ISSUE 725 MARCH - MAY 2021

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE ROSL’s food revolution 22607 Steinway ROSL MAR/May21 BlackMP.qxp_Layout 1 19/01/2021 13:21 Page 1

WELCOME

BLACK MASTERPIECE LIMITED EDITION The Royal Over-Seas League is dedicated In honour of the 20th anniversary of the Steinway Crown Jewels series we present to championing international friendship and understanding through cultural and education “Looking ahead at BLACK MASTERPIECE – an edition limited to 20 models worldwide with a sophisticated activities around the Commonwealth and beyond. black look that will delight lovers of clear design. A not-for-profit private members’ organisation, we’ve been bringing like-minded people what will no doubt together since 1910.

OVERSEAS EDITORIAL TEAM Editor be a brighter and Mr Mark Brierley: [email protected]; +44 (0)20 7408 0214 Design better springtime” zed creative: www.zedcreative.co.uk

ROYAL OVER-SEAS LEAGUE Writing in the time of yet another lockdown, I’m aware of how important Incorporated by Royal Charter keeping up morale is for all of the ROSL community. In part, this is done Patron HM The Queen Vice-Patron HRH Princess Alexandra KG GCVO by keeping in touch, tuning into online events and conversations, but President The Rt Hon The Lord Geidt GCB GCVO OBE QSO PC also through looking ahead at what will no doubt be a brighter and better Chairman The Hon. Alexander Downer AC springtime now that the vaccination programme is being rolled out. Deputy Chairman Anne Wilkinson Hon Treasurer Richard Harbord FCA In particular, the ROSL team, led by Resident Manager Warren Miller, Over-Seas House, Park Place, St James’s Street, is working hard to put in place a new food and beverage offering for London SW1A 1LR; +44 (0)20 7408 0214; Fax +44 (0)20 7499 6738; [email protected]; members upon reopening. After a formal catering beauty parade just www.rosl.org.uk before Christmas, presented to members of Central Council, the Senior CENTRAL COUNCIL Anjola-Oluwa Adeniyi, Paul Arkwright CMG, Leadership Team and I took the collective and unanimous decision to take Ruth Bala, The Hon. Alexander Downer AC, Nabeel Goheer, Richard Harbord FCA, catering back in-house. Already many impressive candidates have applied Alistair Harrison CMG CVO, Anthony Teasdale, for the new Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Manager positions. Susan Walton, Helen Prince, Atholl Swainston-Harrison, Anne Wilkinson Director-General The ROSL team is very excited about the coming months, and looking Dr Annette Prandzioch: +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x201; forward to unveiling and rolling out the new offering to members. [email protected] Chief Finance Officer Not only will we ensure members have the option of their favourite club Alexis Corzberg FCMA: [email protected] Director of Membership, classics, but we also aim to offer international cuisine in tune with our Marketing and Communications mandate of international friendship in the Commonwealth and beyond, Jon Kudlick: +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x204; [email protected] maybe even delivered by the occasional international chef in residence, Director of Education Projects Margaret Adrian-Vallance MBE: together with the new Executive Chef. During the course of this year, we +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x307; [email protected] will also launch a ROSL wine club – we are sure this will prove popular! Artistic Director Geoff Parkin: +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x325; And we will continue to make the most of our wonderful garden and [email protected] Resident Manager terrace, with the introduction of outdoor heating, and exciting pop-ups Warren Miller: +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x203; [email protected] on food and drink. Also, during the course of 2021, we will introduce an Director of HR afternoon tea in the newly and elegantly refurbished drawing room. Sarah Banner: [email protected] Membership And a further item on our catering agenda is to provide pre-concert menus, +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x214; [email protected] and other food and beverage offerings around the splendid music and arts For more contacts visit www.rosl.org.uk/the-team Print Gemini Print Group: +44 (0)127 346 4884 programmes, as well as the public and international events series we have The journal is published by the Royal Over-Seas League, Over-Seas House, Park Place, St James’s Street, just launched. And the entire team is keen to build up to bringing a fine London SW1A 1LR. Any views expressed in editorial and any advertisements included are not necessarily dining option for members to ROSL in the splendid Art Deco dining room. endorsed by the Central Council. ISSN 00307424 BLACK MASTERPIECE grand pianos are issued as model B 211cm and are equipped All in all, we hope you agree there’s a lot to look forward to! with , the most modern technology Steinway currently has to offer. Dr Annette Prandzioch DIRECTOR-GENERAL

Steinway Hall London W1U 2DB For more information or to arrange a private appointment at our London showrooms, please call: 0207 487 3391 or email [email protected]

WWW.ROSL.ORG.UK 3

From the EDITOR The pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives over the past 12 months, some only temporarily, but some for a lifetime. What we eat and drink has certainly been impacted, with most of us forced to eat at home almost exclusively. This has led some of us to brush up on our cooking skills, some to start growing our own at home, and many more to long for the day when restaurants reopen! In this edition of Overseas, we take a look at how food and drink is changing, not “When life threw me only in terms of what we are eating, but also how it is 22 produced, how it is cooked, and how it is disposed of. a curveball, I turned On page 22, Natalie Healey looks at how you can get started in your garden, or even on your window to gardening as a ledge, with growing your own vegetables and herbs. No experience needed! distraction. It turned The rise in so-called flexitarianism over the past few years has seen many take a closer look at their out to make me diets and try to reduce the amount of meat they eat as a result. In December 2020, the first lab-grown meat product was approved in Singapore, making its really happy” restaurant debut a few weeks later. On page 26, Abi Millar asks if now the time for cultured meat – billed as an ethical alternative to farmed meat – to start gaining traction? In the UK alone, 4.5 million tonnes of edible food is WELCOME NEWS & EVENTS wasted by families every year, equivalent to £700 per 3 From the D-G favourite dishes from 15 My City: growing their own food. 32 ROSL's new link Council, legacies, household. On page 18, we find out how can we get With a new food and their home country Washington, DC Natalie Healey finds out with Tanzania and more better at buying, storing, using, and reusing our food? drink offering under way, Member Kathleen Mistry how anyone can get started Margaret Adrian-Vallance 41  there's plenty to look 10 Heard it through gives us the highlights explains how our Event highlights We also take a trip around the Commonwealth by 26 Meat the new meat The dust has barely forward to in 2021 the grapevine of her hometown support for marginalised asking ROSL staff about the cuisine and favourite In December, the first settled on last year's 150 years and five communities around the dishes of their home countries, on page 8. lab-grown meat product Annual Music generations has made Commonwealth is more was approved in Singapore. Competition, but we're Of course, no discussion of food and drink would be ROSL PEOPLE the Davy family expert WORLD important than ever in wine merchants. As Is now the time for cultured back again already, complete without talking about ROSL’s own catering. 6 Homemade 18 Going zero waste these difficult times meat, billed as an ethical plus new Evelyn As Annette has already mentioned, the decision was After 16 years using an suppliers to ROSL, In the UK alone, 4.5 alternative to farmed meat, 34 News & views taken at the end of 2020 to bring our catering back external caterer, ROSL Chairman James Davy million tonnes of edible Wrench lectures and to start gaining traction? Another successful in house. With plans progressing at speed, we hear is bringing its food and tells us what it takes to food is wasted by families member-led events Incognito postcard drink back in house. bring the best to every year. How can we from ROSL’s Warren Miller about the exciting exhibition, the winner 42 Events calendar Warren Miller outlines members get better at buying, plans lined up for the clubhouse on page 6. IN THE UK of the ROSL Composition Upcoming events the exciting plans for storing, using and 12 To the Corr 30 Street food city Award, Beethoven's at the club and online, Read all these features and more, plus news from your home from home reusing our food? 2020 AMC winner In London, you are spoilt 250th birthday, progress including the ROSL HQ and upcoming events to look forward to 8 Commonwealth cook out Eleanor Corr tells Mark 22 Raring to grow for choice when it comes in our archives, new continuation of the new over the next few months. I hope you enjoy the issue, With such varied cuisine Brierley what it was like Previously unloved to street food. Whatever furniture in the Drawing ROSL Public Affairs please get in touch with any comments or suggestions, across the 54 member to win the competition gardens and allotments your taste buds are after, Room, the launch of Series, concerts, recitals, your feedback is always welcome. nations of the and how life has been as have been revitalised there is a stallholder in the 2021 Photography and even a comedy night Commonwealth, we ask a professional musician over the past year as every corner of the capital competition, an to look forward to over Mark Brierley ROSL staff to pick their over the past year people have turned to able to sate your hunger introduction to Central the next few months [email protected]

