| Biography | The Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) is a non-profit members organisation with international headquarters based in its clubhouse in central London, England. It is also a major supporter of the arts, most notably with its prestigious annual music competition.
Founded by Sir Evelyn Wrench in 1910 as the Over-Seas Club, it was given a Royal Charter of Incorporation in 1922 and Queen Elizabeth II granted the title "Royal" to mark its golden jubilee in 1960. Wrench saw the British Empire of the time as not merely a political and economic structure, but also "a far-flung brotherhood of individual men and women of diverse creeds and races living widely apart under differing conditions in different latitude". There are more than 20,000 members worldwide.
The league today is both an association of individual members and a supporter of Commonwealth art, music and welfare projects. There is a sister clubhouse in Edinburgh, as well as honorary representatives, branches or reciprocal clubs in more than 90 countries.
The clubhouses and the regional branches organise a variety of cultural and social events for members, such as backstage tours of London attractions, wine tastings, literary lectures and visits to shows and performances.
The league has an in-house magazine, Overseas, which comprises contemporary features written by renowned journalists, members articles, news from regional branches, and information about forthcoming events. |