus concerts in Singapore,Melbourne and Sydney). Organised withcustomary flair by ROSL NZ Director LynMilne, the tour encompassed a wide variety of venues in both North and South Island.

The opening concert and afternoon tea atthe home of Lyn and Keith Milne in Purau wasa highlight in the ROSL Christchurch Branchcalendar. HE George Fergusson, the BritishHigh Commissioner, attended a sell-out concertat Woodford House school in Havelock North,Hawkes Bay, given in aid of Save the Children.

The following day, the quartet and I droveup the coast to give the opening concert ofthe prestigious Gisborne International MusicCompetition. Our final stop before heading toAustralia was the quirky and charmingWhittaker’s Musical Museum on WaihekeIsland, Auckland.

New tour venues for 2009 includedChristchurch City Art Gallery for the Friends ofthe Gallery, and the Marama Hall at theUniversity of Otago in Dunedin. In Wellington,a concert and reception, hosted by the HonChris Finlayson, Minister for Arts, Culture andHeritage, was held in the Old ParliamentBuildings as a joint celebration of the ROSLcentenary and the 60th anniversary ofChamber Music New Zealand.

Without doubt, the highlight of the tourwas a visit to the Pakirikiri Marae in TokomaruBay on the Eastern Cape of North Island,where the Barbirolli Quartet gave twoconcerts – one for schoolchildren from allover this sparsely populated region, and theother for local villagers. The Pakirikiri Marae isfamed for the quality of its traditional Maori

CHIN UP: Violinist Rakhi Singh invites a bashful local schoolboy to try out her violin

© RODERICK LAKIN

O V E R S E A S 21

ROSL NEWS

March–May 2010

music-making, so it was a great honour to beinvited to give the first ever Western classicalmusic concerts there.

We were welcomed to the Marae withgreat ceremony, following traditional protocol:the call, speeches and a song of welcome,beautifully sung by the children. Weresponded with our own speeches and song –as it was close to Christmas, we chose to singSilent Night. The Hongi (pressing of noses)with the entire welcoming party concluded theofficial welcome.

It was a great privilege for the quartet tobe allowed to perform in the Meeting House.Almost 100 years old, with intricatetraditional carvings, the wooden rectangularroom with its high, pitched ceiling provided aperfect acoustic and ambience for a stringquartet concert.

The spontaneity and enthusiasm of the

children in the afternoon concert, at whicheach member of the quartet talked aboutthemselves, their instruments and theirmusical training, was infectious. In theevening, the audience listened with raptattention to pieces by Mozart, Brahms,Debussy and Britten. For most, this was theirfirst encounter with string quartets and it wascurious to think of Mozart’s music beingcontemporaneous with Captain Cook’s firstlanding in New Zealand, at Waikanae Beach,near Gisborne, just 80 miles down the coast.

At the end of each concert, the audienceexpressed their thanks in a song. Amagnificent hakari (feast) brought the day to aclose. The whole visit was captured on film,extracts from which will be included on theROSL Centenary DVD. For all of us in theROSL party, the sincerity and generosity of ourwelcome in Tokomaru Bay will remain a

treasured memory. It was a unique andrewarding experience, which, fittingly in ourcentenary year, fulfils Evelyn Wrench’s visionof the ROSL as a force for internationalfriendship and cultural exchange.

ROSL ARTS would like to express theirthanks to Professor Barrie Pettman and hiswife Maureen for their generous support increating and sustaining this uniqueopportunity for New Zealand and British-based chamber musicians.

© RODERICK LAKIN

FLUSHED WITH SUCCESS: Violinist Hilary Hayes and pianist Maria Mo of the Leonari Trioare overjoyed to be declared winners of the 2009 Pettman/ROSL ARTS scholarship (right);and Tokomaru Bay (above)

ROSL NEWS

22 O V E R S E A S www.rosl.org.uk

New South Wales: Lily Murray,murraylily@hotmail.comQueensland: Sharon Morgan,sllmorgan@hotmail.comSouth Australia: Michael Kent,rosl.sa@mac.comTasmania: Robert Dick, gradick1@gmail.comVictoria: Coral Strahan, +61 (0)3 9654 8338Western Australia: Jeff Turner, +61 9381 2600