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Brabourne Room, making it easier to chat over your lunch. The bigger plans will start to be seen as more members start to return FEED to the clubhouse later this year and into 2022. “Afternoon Tea in the Willingdon Drawing Room is something I'd like to explore. I want to go back to basics, offer a traditional YOUR afternoon tea with a nice glass of bubbly, and then possibly create nice packages so members and their friends can enjoy it. Longer term, I would like to partner with NAT ON tea companies to take our members on a MAG journey, exploring the customs and history of tea. Maybe a six-month tour of India? With catering coming back in-house, You could come in once a month, hear from the producer, and get to know more about a whole world of possibilities is opening where your tea comes from.” The recent up for the food and drink we will be able to refurbishments, including all-new furniture offer members. Resident Manager Warren make the Drawing Room perfect for this. The biggest plans are reserved for the Miller takes Overseas through some of the dining room downstairs in the Westminster plans that will give you more choice, higher Wing. But as they are the most ambitious, quality, and better service at the clubhouse they will also take the most time to realise. The return of formal dining, which is something members have been asking for, is a key part of ROSL’s identity. “We need to bring that back” agrees Warren. “When it happens though, all depends on the other projects going on around the clubhouse. I've already had designs through, which include the refurbishment of the dining room in a classic timeless art deco My initial focus is on the garden and how style, the inclusion of a bar in the room, we can make it even more attractive than a private dining room, and also the refurbishment of the toilets. We want to it already is, in terms of food and drink pay homage to the history and heritage of the Westminster Wing. “I think a bar is essential, for times when the Duke of York Bar gets too busy. fter 16 years using an company, as well as the internal bid, which clubhouse is allowed to reopen. This is just Secondly, Warren and the whole ROSL beautiful already, but we need to make it We would love members to come for external caterer, the past both had to provide a five-year plan with the start of what will be a long process, which team are keen to bring members along on the more weatherproof with better parasols and pre- and post-theatre drinks and dinner. 12 months of Covid- detailed financials ” explains Warren, who aims to restore ROSL’s dining experience journey. You are the reason we are all here, heaters in place, to make it usable in the It would also give members more choice related restrictions has led the internal bid. “It ended up being a very to its former glory. “I want to get it done after all. Making sure that you get the food cooler months of the Spring and Autumn. in their clubhouse. A classic cosy members given ROSL the long day, starting at 8am, with the recently right, but it's going to be a bit of a ‘slowly, and drink you want is crucial. That has not The plans are still awaiting approval, bar upstairs and a more of a cocktail bar opportunity and time to refreshed Central Council, who were slowly’ approach.” stopped Warren for making plans that should however, I am looking at improving the way downstairs. This all comes with time, as reassess what it can offer members when fantastic. They made sure each bid was The reason for this approach is two-fold. get everyone excited, whether you work we can provide food and drinks to the garden, members start to come back to the club. Athey visit the clubhouse; central to this is scrutinised; the right questions were asked.” Firstly, you can’t put the cart before the horse. locally in London and pop in for a drink after which will make life much easier for the chefs It's going to be a journey, it's going to take the food and drink on offer. The unanimous decision was taken to bring With the clubhouse in lockdown for large work, visit every couple of months for dinner and servers, and ultimately provide a much time, but it'll be worth it.” In December, Director-General Annette catering back in-house, with Warren leading parts of 2020 as the UK battled the before the theatre, or travel from overseas better service to members and more variety We hope you’ll come along on this journey Prandzioch and Resident Manager Warren the transition from Graysons, who have coronavirus pandemic, a vital source of once a year to enjoy our hospitality for weeks when it comes to the food we can offer. It will with us. Keep an eye out in future issues, Miller, along with the support of Central provided catering at the clubhouse for the income was lost for ROSL, so many of at a time. make it much more varied and exciting.” eNewsletter and on the ROSL website for Council and the Senior Leadership Team, past 16 years. The first step is to hire a new the plans for food and drink can only be “My initial focus is on the garden and There are also small gains to made news as new members of the catering team assessed internal and external bids to take Food and Beverage Manager, and Executive realised as the world recovers and our how we can make it even more attractive elsewhere in the clubhouse that members come on board, menus are devised and over the catering at Over-Seas House. Chef, who will be in place ready for when global membership starts to return to than it already is, in terms of food and will benefit from immediately. For example, updates are made to the dining areas around “In the end, we had one outside catering government restrictions are lifted and the Over-Seas House. drink,” explains Warren. “Of course, it is the acoustics will be improved in the the club. Cheers to that!

6 OVERSEAS JOURNAL MARCH - MAY 2021 WWW.ROSL.ORG.UK 7 Counter clockwise PEOPLE from left: Potjiekos, a traditional South African stew; Jerk chicken; Nyama Choma Harriet Leyden, Marketing Officer Rich in herbs and spices, I can guarantee that in every Jamaican kitchen you will find scotch bonnet peppers, pimento seeds, thyme, spring onions, ginger, and curry powder. Jamaican cuisine is an emblem of the intersectionality that arrives from cultures merging, that is what I love about my nation’s cuisine. The history, the culture, the diversity that it reflects. I have favourites for different occasions; on road trips, I love peppered shrimp, paired with a freshly opened coconut; at Christmas I love curried mutton and roti, on Sundays our traditional rice and peas (beans), and for breakfast, our national fruit ackee and saltfish paired with a cup of Blue Mountain coffee. Another popular Jamaican classic, which I love due to it being rich in both flavours and COMMONWEALTH history, is jerk. The art of jerking, smoking the meat (or fish or vegetable) on a grill, was TRY IT FOR YOURSELF first invented by the inhabitants (Tainos) of Titus Silu, Duty Manager the island as a way of preserving their food. Kenya is a multi-racial During the Taino period, it was used as a society, made up of over method of survival and being discreet they 40 native ethnic tribes, as would jerk their food in the ground to stop well as Asians, Arabs, and INGREDIENTS - SERVES 4 -6 the smoke from escaping. This method of Europeans. Even though each region of the • Goat, beef, or chicken meat, 54 member nations spanning the four corners of the cut into bite-sized chunks – 1kg food preservation was later adopted by the country has its own staple food, in general, the Earth make Commonwealth cuisine as diverse as it comes. • Oil – 3 tbsps Maroons and passed on from generation to country’s cuisine has been influenced a lot by • Warm water – 2 cups Overseas speaks to three ROSL staff members to find out generation. Today, jerk chicken or fish is early settlers, the main influence coming from • 1 tbsp ginger and garlic paste about the dishes they love from their home countries typically considered as takeaway street or the Indians who migrated and settled in East • ¼ lemon juice beach food. Packed with herbs and spices, Africa as railway workers in the 19th Century. • Red hot pepper to taste I like to pair my jerk chicken with bread. There are, however, some ingredients that • Salt to taste are used in all parts of the country, such as maize, rice, potatoes, and beans. My favourite PREPARATION • Wash and leave the meat to dry. Kenyan meal would have to be a combination Put in a bowl and set aside. Warren Miller, Bunny Chow, a fiery Durban Indian curry was Oxtail, which he would brown in the pot; of Ugali (cornmeal) and Nyama choma • In a separate bowl, mix the ginger Resident Manager served in a half loaf of white bread; Biltong, fry the onions, garlic, herbs, and spices in the (roasted meat). and garlic paste, and lemon juice. Growing up in South Africa, spiced dried cured meat; Koeksisters, a juices of the meat, and once cooked, would Ugali is the most common food in Kenya, Then pour the mixture over the meat I was spoilt with the sheer plaited dough fried then soaked in sugar start to layer the pot with a selection of fresh and probably the most popular in Eastern to marinate it. • diversity of dishes available syrup; freshly caught fried Snoek; vegetables like patty pans, green beans, baby and Southern Africa. It is very affordable and Cover the meat and leave for two hours to marinate completely. across the country. South African cuisine Mozambican inspired Peri-peri Chicken, corn, cabbage, carrots, and ending with a final easy to make. The main ingredients are water is heavily influenced by a melting pot of and, of course, the Braai (Barbeque), an layer of potatoes on the top. He would then and maize flour, but you could also use millet COOKING cultures that make up our wonderful integral part of every South African’s DNA. pour over stock, beer and/or wine to cover the or sorghum flour for a healthier version. • Prepare your grill and have it hot. Rainbow nation. If I had to choose my favourite dish, it potatoes. The lid would go onto the potjie and Nyama choma literally means grilled • Toss the meat with the oil, then Food is, of course, highly emotive and would be Potjiekos. Potjiekos is a traditional it was left to simmer for up to six hours, meat in Kiswahili and it’s the unofficial thread it on skewers. there are so many dishes that conjure up South African stew that is slow cooked without stirring the potjie at any time, as the national dish. The meat is usually goat or beef. • Dissolve the salt in warm water and sprinkle it over the meat while cooking memories for me. A few of the typical South outdoors over wood or charcoal in a aim was for flavours of the different You will find it almost everywhere, from • Grill the skewered meat, basting it African dishes include “Umngqusho” (Samp traditional cast iron, three-legged pot. Some ingredients to mix as little as possible. When roadside shacks to local bars, and the finest occasionally with the salt water, until it and Beans) made from mielie (corn) and of my fondest memories are sitting with my it was finally ready you ended up with the restaurants. In Kenya, any gathering is an is cooked to your desired doneness. sugar beans, spiced and fruity Cape Malay Dad as he skilfully prepared the “potjie”, mouth-watering stew with meat falling off excuse for eating Nyama choma, where it‘s • Remove the meat from the skewers, dishes such as Bobotie, which is a spicy explaining in detail the importance of getting the bone, vegetables tender and a deep smoky often paired with ugali, Kachumbari salad and serve with kachumbari salad mince made with sultanas and baked with every step right and how any deviation in the flavour to the sauce. Without a doubt one (fresh tomatoes and onions salad) and a and ugali an egg custard bay leaf topping; Mutton steps would prove disastrous. Our favourite of the most delicious South African dishes. local beer.