CanadaOn the coldest day in Alberta since recordsbegan, members braved the -54oC cold toattend the branch Christmas lunch around alog fire at the Royal Glenora Club. Earlier inDecember, members attended a lunch givenby the Lt Governor of Alberta to honour thelocal institutions of which he is patron. TheBritish Columbia Branch had their Christmaslunch at the Terminal City Club in Vancouver.Member Sir James Barlow, who is CharlesDarwin’s great-great-grandson, spoke about aTV series he is taking part in called The Futureof the Species. Alberta: Cynthia Cordery, +1 780 477 0001,ccordery@shaw.caBritish Columbia: Pamela Ducommun,

AustraliaIn New South Wales, members joined forceswith the Australia-Britain Society for a movingRemembrance Day Service. The followingweek, they were at Parliament House for alunch to welcome the new British HighCommissioner, Valerie Amos, the Rt HonBaroness Amos of Brondesbury.

In December, more than 100 members andfriends attended a concert by the BarbirolliString Quartet, winners of the ROSL MusicCompetition 2009, in Sydney. Members of theVictoria Branch also heard the quartet performat the home of Lino and Di Bresciani, whilefilming took place for the Centenary DVD.During the interval, Director of ROSL ARTS,Roderick Lakin, introduced Adele Smith’s‘History’ of the ROSL. A Christmas celebrationat the home of British Consul-General StuartGill and his wife ended the year’s events.

In Western Australia in November, the branchChairman and his wife joined the AustralianChairman, Jason Ronald, Victoria Branch councilmembers and the President of the TasmaniaBranch, Robert Dick, at the finals of theAustralian singing competition in Perth. The yearended with a Christmas lunch and concert.

AROUND THE GLOBE: (L-r) Cynthia Cordery (President), Wendy Johnson (Secretary), the Lt Gov of Alberta the Hon Norman Kwong, HerHonour Mrs Mary Kwong, Vanessa Cordery and Michael Bell (Treasurer) at a lunch given by the Lt Governor of Alberta to honour the localinstitutions to which he is a patron; former presidents Helen Thompson, Stuart Clausen and Joan Pascoe at the Manawatu Branch 60thanniversary celebration; ROSL member Sir James Barlow spoke at the British Columbia Branch Christmas lunch

ROSLWORLDThe latest from the global branches

+1 604 925 3719Nova Scotia: Barbara Hughes,barbara.hughes@evansec.comOntario: Ishrani Jaikaran, +1 416 760 0309,ishrani@sympatico.ca

Hong KongIn December, the Hong Kong Branch held itsChristmas party in the library of the China Cluband, in January, member Judith Mackay gave alunchtime talk to members about her lifelongtobacco control efforts.Hong Kong: Paul Surtees,president@rosl.org.hk, www.rosl.org.hk

New ZealandIn August, the Rangi Ruru senior choraleperformed for ROSL members at theChristchurch Club, before gaining a silvermedal at the ‘Big Sing’ competition inDunedin. A celebration was held in October tomark the 60th anniversary of the ManawatuBranch. In November, the Barbirolli Quartetgave a concert at Parliament Buildings, andmany members stayed at the Wellington Club– a recently-added reciprocal club. Later thatmonth, Southland Branch members enjoyed

O V E R S E A S 23

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March–May 2010

Music and Drama, was guest speaker at theFebruary arts lunch.

At the Exeter Branch, Simon Dell gave atalk on ‘A Trek to Everest Base Camp’ inSeptember, Coral Kin spoke about the LutonGirls’ Choir, in October, and, in November, thesubject was ‘The Police and the Media’.Members welcomed the centenary year with a New Years’ lunch. The Glasgow Branchenjoyed a successful Christmas lunch, atwhich James Wilkie introduced Adele Smith’s‘History’ of the ROSL and, in February, SheilaChristie spoke on ‘A Southern African Cruise’.

The new lunch venue for the TauntonBranch has been very successful, with 67members attending the November event andonly slightly fewer in December. Coffeemornings are on Wednesdays at the CastleGreen Inn, while those of the Torbay Branch areon the last Saturday of the month at theLivermead Cliff Hotel.

In West Cornwall, the programme ofmonthly meetings at Carbis Bay continues,with a variety of talks followed by cream tea.The West Sussex Branch held a lunch inNovember, at which Adele Smith introducedthe ‘History’ and signed copies. The yearconclu ded with a Christmas lunch and a raffleto raise funds for the ROSL Music CompetitionSussex Prize.Bath, Taunton, Torbay: Sally Roberts, 01823 661148, rosl@aldith.orgBournemouth: Gordon Irving, 07851 381744,westoverirving@aol.comCheltenham: Kathleen Northage, 01242 515540Edinburgh: Bob Gregor, 0131 3321874Exeter: Brian Hawkes, 01395 442017Glasgow: Bill Agnew, 0141 8844290West Cornwall: Ian Wood, 01736 333460West Sussex: Marilyn Archbold, 01444 458853

the skirl of the pipes from the Royal ScotsDragoon Guards, a poem by Robbie Burnsand a highland fling by an enthusiastic six-year-old to celebrate St Andrew’s Day. Checkthe New Zealand website for details ofcentenary celebrations.New Zealand: Lyn Milne, royalo-s@xtra.co.nz,www.roslnz.org.nz

Saudi ArabiaRiyadh committee: John Freel,roslriyadh@hotmail.com

Thailand Chairman Jim Napier represented the ThailandBranch at the British Embassy RemembranceDay service and parade in Bangkok inNovember. Later that month, the finalsreception and prize-giving ceremony for theROSL Young Artist of Thailand 2009competition was held in the Sukhothai Hotel.Trophies and prizes were presented by branchVice-Patron Mom Ratchawong SarisdigunaKitiyakara. The winner won a substantialcheque and a visit to Over-Seas House,London, where her painting, and those of theother finalists, will be displayed.Thailand: Roger Willbourn, + 66 2213 1589,rswillbourn@gmail.com

UK Coffee mornings are held by the Bath Branch onthe second Wednesday of the month at Pratt’sHotel, and by the Bournemouth Branch everyThursday at the Marriott Highcliff Hotel. GordonIrving succeeded Marjorie Harvey asBournemouth Branch Secretary, and ChrisBladen was appointed Chairman. The retiringROSL Chairman, Mr Stanley Martin, hosted alunch at Over-Seas House for Marjorie Harvey, inrecognition of her 25 years of service. The newChairman, Sir Anthony Figgis, attended thebranch’s Christmas lunch, at which membersraised £200 for charity. For a copy of the branch’s2010 programme, contact Gordon Irving.

In Cheltenham, in October, Lynne Garner ofCheltenham Video Makers introduced a shortfilm made by its members. In November, TonyIreland gave an entertaining talk entitled‘Moscow Madness’. Members enjoyedChristmas lunch at the Charlton Kings Hotel.

Adele Smith presented her book on theROSL to members of the Edinburgh Branch atthe December arts lunch. A Gala OperaEvening launched the centenary year of events,and Robert Crawford gave the ImmortalMemory at the Burns Supper. John Wallace,Principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of

© THOMAS SCHAUER

TOP READ: Author Adele Smith views the‘History’ for the first time at the booklaunch in West Sussex

Cornell Club, New YorkDirector of ROSL ARTS RoderickLakin felt at home in the Big Apple

On a pre-Christmas break, I had thepleasure of staying at the Cornell Clubin the heart of midtown Manhattan. Thelocation, on East 44th Street, a coupleof blocks from Grand Central Station, isperfect for both business and leisure.Within walking distance are theMuseum of Modern Art, the MorganLibrary, Times Square, many majorBroadway and off-Broadway theatres,Saks 5th Avenue, Bergdorf Goldman,and a host of other retail outlets.Culinary possibilities are endless, fromthe atmospheric Oyster bar at GrandCentral to the legendary Four Seasonsin the Seagram Building. For lovers ofArt Deco, the Chrysler Building, EmpireState Building, Rockefeller Center, andcountless other gems are all nearby.Most other major attractions are a shortcab or subway ride away.The club itself is traditional,

understated and comfortable –decorated with photographs, paintingsand memorabilia of Cornell College. Thepublic areas are wood-panelled and theimpeccably maintained bedrooms aretraditional but with 21st-centurycomforts, such as large flat-screen TVsand free WiFi. The room rates, includingall taxes and a generous breakfastbuffet, are highly competitive for thislocation ($348 for a standard double). Iam already planning my next trip.