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Heard it through the

150 years and five generations has made the Davy family expert wine merchants. As suppliers to ROSL, Chairman James Davy tells Overseas what it takes to bring the best to members

ur approach to buying is simple but it Getting the right wines to you works for us. We like dealing with We visit our producers when we can, or have samples independent, family businesses that are a sent to us here, to assess new vintages and select the wines similar size and have a similar philosophy that we want to import. We also have two annual portfolio to ours. We are only interested in quality tastings every year, one to cover our producers from the and being family owned and fully independent, we only ‘Old World’ and the other covering those from the ‘New Oneed to buy wines if we like them. So, we taste and re- World’. Often, during these tastings producers will present taste and don’t settle for something if it doesn’t hit the new wines from their range to gauge customer feedback. spot. At Davy's, we like a good environmental approach Our portfolio tastings take place at Royal Over-Seas too. The best wineries work in harmony with the land League and are always well attended. ROSL members and make decisions with the next generation in mind – receive a special price for these tastings – details of which our business is very much run in the same way. will be released ahead of our next scheduled tasting in September. Choosing the right producers Supply to ROSL began following our acquisition of Our portfolio is Europe heavy because of the number of long- established Wine & Spirit Merchant, Mayor Sworder standing relationships that we have established over the past in 2009, a company run by ROSL Member and Master 150 years, however, we now work with excellent producers of Wine Martin Everett. Martin remains part of the across the world. We like to ship wines that are exclusive to team at Davy’s providing continuity and a link to a Davy’s in the UK. further several decades of supply to the club. A lot of new producers, we find through relationships. ROSL members have always taken a great interest We often get recommendations from customers and other in the wines that feature on the lists at the club and the wineries too. Also, as our wholesale division has grown, list has evolved over the years, influenced in part by we have listened to the growing number of customers that member feedback from the many wine dinners and events we have in top London restaurants, hotels, and indeed held at Over-Seas House. We aim to act as a conduit membership organisations such as The Royal Over-Seas between our producers and consumers, and the Royal League, and responded with styles of wine that they are Over-Seas League is a perfect example of this process looking for. working well. Most of our producers have visited the club Our portfolio is made up predominantly of small, for our Annual Portfolio tastings and several have independent growers who share our philosophy of quality become members along the way. over quantity. We look for terroir driven wines, which Despite the pandemic, we are still operating as usual are truly representative of where they come from, whilst so you can order online for contact-free delivery to also seeking out the personalities behind the wine – the your front door. We have created a unique web page We constantly benchmark our winemaker or family who own the estate. for ROSL members, featuring up to 20% off some We constantly benchmark our portfolio to ensure the club favourites. We also offer a 15% discount off any portfolio to ensure the wines we wines we offer provide value for money, whatever the price otherwise non-discounted wines at checkout with point. As with many aspects of life, the more you put in, the voucher code DWDFFF. offer provide value for money, more you get out so it is no accident that the wineries we select based on their taste and quality are usually those For more information and to take advantage whatever the price point who put an emphasis on soil health and working with of this exclusive offer for ROSL members, visit sustainable and/or organic methods. davywine.co.uk/rosl

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Can you tell me a bit about your musical shared the videos from the competition, have given education? When did you first decide to take up my playing and the win an international audience. violin as your instrument of choice? I got very badly ill and couldn’t play for a long I started learning because of a wonderful cellist time, I was wheelchair bound. It was a difficult called Liz Anderson who came to my nursery and time in my life but I got to the point where my played for us. I was totally transfixed, asking her health had improved enough that I could play an loads of questions afterwards. So, the next year, I hour most days, but not enough that I could start started lessons with her in a group of seven of us, working again. mixed string instruments. We sang, played games, The competition was something I had wanted to played music together, so right from the start, it do for years but had never had the time while was sociable and collaborative and fun. I loved freelancing, so I applied, continued with my hour a going there. day and thought to myself ‘I’ll see what happens’. It I never really thought about taking it particularly was amazing for me to have it to focus on and seriously though. The mum of my closest friend at work towards, and to enjoy preparing for. It was a the time was a professional musician and always strange way to come to it; a major win that came said to us ‘don’t do music out of a real low point in my professionally, keep it as a life, that I wouldn't have had hobby’. She didn’t want us the opportunity to enter to lose the fun. So, it was otherwise. I would have never really on my radar To the been too busy with the but I loved doing it. daily grind. When I was nine, I went to Wells Cathedral School and had a specialist music Did the long gap between education from then on. We the section final and final of would often play together in CORRDespite a disrupted 2020 the AMC, and the fact it was the evenings, improvise, make Annual Music Competition, held behind closed doors, help up tunes. I spent my holidays or hinder your preparation doing National Children’s violinist Eleanor Corr was able and performance? Orchestra and then National to overcome the adversity to On the day, I absolutely loved Youth Orchestra and I had take home the Gold Medal. playing at ROSL. It was such a another incredible teacher at She tells Mark Brierley what nice atmosphere; I think Wells called Patricia Noall, everyone was just so happy to who is an incredible musician winning first prize was like be there and have this and a really wonderful, and how life has been as a opportunity to make music. logical teacher, who met professional musician over The panel were really warm everyone on their level and and welcoming. There was taught them differently the past 12 months such a good feeling as soon as depending on their personalities. I walked into the room. And to get to hang When I was 12, I learnt the Bruch Concerto and around and chat with the other competitors and from that moment I was so in love with it and the panel was really a highlight of the obsessed by it, I knew that it was music I wanted to year. Winning the AMC is a huge deal, it means so do. When I was 17, I went to the Royal Academy of much to me. It’s amazing to have the support of the Music and studied there with Clio Gould, for both organisation. my undergrad and postgrad. In terms of preparation, the long gap wasn’t that fun! I got to a place back in March 2020 during the Section Final where I thought ‘I’m Has it sunk in? How does it feel to have won really happy with how I am playing, so I can just the AMC? go on stage and enjoy myself’. I think that’s It has now. It was a bit of a shock at the time! It’s an probably made the difference in the end; being incredible thing to say. To be able to have that at completely myself on stage and I think that the top of my CV, it will open so many doors for connected with the judges. I wasn’t interested in me. It makes people take notice. My win being just spending the long gap just staying home and reported by The Strad and many other making each piece ‘winnable’. I actually changed publications, who both published articles and my programme a week or two before the final.

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Even though the Gold Medal Final was held behind closed doors, you can watch all the performances on the ROSL YouTube channel

Winning the AMC is a huge deal, it means so much to me. It's amazing to have the support of the organisation

The great thing about the AMC is that its a in a concert than when you’re sitting alone in a you tend to do one day’s work at a time, so free choice of repertoire, so I was able to practice room. So, I have tried to learn during you have to piece together lots of single jobs. show what I really like to play and my the pandemic to treat recordings in the same Whereas over here, you tend to get a patch MY CITY personality. way as live performances. of five or six days in a row, where you get the I would start my practice every day in the chance to settle in, get to know your months leading up to the final by asking How has the past year been for you as a colleagues. It feels more familiar, as if you myself ‘what do I feel like playing today?’ musician? Has the closure of venues made life were a full-time employee of an orchestra. It could be something old or something new. as a professional difficult? Washington, DC I was just enjoying playing the violin for the Yes. In terms of playing, it’s still enjoyable, How important is funding like the prize sake of playing the violin and not necessarily but career-wise, it’s been really tough. There’s money from the AMC given current More than just the seat of American power, Washington is also host to for the sake of preparing something for a been virtually nothing this year. I’ve now got circumstances? international organisations, incredible arts and culture, food, and more. competition. Obviously, I was working on cancellations all the way through to June It’s absolutely incredible for us as musicians. Member Kathleen Mistry takes you through her highlights my technique all the time, but I found that if 2021, which is quite tough. At least at this Having that financial backing opens up the that was where I wanted it to be; everything point, I feel I can plan ahead with a little opportunity to say yes to things, and to was there in the arms and in the mind, the more confidence. have the luxury of time for those things. Describe Washington in three words. As the Capitol of the United States, it is the hub of music would follow. I’ve been lucky to some extent. In the last It becomes OK to take that recital that may Charming, cultural and international our government. It is easy to get caught up in the two or three years, I’ve split my time half take tens of hours of work and practice, 24/7 life of politics. I think most of us are news You also took part in our ROSL at Home and half between the UK and Norway. that means missing a week of other work How long have you lived in the area? junkies. I am happy to report that the restaurant series. Have you done many other recorded Norway locked down a couple of weeks elsewhere. It’s key. We moved to Washington, DC in 1995. In 2000, scene has matured now offering many ethnic In just a couple and livestreamed performances? How does it earlier than the UK and was out of the So much is moving online now, and our family moved to live the life of expatriates restaurants. I attribute this in part to the presence of hours' drive we can differ from performing for a live audience? woods significantly earlier. By the time I increasingly you need high-quality videos, in Paris, France, for the next four years. It was a the embassies, World Bank, International Monetary be walking in the It can be tough, actually. With livestreaming, was allowed to travel in July, I had a lot of so it can be expensive establishing yourself wonderful expérience. C’est un bon expérience Fund, and the International Finance Corporation. mountains it’s the same as a concert in many ways. It’s projects that I should have been doing since as a musician. It’s important to have that et un bon souvenir! I believe everyone needs to Around 180 countries are represented at these in Shenandoah happening now and that’s how it’s going to go. March, which all got bunched together. support. It makes it feels like the years move to a different country to appreciate their own various institutions. Weekend excursions are National Park; You’ve only got one opportunity to get it right. So, I had quite a steady flow of work between of training were all worth it. country and their government. We moved back to a great way we decompress. In just a couple touring many You focus on working towards it and then on August and Christmas. It’s been nice because I’m hoping I can use a chunk of the prize Washington, DC in 2004 and we are still enjoying hours' drive we can be walking in the mountains historic military the night, whatever happens happens. I really there hasn’t really been anything in the UK, money for career development. Recording an Washington today. I must tell you that the native- in Shenandoah National Park; touring many love that; the spontaneity of music making. or only the very occasional thing. album is very tempting! I would also like to born Washingtonians are some of the most kind historic military sights, homes, battle grounds sights, homes, Whereas with recording, there’s added Working conditions here in Norway are put some of it towards buying an instrument. and hospitable people you will ever meet. I hope and monuments; or relax at a beach overlooking battle grounds pressure because you can do it as many times as very nice for violinists, it’s a very fun, very But aside from the finance, it’s the people you will be able to meet some during your visit. the bay or the Atlantic Ocean. and monuments you like. You always find yourself asking ‘should relaxed environment. If I were go into an you meet and the connections you make as I stop and try it again?’ You can let go a bit more orchestra as a freelance musician in the UK, well. They will last a lifetime.

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Left: US Capitol Right: National Museum of the American Indian The National Mall stretches over two miles from What are the must-sees for first time visitors the Lincoln Memorial on the west end to the US I would by a multiday pass for the On and Off Bus Capitol on the east end. It is a great place for a stroll. tours. Ride the whole tour and get a feel for the We have more than 160 monuments and memorials. city. Then go ride again and depart at stops and The Washington Monument, Lincoln and Jefferson see only the sights that most interest you. Memorials are very historic for our young country. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, What is the best time of year to visit? National Museum of African American History Late March to mid-April is a must see time for the and Culture, National Geographic Museum, Union National Cherry Blossom Festival. There is a 'buzz' Station for Metro and AMTRAK railroad which in the city. We commemorate the 1912 gift from was saved from destruction and restored by the First Tokyo, Japan of 3,000 cherry trees to the City of Lady Jackie Kennedy, US National Arboretum with Washington. Beginning in late April, May, and the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, The George early June is a good time to visit our city. There Washington University Museum and The Textile will be smaller crowds before mid-June. Congress Museum, The Phillips Collection (modern art), will adjourn by the end of June. The schools will Folger Shakespeare Library and the Martin Luther close for the summer and the tourist crowds will King Monument are very interesting. increase until the beginning of September. August One of my favorite places to visit after I have can resemble Summer in Mumbai being hot and walked to the White House and taken photos is St. humid. Our Autumn season is lovely weather John’s Episcopal Church, 1,525 H Street (at 16th) NW accompanied by the changing of the colours of the near Lafayette Square. It is so small and charming. leaves on the trees. By the middle of September, The first service was held in 1816. It is lovingly the city will once again have its 'buzz'. Congress A stroll through referred to as 'The Church of the Presidents' (see will be back in session, offices will be busy, schools the charming plaque outside). Most every president has worshipped will be in session, concerts, dance, and theatre Georgetown section there. When a president retires from office a church performances will resume. During the Christmas of Washington is member needlepoints his name on a kneeling season, there are many decorations, receptions, always enjoyable. cushion. In 1902, the formal state funeral of British concerts, performances and other traditions to Ambassador Lord Pauncefote was held at St. John’s. enjoy. It can be cold and/or rainy until March or There are shops After visiting St. John’s, it is worth your time to walk April. Honestly, with Climate Change, I hesitate to and restaurants for the few blocks to see the country of Oman, Sultan give any guidance for the weather. lunch or dinner Qaboos Cultural Center at 1,100 16th Street, NW. The Washington National Cathedral is a landmark for The city has so many things to see, National Opera. Throughout the year, there KATHLEEN MISTRY worship. It is a beautiful cathedral definitely worth a what are your highlights? are a variety of offerings for everyone’s taste. Mistry founded Mistry visit. It is a house of prayer for all people founded by First, wear your walking shoes and forget the car! You are welcome to enjoy a coffee or meal before Advisors, LLC to our leaders. It is the venue for national level services for We have Metro, buses and taxis for local your performance or simply take a tour of the provide clients bespoke great celebrations, and Presidential and other leaders’ transportation. Hail a taxi in The District. complex. Be sure and enjoy the view of the strategic Connector – funerals. It is an Episcopal church chartered in 1893. Potomac River from the Terrace. Our newest business development All year long, there are services, concerts, and talks to Smithsonian Institution building is the REACH building. This is a services using Cultural engage all of Washington. www.cathedral.org We are fortunate to have the Smithsonian multipurpose centre for inclusion for all with Intelligence in The The Middle East Institute – MEI Art Gallery at 1763 Institution as a base for art, culture, history, studios, galleries, performance spaces, education, Emirates, the Gulf, N Street, NW. The gallery pays tribute to the experiences science, and research. Through the generous art exhibits, lecture halls, and installations. India, Asia, and Europe. and reflections of artists from the Middle East. bequest of the British scientist, James Smithson www.kennedy-center.org She thrives on bringing The International Spy Museum is located near diverse, multicultural (1765-1829) the Smithsonian was established our small Chinatown. The museum will give groups together for as a trust in 1846. Today, it has 19 museums, The US Capitol and Visitor Center, you a glimpse into the world of espionage, spies, successful collaboration. the National Zoo, and nine research centres. Library of Congress, the National Mall and intelligence. Upon entry you will be issued Mistry is very proud that With great wisdom, Mr. Smithson decreed in and Monuments, and Private Museums your 'cover identity'. You can test your spy skills all the firms’ clients are his will that no entrance fees may be charged A tour of the Capitol is a very good introduction dedicated to helping throughout your tour of the museum. See the for any building. This was to ensure that all people to our government. The building is beautiful and the environment. Mistry various tools and disguises used historically to had access to all the exhibitions and cultural the one-hour tour worthwhile. It is better to buy advocates on Capitol Hill present day. It is a great visit! offerings to enrich their lives. www.si.edu your tickets online ahead of time. But you can go to Congress for a variety The Georgetown Waterfront has an assortment in the morning and try to have a tour the same day. of Expatriate issues to of restaurants and tour boat excursions. After a long The John F. Kennedy Center www.visitthecapitol.gov help her fellow Americans morning of the museums, enjoy a peaceful lunch for Performing Arts The Library of Congress is the largest library living overseas. She is overlooking the Potomac River and then take a This is our national cultural centre offering dance, in the world. The Library is the research arm of the a lifelong supporter ride on one of the boats. A stroll through the theatre, ballet, opera, concerts, performing arts, US Congress and home of the US Copyright Office. of the arts, music, charming Georgetown section of Washington is exhibits, and art education. It is home to both the Tours are smaller and very interesting. dance, and education. always enjoyable. There are shops and restaurants Left: Tidal Basin cherry trees National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington www.loc.gov for lunch or dinner. Above: Lincoln Memorial