ROSL has more than 80 reciprocal clubsacross the world. Contact the PRdepartment for a complete list,guidelines for usage and a card ofintroduction, giving at least 10 daysnotice, or visit www.rosl.org.uk.

24 O V E R S E A S

Top classJudith Steiner visits HighgatePrimary to see how a multi-cultural school functions – andwhy the kids enjoy it so much

“Everyone is equal; it’s fair. No one is higher”,says the fragile-looking Romanian child sittingnext to me suddenly. “I like it here.” It is apoignant observation from 10-year-old Sofia,who came to London with her mother frompost-Ceauşescu Bucharest. I am perched precariously on a tiny chair in

a classroom at Highgate Primary School, inNorth London. About 60% of the children atthis inner-city state school have English as anadditional language, and the room is decoratedwith word and number charts containing everylanguage under the sun. I now know that ‘sixty’is lehdan in Somali and saath in Urdu. Highgate is a very mixed area. Originally

a Georgian town, it was absorbed long agointo Greater London. People living within theschool’s catchment area come from a rangeof financial and career backgrounds.Magnificent Georgian houses, Victorian andEdwardian terraces, council estates andluxury modern homes are within a short walk. There are several fee-paying primaryschools, two state primaries, two of London’sbest private secondary schools, and severalstate secondaries.Highgate Primary enjoys not only a good

rating educationally but also a dynamicmulticultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-faith mix.Its intake is not so different from when mysons went there in the 1970s, with oneimportant exception: the school has beenpartnered for some years with the BlancheNevile School for the Deaf. The deaf childrenare taught by specially trained teachers, butspend some of their time in the mainstreamclasses, which seems to benefit both the deafand the hearing children.My sons, too, have a multicultural

background: I am Canadian and my husbandwas born in what is now the Czech Republic.Today, I find myself sitting between Sofia andAyla, an Australian child whose architectparents are here until 2012 to work on theOlympic Park. She tells me that her motherworks from home, where there are eightcomputers. This draws a gasp from the other

children. Raj, a big talker whose origins areIndian, pipes up that his mother works in asupermarket and his grandmother takes care ofthe house.Dzikri from Malaysia and Halim from Korea

both have professional parents. Dzikri’s motheris studying at university and, he tells me, shewears the traditional Muslim Malaysian haircovering. Halim’s mum stays at home – as dothe mothers of Busra from Turkey, Rebecafrom Brazil, Shamsa from Somalia and Carlosfrom the Seychelles. Only Paxina’s mother hasa job. She comes from Angola.In a multi-faith school, the festivals are

endless, so I ask which are their favourites.Busra likes Seker Bayrami, the ‘Festival ofSugar’ at the end of Ramadan in the Muslimcalendar. She explains that children pay theirrespects to parents and grandparents, andthen receive sweets, such as Turkish Delight,and presents. Rebeca describes the Brazilianalternative to Halloween, and the Festa Junina– the midwinter feast of St John, St Anthonyand St Peter. Both involve costumes andpresents for the children. Shamsa, who wearsa headscarf – which was unheard of in mysons’ day – likes celebrating Eid ul-Fitr, whenshe gets money. Raj, a Hindu, enjoys Diwali,the Hindu festival of lights, but likes Christmasbest of all because it brings his family together.For most, faith and religious practices are apresent but not a pressing part of their lives.