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In the UK alone, 4.5 million tonnes of edible food ZERis wasted by families every year, equivalent to £700 perspective, there are agreements in place remainder, confusion around the per household. How can we get better at buying, like the Courtauld Commitment 2025, an terminology can mean throwing out good ambitious voluntary commitment that seeks food with no good reason. storing, using, and reusing our food? to reduce waste and make food production Approved Food, an online retailer that WASTEmore sustainable. The likes of Pizza Hut and sells surplus and short-dated stock (food Nestle have signed up, along with various that’s past or near its best before date), has ood waste is a huge problem pay off. While it has become apparent that regional governments. been working hard to make this distinction across the world. As well as people are becoming more ‘food smart’ However, since around 70% of all wasted clear. Since it was founded in 2009, it has being expensive and a and are modifying their shopping and food comes from domestic settings, this diverted over four million tonnes of goods questionable use of resources, food storage habits, there is more work is one area in which consumers that would otherwise have gone to waste, it is a major contributor to to be done to ensure this continues in the themselves can make a real difference. passing savings onto the consumer. climate change. According long term.” “From a household point of view, Although the stock changes every day, a to a 2018 study, around 6% of total global The situation is similar elsewhere. there are various shopper with a keen eye for Fgreenhouse gas emissions come from food The Australian economy loses $20billion reasons why food is People are a bargain might pick up a that never gets eaten. And DEFRA estimates in food waste each year, while Canadian needlessly thrown away, packet of Nobby’s Nuts for that if food waste were a country, it’d be the households squander C$17billion. including a lack of becoming more 25p (normally 69p), ten third largest emitter after the US and China. Globally, between a third and a half of all knowledge about 'food smart' and packets of Hippeas chickpea In the UK alone, households waste food is lost or wasted, with developing portions and how to are modifying puffs for £5 (normally £2.39 4.5 million tonnes of edible food every countries tending to lose more at the prepare it,” says their shopping and each), or a 20-pack of year, according to the Waste and Resources production stage, and developed countries Needham. “Confusion storage habits, but dishwasher tabs for £2.99 Action Programme (WRAP). That amounts losing more after the food has left the farm. over food labelling is (normally £8). The products there is more work to £14billion worth of food waste, or £700 Clearly there are systemic changes that also a contributor. are sourced from retailers per family – a significant dent in anyone’s need to happen if the UN is to reach its There is a huge to be done with stock to spare. grocery bill. Factor in the retail supply targets. To cite just a few examples, difference between ‘use “Within the supply chain chain and the hospitality sector, and the governments could set legally by’ and ‘best before’ – the former is itself, supermarkets still need to do more to total rises to 6.4 million tonnes (or 9.5 binding targets for businesses; ban centred on food safety while the make surplus food available more widely,” million tonnes, when you count the parts supermarkets from throwing latter is a guarantee of quality.” says Needham. “Approved Food has urged of the food that can’t be eaten anyway). away unsold food; and ensure In actuality, food that’s past big retailers to allow more access to food These figures, from 2018, are lower than that food waste is collected its ‘best before’ date is further up the supply chain – in other they were in previous years. Households separately from the rest of perfectly safe to eat, so words, food that has been produced but has wasted 26% less edible food, worth around the rubbish. (On the latter long as it looks and not yet been delivered to store, to enable £4.8billion, than they did in 2007. However, point, food gives off smells OK. Surveys more of it to be available for redistribution.” more progress is needed if the UK is to meet harmful gases like suggest that 83% This includes supermarket own-brand the United Nations target of halving food methane when it rots. of consumers products that are edging a bit too close to waste by 2030. Collected separately, now know their best before date, as well as products “The latest figures from WRAP show that it can be turned this. But that require a change to the packaging the tide is beginning to turn, albeit slowly,” into fertiliser.) for the design. Without the help of organisations says Andy Needham, Managing Director of From an like Approved Food (as well as charities such Approved Food. “The work that companies industry as FareShare and FoodCloud), these such as Approved Food have put in to raise products might well end up in landfill. awareness of the problem is beginning to However, confusing labels and surplus

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FRIDGE THERMOMETER PAPER TOWELS Use a thermometer to make AIRTIGHT STORAGE GLASS JAR OR VASE Wrap leafy greens before sure your fridge is set to BLENDER Store asparagus and fresh Extend the shelf life of placing in the fridge drawer I0 Turn fruit and veggies herbs with their cut ends I0 40 degrees Fahrenheit foods by using airtight TOOLS to absorb moisture on the turn into a quick or below for longer bags and containers in water so they smoothie TO KEEP food storage. last longer HANDY in the Fight Against Food Waste The right tools make all the difference in helping you reduce food waste. The Kroger Food Waste experts recommend a few simple VEGETABLE BRUSH/PEELER ICE CUBE TRAYS FREEZER STORAGE BIN items that can help you Clean those vegetables and Extend food's life by freezing Keep a container in the freezer VIRTUAL SHOPPING LIST Before heading to the store, cut down on unused food eat the skins, or use a sharp portion-sized amounts of for meat bones, vegetable BAG CLIPS Keep items fresh longer create your menu and load without drastically changing peeler to lose as little sauce, herbs, baby food peels and produce ends. of the good stuff or other ingredients Turn them into an with bag clips your shopping list your cooking habits as possible easy stock

Source: www.krogerstories.com

supermarket stock are only one part of the include using beetroot stalks and leaves Sustainable food isn’t just great for the had in the pantry. Hubbub, a UK environmental issues, it’s actually the What’s more, the figures on festive food problem. For many households, wasting to make a dhal, incorporating broad bean planet, it’s more nutritious, more delicious, sustainability charity, says 57% of us value over-55s who are most likely to say they’ve waste remain truly galling. “Each year in food simply comes down to poor meal leaves in a salad, or using pumpkin seeds and more joyful,” he says. food more than we did pre-Covid. reduced their food waste over the last year the UK, five million Christmas puddings, planning, and not knowing what to do to make a dukkah. While this kind of approach may seem “Households have learned to love their – 81% agreed with that statement in one two million turkeys, and 74 million mince with leftovers. “Another way to waste less is creativity,” daunting for the average household, there food during the various lockdowns – but survey. pies go to waste, not to mention huge “Waste is a human-made invention,” he says. “Arancini is a traditional technique are suggestions that the pandemic may have more can still be done to prevent it being However, younger consumers may be quantities of vegetables, fruit, and snacks,” points out Ollie Hunter, author of 30 Easy to use up left over risotto and transform it recalibrated people’s relationship with food. needlessly wasted,” says Needham. “Figures more likely to use apps like OLIO – a says Needham. “Obviously, this is totally Ways to Join the Food Revolution and Join into something new and delicious. What (And that doesn’t just mean making your from WRAP showed that during the first sharing app that allows people to give away unacceptable where people are also relying The Greener Revolution. “Nature doesn’t new and exciting dishes can you create?” own banana bread.) Locked down at home lockdown, people were throwing away less unwanted food and other household items on food banks and charities to put food on waste, it turns energy into energy, and in A former Masterchef semi-finalist and much of the time, families have been food than they were before the coronavirus to their neighbours. the table.” the same way we can cook with zero waste. current pub-owner (his pub, the making shopping lists, cooking more, pandemic, with a 34% reduction in the As for where consumers still have work Hunter believes the way forward is Good menu planning and buying correctly Wheatsheaf, was voted the UK’s most and keeping a closer eye on the contents amount of bread, potatoes, chicken, and to do, the WRAP research uncovered gaps simple: we need to think about ourselves makes a huge difference, and if you are sustainable by the Sustainable Restaurant of their fridge. milk ending up in the bin.” in people’s knowledge about food storage. as a collective, rather than as isolated stuck then a freezer is a friendly storage Association), Hunter wants people to eat What’s more, confronted with empty It’s one of the few heartening statistics Almost half of those questioned thought individuals, and to act accordingly. solution. The other great way to help us cut locally, organically, and seasonally. He shelves in the supermarkets, many of us to come out of the pandemic. And there’s apples would keep longer if they were “We have made huge positive steps waste is using preservation techniques like points out that by adopting a zero-waste started to appreciate the value of what we reason to hope the trend will continue – unpacked at room temperature (they should forward not only in terms of awareness but pickling, sugar, fermentation, or storing in policy, we should be able to save money once you’ve got a taste for proper meal- actually be kept in their original packaging also culturally,” says Hunter. “We are all fat like butter or oil.” and therefore afford the organic produce. We need to think about planning, the habit is likely to stick. in the fridge) while 40% believed chicken part of this mammoth ecosystem, the He recommends ‘eating root to fruit’, “This gives us more flavour with fewer This trend seems to be more pronounced breasts should be frozen on the day of planet, all connected, and every decision which means finding ingenious ways to use ingredients, which is only heightened by ourselves as a collective, rather in older age groups. Despite millennials’ purchase (they can be frozen at any point we choose that makes a positive action, the whole fruit or vegetable. This might sourcing food locally because it is fresh. than isolated individuals and Gen-Z’s much-vaunted interest in up to the ‘use by’ date). makes the world a better place.”

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ardening bloomed in For the first time in many people’s living was the first time they’d attempted to 2020. When coronavirus memory, their food security was produce their own food. But although lockdowns were threatened, says Hutchings. “People had many people like the idea of self- announced throughout always assumed they could just pop to the sufficiency, not everyone perseveres. the world, many people shop and pick up whatever they wanted.” It’s easy to get discouraged when you first turned to plants to break Coronavirus turned that idea on its head. start out, says ecologist Paul Manning up the monotony of stay-at-home orders. But the current trend towards self- from Dalhousie’s faculty of agriculture. GoogleG search queries for “how to grow sufficiency is nothing new, says Andrea The most common mistakes he’s seen vegetables” surged in April. While figures Gaynor, associate professor of history this year include exposing seedlings to from the UK’s Office for National at the University of Western Australia. late frosts, neglecting weeding tasks and Statistics in June showed that 42% of Brits Vegetable gardening often gains even failing to protect the crops with took up gardening during the restrictions popularity in times of trouble. “Home fencing to deter wild deer. But anyone – with many attempting to coax seedlings food production has increased during can become an expert eventually. “We all into food for the very first time. economic crises, such as the great begin with a blank slate of knowledge,” Lucy Hutchings from Suffolk UK depression of the late 1920s and 1930s he reveals. “And in our internet- already had a head start. In 2018, the and the oil shocks of the 1970s,” she connected world, it’s easier than ever former jewellery designer traded projects says. “This is partly due to specific to learn from individuals who are with A-list celebrities, such as Kylie economic factors such as loss of practising food self-sufficiency. In my Minogue and Rihanna, for soil, seeds, purchasing power or high food prices, experience, gardeners are gracious with and spades. She can relate to the desire but also because people turn to home their time and expertise. I have learned to connect with nature during a stressful food production a lot from casual period. “When life threw me a curveball, because it helps them When life threw me conversations at the I turned to gardening as a distraction. feel more in control a curveball, I turned community garden, It turned out to make me really happy,” and less anxious.” reading blog posts, she reveals. After years of dabbling with Vegetable gardening to gardening as a attending workshops, indoor herb gardens and ornamental house also thrived during distraction. It turned and listening to radio plants, Hutchings retrained in horticulture, the first and second programmes.” soon finding a flair for growing rare world wars. Many out to make me Starting from scratch heirloom tomatoes and other colourful, nations such as the really happy can feel intimidating. edible delights. She now provides US, UK, Canada, But learning to grow inspiration to over 100,000 budding Australia, and Germany created doesn’t have to be prescriptive. Hutchings gardeners on Instagram as SheGrowsVeg. initiatives to increase home food believes social media has galvanised Growing your own food can have production as supplies became interest in vegetable gardening and enormous mental health benefits believes increasingly threatened. In 1939, the encouraged a new audience to give it a try. Hutchings. There is little more rewarding British Ministry of Agriculture created “Instagram’s a great place to learn for new than nurturing plants that you can its ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign. It was growers who like a more flexible approach. eventually put on your plate. Studies highly successful. UK allotments swelled You get to see where people have broken back this up. Regular gardening has to 1.7 million over three years and five the rules and it’s worked.” Making been shown to reduce depression, stress, million households learned to grow food mistakes is all part of the process. When and anxiety and even combat high blood in their gardens. Digging vegetable plots Hutchings first started cultivating edible pressure – all useful attributes during became associated with boosting morale, plants she says she “had no idea” what to a global pandemic. A survey from and communities banded together to do – learning as she went along. Stay open- Australia’s food network Sustain found feed and support each other. “In the minded and don’t be disheartened if things that nearly 20% of people said they could second world war, the Australian don't work out at first, she suggests. not have made it through the coronavirus Government was concerned that aspiring Admittedly, some people will find it lockdown without their garden. home food producers wouldn't have easier to get going than others. Not only sufficient knowledge to succeed, so they has the coronavirus crisis exposed health Previously unloved gardens, Dig for victory published advertisements encouraging inequalities, it has also highlighted yards and allotments have been An appetite for distraction isn’t the only experienced gardeners to help their unequal access to green spaces. One in reason many people resolved to grow neighbours,” reveals Gaynor. eight households in the UK had no access revitalised over the past year as more their own food during the restrictions. to a garden at all during lockdown. Lack people have turned to growing their In the early weeks of the coronavirus Getting started of outdoor space needn’t be a dealbreaker crisis, panic buying surged and global A Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia, though, says Hutchings, whose book of own food. Natalie Healey finds out supply chains were upended. Few will Canada) survey found that about half of edible gardening projects Get Up and how anyone can get started forget the barren supermarket shelves all respondents grew fruit or vegetables Grow will be released in April. Although seen at the beginning of the pandemic. in 2020. And nearly a fifth of said it there are some obvious limitations, there

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are also benefits when growing indoors. grow fruit or vegetables you don’t enjoy food as close to home as possible, we can “You're not at the mercy of the elements eating, advises Hutchings. She’s often reduce our consumption of vegetables anymore so you can actually grow year- asked about the easiest foods to grow for grown thousands of miles away and round,” she says. It’s really just a case of beginners. “But I don’t personally think subsequently decrease our carbon determining how much light and what that’s the best way to start,” she reveals. footprint. So if you took up gardening temperature the plants you’re nurturing “It’s better to spend a little more time during lockdown, it’s worth keeping it up. will require. “Plus, it can be a really learning how to grow the crops you Sustain is calling for the establishment of stunning feature of the home.” For novice actually eat rather than what is easy.” a A$500million national Edible Gardening gardeners, herbs grown on the windowsill Radishes are famously simple to grow - Fund to drive a mass expansion of urban are a good place to start. Parsley, thyme, and are ready to harvest a month after food production across Australia. “For a and rosemary are pretty forgiving. You sowing - but not everyone is a fan of tiny fraction of our current annual health can even grow many plants from kitchen actually eating them. Chilli peppers and expenditure, the return on investment scraps. Simply pop the root ends of tomatoes aren’t that much more difficult would be enormous,” said Executive vegetables such as lettuce, spring onions but are far more popular. “The little bit Director Nick Rose in a statement. and celery in a shallow cup of water. You’ll of extra effort to learn how to grow these Government schemes for establishing start to see new shoots in a matter of days. foods will be worth it,” says Hutchings. allotments and community gardens It’s not yet clear whether the renewed for those who don’t have outdoor space Budding gardeners bring benefits enthusiasm for gardening will falter could be a wise investment for the future, Ultimately, growing your own food should when the coronavirus pandemic is finally while promoting public wellbeing in the be a hobby not a chore, especially if you’re extinguished and normal life begins to meantime. “Food production requires a beginner. The most successful gardeners resume. But home food production might a set of skills that anyone can benefit are the ones that take become even more important as the world from honing,” says Manning. “It is rather pleasure from it. shifts its focus to another looming humbling to see how much work and skill And there’s no disaster: climate change. By relying goes into producing the food that makes point trying to on seasonal produce and growing its way to our plate.” OFFICE SPACE AT ROSL We are adapting to these Covid times and are re-purposing some of our bedrooms into office spaces. We can provide an office for two to If you're looking to spice things up, chilli These young vegetables, known as three people, including an ensuite bathroom, WiFi, and the option to hire peppers are a good place to start. Needing microgreens or vegetable confetti, are meeting rooms when you need more space with colleagues and clients. plenty of light, heat and moisture to thrive, packed with 40 times more vitamins and place your pots on a window ledge that gets nutrients than their fully grown brethren. Five foods you plenty of sun. Water regularly but make sure Harvest them when two to three weeks The Copper Tower, the small two story building on the right as you can grow indoors the soil dries out between waterings old for the best results enter ROSL’s courtyard, is also available as a self-contained office, with space for up to six people. HERBS CHILLIS TOMATOES MICROGREENS RADISHES