I ask whether the children feel more athome in their country of origin or in Britain,which elicits a charming hand gesture from all of them to indicate ‘half-half’. Raj’s motherwas born in Sheffield and, although they speak Gujarati at home, everyone except hisgrandmother wears Western dress. He sayshis diet is half Indian and half British. Sofia says she feels “kind of British and kind ofRomanian”. Dzikri says he feels British inBritain, but different in Kuala Lumpur. Ayla feels Australian in Britain and British inAustralia, which is exactly how I feel as aCanadian, even after 40 years in London.A lot of the children are of dual heritage,

and this is particularly true of the Caribbeanchildren. Jai-Dene’s father is Jamaican, as isAmba-Rae’s grandmother. Daniel’s mother isAntiguan. They all agree that they felt ‘half-half’when they visited the Caribbean. The school opened in 1877, at the height of

Empire. 150 children assembled when the newbuilding opened in 1878 on North Hill,Highgate, surrounded by farms and hayfields.Now North Hill is a busy artery to the A1. Theassembly hall, built in 1894 to hold 500children, is still in use. Currently, there are 400children on roll, including the nursery children.Who would ever have dreamt that 133 yearsafter it opened, these descendants of Empireand international trade would be runningthrough its corridors.

HOP, SKIP AND JUMP: Highgate pupils enjoy a lesson in the school playground

IN THE UK

www.rosl.org.uk

March–May 2010

IN THE UK

O V E R S E A S 25

MARGARET ATWOOD’S

LONDONWhat is your earliest memory ofLondon? My first trip was in 1964, when I was 24. Itwas very different then – still post-war, darker,not yet Swinging London. Of course, I was alot poorer and younger, so I had those kindsof adventures.

Have you ever been inspired byLondon in your writing?Yes, several times. In a couple of early shortstories, as I recall.

Do you have a favouriterestaurant or café that you oftenreturn to?My favourite, closest to the ROSL, is theWolseley – and there are many in Soho that arewonderful. I am lucky to have English friendsthat keep finding new ones. And I love havinglunch or tea in the ROSL garden – one of thenicest spots in the area, when it isn’t raining.

What do you love most, and hatemost, about London?Hate most: the traffic. Like most: the people.Love most: wandering around, looking at the

changes and the things that don’t change.

If you have time, do you like togo shopping while you are here? I don’t like shopping much; it makes me dizzy.But can we count going to the theatre asshopping, please? It costs money, so ought toqualify – and I do love that!

What advice would you give amember coming to London forthe first time?Do the big touristy things, such as the Towerand the Abbey. Go up high somewhere, so youcan get an overall view. Most of all, read somesocial and architectural history first, so youknow what you’re seeing. London has so manydimensions, so many layers – you’ll becheating yourself if you don’t.

Member Margaret Atwood is the author ofmore than 40 works, including fiction, poetryand critical essays. She lives in Toronto,Canada. Her novel ‘The Year of the Flood’, £18.99 (hardback), was published last year byBloomsbury (ISBN: 978-0747585169).Interview by Samantha Whitaker.

MAJOR ATTRACTION: the Tower of London should be on any sightseeing tour of the city

Myths and Monsters

Horniman MuseumUntil 5 September This exhibition delves into the origin of mythicalcreatures, such as cyclopes, unicorns, yetis,dragons, and the chimera. Tickets: £2.50-£5. Contact: 020 8699 1872 orwww.horniman.ac.uk.

London Children’sBallet – Ballet Shoes

Peacock Theatre22-25 AprilLondon Children’s Ballet brings a glorious newproduction of Noel Streatfeild’s popular classicBallet Shoes. With a cast of 55 talenteddancers, aged 9-16, this is the perfect way tointroduce young audiences to the joys of balletand classical music.Tickets: £14-£45. Contact: 0844 412 4322 orwww.sadlerswells.com.

British Comic Art

Tate Britain9 June-5 SeptemberThis groundbreaking exhibition uses visual artto explore the role of humour in British cultureover the centuries. Tackling themes such asmorality, politics and the absurd, it featuresworks by famous caricaturists, includingWilliam Hogarth, George Cruikshank, DavidLow and Steve Bell.Tickets: £8.50-£10. Contact: 020 7887 8888 orwww.tate.org.uk.

What’s on...LONDON

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This is my yacht.

Cruising Yachting.

Yachting Asia C

Wine and canapés, with pianistBen Schoeman. Tickets: £12;members £10; Friends of ROSLARTS £8.

Arts lunch

Wednesday 28 April, 12 for 12.30pm Two-course lunch