Herbs are sun worshippers, so Try smaller varieties if you plan to grow Fast growing and ready Your business can take advantage of our wonderful Mayfair location perfect for that sunny spot by tomatoes indoors. They tend to do better about four weeks after with a garden overlooking Green Park, and beautiful Grade 1 listed the window. Some of the most if you don't live in a hot climate or have sowing, radishes don't need successful herbs to grow indoors are a green house at your disposal. Again, the same amount of light as building. If you know of a small organisation looking for a new basil, chives, sage, thyme, parsley, plenty of light is needed to get the best these other suggestions, so home, please contact Jon Kudlick [email protected] oregano, mint and rosemary. Plenty out of these, and you'll find the seeds can work well in the darker of variety for almost any meal germinate fairly quickly months of the year

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Meet the new

Plant-based2040 meat alternatives and lab-grown meat will account for more than half of all meat few days before Christmas, a group of diners In 2017, Eat Just acquired consumed by 2040 sat down at a swanky Singapore restaurant Willem van Eelen’s original for a four-course dinner. The menu, which patents, and brought his daughter In December 2020, the first lab-grown meat product included a bao bun with chicken and spring Ira on board as an advisor. MEATwas approved in Singapore, making its restaurant onion, along with a crispy maple waffle with “This historic accomplishment is not the result of a single chicken and hot sauce, perhaps didn’t sound company’s actions – far from it,” said Josh Tetrick, co-founder debut a few weeks later. So is now the time for like the kind of thing that would make history. Yet one of the and CEO of Eat Just. “It’s the result of the imagination and cultured meat – billed as an ethical alternative Adiners, a 12-year-old pioneer, described the chicken as “the tenacity of Willem van Eelen as well as the many scientists, to farmed meat – to start gaining traction? most amazing thing I’ve ever seen or ever tasted. It’s definitely educators and entrepreneurs in the field who believed in the made me see how small things, like just changing the way we power of this idea before most of the folks at my company were eat, can literally change our entire lives.” even born, including me. Today, we’re thankful for them and The chicken in question, which was branded as GOOD will continue to carry on their important work.” Meat and launched at the 1880 private members’ club, The big question, then, is whether lab-grown meat is ready was nutritionally and functionally the same as normal to hit the mainstream. With 1880 selling its chicken nuggets chicken. It tasted like chicken too – “because it is,” according for just $23 – comparable to what a guest would pay for a to the GOOD Meat website. However, no hens were harmed in regular chicken entrée there – is cultured meat reaching a its making. Rather, this was cultured chicken – grown in a lab point of commercial viability? And are consumers themselves from cells on a chicken’s feather, without requiring the ready to embrace cultured meat, or is there a disgust barrier slaughter of a single bird. to overcome first? Eat Just, the San Francisco startup responsible, was the first Dr Marianne Ellis, head of the Department of Chemical cultured meat company to reach this milestone, but is far from Engineering at the University of Bath and co-founder of the only one on the track. The late Dutch scientist Willem van Cellular Agriculture, is a tissue expert and one of the UK’s Eelen, widely regarded as the ‘godfather of cultured meat’, leading authorities on cultured meat. She believes that studied cell culture techniques from the 1950s onwards and cultured meat will one day be available as an alternative filed several patents from the late ‘90s. protein source, at a cost close to everyday ‘staple’ meats like Over the decade that followed, stem cells from frogs were mince and chicken. used to create a steak-like product; TIME magazine labelled “This is some way off, possibly ten to 15 years,” she says. cultured meat one of the breakthrough ideas of 2009; and “We expect that cultured meat will be on the market and PETA offered a prize for the first company to sell lab-grown available in some restaurants in the next year or two, but it chicken to consumers. NASA, looking for ways that astronauts will be expensive and at the high end of meat product prices.” might grow their own meat, even grew a sample of fish fillet While there is still a long way to go in terms of bringing costs from goldfish cells. down, the last few years have seen remarkable advances in that Then, in 2013, Dr Mark Post of Maastricht University regard. There has also been a dramatic uptick in the number of created the first lab-grown beef burger, the culmination companies working on lab-grown meat. Dr Neil Stephens, a of two years of work and €250,000 of funding. The sociologist and Wellcome Trust Fellow at Brunel burger, made from 20,000 tiny threads of muscle University, has been following the social world of tissue, was described as tasting “reasonably good” lab-grown meat since 2008. He estimates there are – although clearly at that price point, it wasn’t around 80 companies worldwide at the moment, going to put McDonald's out of business. By60% weight, 60% of up from just a handful five years ago. mammals on earth are livestock, 36% are humans and just 4% are wild animals

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£104bn “When I started looking at lab-grown meat, it was really The expected size of Over the long-term, cultured meat may help reverse exclusively a university-based research enterprise,” he says. the market for meat a looming crisis – the challenge of feeding an ever- “Since 2015, we’ve seen a shift to something driven much more alternatives within the growing population at a time of ever-depleting by start-up companies, who have a different way of working.” next decade, equating to resources. According to the journalist George Monbiot, Much of their work draws on innovations in biomedicine, 10% of the global lab-grown food (which will include fermented flour and some of which are highly applicable to cultured meat, and meat industry other food products, as well as meat) could be our best hope some of which need to be adapted. for the precarious years ahead. “While both look at controlling cells’ proliferation and “The new technologies I call farmfree food create differentiation, medicine is very different in terms of volume astonishing possibilities to save both people and planet… and price point,” points out Stephens. “People will pay a lot If it’s done right, it means cheap and abundant food for more money for kidney tissue to address their disease than everyone,” he wrote in The Guardian in January 2020. they will for a small sausage, and a small sausage would Dr Ellis believes that, in future, cultured meat, plant-based food probably have more material.” and traditionally farmed meat will all be available to consumers. In Dr Ellis’s case, she and her team take animal stem cells “The relative amounts and types will differ between cultures and feed them a cell culture media (a nutrient solution), around the world, which I see as a good thing,” she says. before placing them on a support material in a bench-scale “People will always have their personal beliefs as to what is the bioreactor. The end product is a gloop of muscle cells best diet, and this is important as differences of opinion are that could ultimately be used by the food industry. good for healthy debate on the future of food. My personal “The cost of production is still high, so finding ways to thoughts are that we need a diversity of food sources to ensure reduce costs is essential,” she says. “That is why we are we can feed everyone on the planet.” working on bioprocess design to help reduce the In the meantime, lab-grown meat remains something of cost of manufacture. There are also high costs a polarising subject. While it’s difficult to gauge consumer associated with the purchase of cell culture sentiment before the products are even on the market, media – however, a number of companies studies suggest that different demographics might respond are working on making new media to cultured meat differently. For some, the ‘ick’ factor – the formulations and the most successful At $23, 1880's lab-grown entree is comparable in cost thought of consuming a ‘frankenfood’ – may be hard to 73% to their other chicken menu options. Could this price will likely be the one that makes The expected increase point mean culured meat will soon be a viable option? overcome. production most affordable.” in global demand “There’s a group of people that really are not interested in The cell culture media used to for meat by 2050, cultured meat, there’s a group of people who seem very open make the Eat Just chicken is somewhat compared with today's to at least trying it and a whole lot of people in the middle who controversial. The company used foetal consumption are unsure for all kinds of reasons,” says Dr Stephens. “What bovine serum to grow their cells, which the studies tend to find is that the people who are more likely involves the slaughter of a pregnant cow. to want to consume cultured meat are younger, male, Clearly, this poses ethical problems for the educated, and live in urban environments. That diversity will vegetarians and vegans who might otherwise probably be there for a long time but may also shift depending view cultured meat as a harm-free product. on what happens.” “This is something where, for the technology to be Relatedly, there is a debate in the vegan activist community successful, the community needs to move away from it,” about whether cultured meat is really the way forward. While says Dr Stephens. “A number of companies have announced many are excited at the prospect, others believe it’s sending an that they are able to move away from that – Eat Just decided unhealthy message that meat is still desirable: why do we need they wanted to push for getting regulatory approval for a to grow meat in a lab when we can just eat plants? product that does use foetal bovine serum, but I think not Dr Stephens thinks this debate will eventually be played all companies would make that same decision.” out more broadly. As the growing number of vegetarians and As and when a plant-based medium can be used, lab-grown ‘flexitarians’ will testify, it isn’t only the vegan activists who meat promises to be entirely animal-friendly. Considering 130 are concerned with meat reduction. However, he doesn’t see million chickens and four million pigs are slaughtered every cultured meat as being a mainstream talking point until the day, that would be welcome news to anyone concerned about products are actually on the market. animal exploitation. “The technology is still too early to actually be anywhere There may be major environmental benefits too, cutting out There is a debate close to the supermarket,” he says. “Building the factories and the damage associated with industrial farming practices and bioreactor systems takes time – so if you want to supply a in the vegan activist turning the tide on deforestation. Dr Ellis’s team are working major supermarket, you have to consider the infrastructure, community about to reduce the carbon footprint of cultured meat, by refining even if you can make cultured meat perfectly well. Don’t whether culture their bioreactor design and choosing more environmentally conflate the fact it’s being sold in one restaurant with the idea meat is really the friendly materials. that it’ll be available in all restaurants soon – itwon't!” way forward

28 OVERSEAS JOURNAL MARCH - MAY 2021 WWW.ROSL.ORG.UK 29 IN THE UK

Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street Constructed from stacked 40ft shipping containers, BoxPark became the world’s first pop up shopping mall when it launched in 2011. With a mixture of street food options, you can happily mix a beer with authentic Argentinian steak, Greek souvlaki and Spanish tapas all in one meal! www.boxpwwark.co.uk Nearest Station: Camden Town, Chalk Farm Nearest Station: Camden Town Overlooking Regents Canal, Camden Billed as the UK’s first dedicated Market is home to more than 1,000+ stalls, market for the ‘conscious consumer’, selling everything from vintage clothing to all stallholders offer vegetarian and gothic jewellery, custom Converse to circus vegan options, as well as adhering to equipment, and of course, a whole world of a zero-single-use plastics policy. All food and drink. New York salt beef sits 1 food waste is composted to happily alongside kosher Lebanese wraps, 4 generate electricity. Portuguese custard tarts, Taiwanese fried buckstreet.market chicken, and everything in between.

camdenmarket.com

5 6 COVID CHECK With government coronavirus restrictions In London, you are spoilt for choice when it changing frequently, please visit each market’s website before comes to street food. Whatever your taste 2 buds are craving, there is a stallholder travelling to ensure they are open. in every corner of the capital able Nearest station: London Bridge HONOURABLE MENTIONS to sate your hunger Said to be more than 1,000 years old, 3 Leather Lane Market nestled between and beneath several Chatsworth Road Market railway lines around London Bridge station, Brixton Village Borough Market plays host to a huge array & Market Row of independent traders, selling fresh produce and ready-to-eat food from across the UK and around the world. Arguably London’s most famous food market. www.boroughmarket.org.uk

Nearest Station: Victoria Nearest Station: Barbican Converted from a former night club and walking distance from the clubhouse, this A weekday street food mecca, covering most of the market hall is home to 11 kitchens, three area between the Barbican and Old Street. The sheer bars, a coffee shop, and a rooftop bar. You number of independent stalls on offer keeps city can enjoy all the benefits of street food workers coming back day after day, and mean you will while keeping away from the elements. always find something to tickle your taste buds. www.bitecross.co.uk markethalls.co.uk/market/Victoria 30 OVERSEAS JOURNAL MARCH - MAY 2021 WWW.ROSL.ORG.UK 31 N E W S & E V E N T S News & views The latest from our clubhouse; branches; and art, music, and education projects ROSL NEWS

out with individual houses around the head of a little valley. Each house has ROSL’s new link with Tanzania a House Mother and a maximum of 12 children. There is a large living room, Margaret Adrian-Vallance looks at ROSL’s support for marginalised communities a small kitchen, toilets and showers – around the Commonwealth and how members’ generosity is touching the lives with water supply connected". of so many including those at the Orphans in the Wild Village in Tanzania "We tried to avoid a single building that would resemble an ‘institute’ and longside ROSL’s care for its branches probably don’t know just how near Ogoda. The village provides instead have created ‘family’ houses, future, clubhouse and staff much their help has been appreciated. education and other support for HIV all interconnected by a path, to resemble Aduring the pandemic, members’ The Commonwealth is a big place and affected children from 16 villages in a village. past donations and legacies towards although this support has been modest, the Southern Highlands. "The village is supported by a small humanitarian and education projects in it has improved the lives of many, and the "Most of the communities are on the clinic with a nurse, an office complex, marginalised areas of the Commonwealth COVID pandemic has again shown how top of each hill", says Marion Gough, a play school and a sizeable kindergarten have seldom been more valued. interdependent we all are on each other. Orphans in the Wild Trustee. school. There are three volunteers houses, From funding students in Namibia, One area very much in need of "The area is affected by HIV/AIDS an electricity power line, and water Kenya, and Pakistan, to education for support is in Tanzania, and from and has the highest infection rate in pumped to header tanks. There is also single mothers and their children in February, ROSL will be supporting the Tanzania, hence the number of orphans. a private Finnish doctor’s house on site. Bangladesh, many members and Orphans in the Wild Children’s Village "The Children’s Village has been set "Nearby, we have built a vocational training school (operated independently, ORPHANS but providing free training for our own IN THE WILD NGO school leavers). Founded in 2006 to support "With 16 Villages within our NGO children in Tanzania Project Area, orphans originate from Based in the Mufindi district, a variety of villages around the region, a hotspot for HIV/AIDS and we can only take children in who in the country have absolutely nowhere to go. We have Approximately 40% of children a Milk Powder Project, sponsored for the have lost at least one parent last seven years by a church in Bristol. By 2020, 62 children were "We are so very grateful for ROSL’s being cared four in six support and would be more than happy single-storey houses, each if any ROSL members could pay us a visit with a dedicated house mama - perhaps combined with a Safari when travel restrictions ease". Education has a broad definition as Empire changed into Commonwealth In the UK and the Trust has been supporting As ROSL takes back the catering in Closer to home, it was very sad to learn the archiving of ROSL’s key house and international travel remains of the deaths of Sir Colin Imray, Marilyn historical documents limited, there are exciting plans afoot Archbold, Patricia Farrant and Robert to include dishes from countries in which Wainwright, who all took such an interest the archiving of ROSL’s key historical ROSL has branches, reciprocal clubs or in the altruistic side of ROSL. Former documents has re-started, albeit around projects. Chairman Sir Colin often said he hoped the temporary closures of the London A lot to look forward to and much to that ROSL would one day have a project clubhouse, due to the Coronavirus be grateful for - in particular the past and with Bangladesh - a country he knew well pandemic. present generosity of members helping - and Marilyn was a great supporter of the When completed it will be full of to bring ROSL and so many other ROSL-Namibia project, collecting books interesting and helpful possibilities. communities through these and other resource material for free unprecedented times. freighting out to Namibia. Read more Overseas magazine for example, first about their generous legacies on page 40. published in 1915, holds much information For more details on ROSL's work Education has a broad definition and on attitudes of the day, articles, photos, and how you can support projects, thanks to funding from the ROSL Trust, advertisements, branch reports and so on, visit www.rosl.org.uk/education

32 OVERSEAS JOURNAL MARCH - MAY 2021 WWW.ROSL.ORG.UK 33 Support Us To allow ROSL to continue funding this and other education projects around the Commonwealth, News & views please consider donating at News & views ROSL NEWS www.rosl.org.uk/supportus ROSL NEWS

ROSL Composition Award 2020 Winner Announced We are pleased to announce that the winner of the first ROSL Composition Award for 2020, in association with the London Sinfonietta, is Michael Small

Michael Small, along with confirmed at a later date due five other young professional to concert restrictions with composers, were invited to the pandemic. Four out of the workshop a short original six composers workshopped Jonathan Berman. the American Composers work with London Sinfonietta, in person, with the other Michael studied composition Orchestra, the Aspen following which Michael was two composers joining the with David Horne as an Contemporary Ensemble, the selected as the winner of the workshop virtually, thanks to undergraduate at the Royal Momenta Quartet, Music from ROSL Composition Award, the wonders of technology. Northern College of Music Copland House, and soloists and will receive a £3,000 The composition award and pursued his postgraduate including Grammy laureate commission to compose a panel for 2020 included studies in composition at Gloria Cheng, and the BBC short chamber work for six Composer Gavin Higgins, Cornell University. His works Music award winning violinist players and conductor, to Tina Speed, Creative Manager are regularly performed by Fenella Humphreys. His work be premiered by London for Wise Music Classical, and international calibre musicians. For Years Now delighted the Sinfonietta at the Southbank conductor of the workshop Michael’s music has been panel and we cannot wait to Centre. The date will be with London Sinfonietta featured by Ensemble 10/10, hear the full work very soon.

Beethoven 250th Birthday Concert A concert celebrating one of the all-time great composers was packed with alumni from ROSL's Annual Music Competition

Beethoven celebrated a milestone Foyle. The audience online and in person birthday in 2020, which was most were treated to a whistle-stop tour of Incognito definitely outshined by the pandemic, Beethoven’s career with three epic works, The third edition of ROSL’s charity postcard exhibition saw over 150 artists but artists, venues, and organisations Symphonies No.1 and No.7, transcribed from all over the world create and donate artwork anonymously still managed to find a way to celebrate for piano for four hands by Franz Xaver this man’s genius, and ROSL was no Scharwenka and beautifully played by Despite not being able to host a private view the money raised from each sale will support the exception. Originally planned to take South African pianists Tessa Uys and Ben or live sale launch due to the government altruistic work of ROSL, focusing on our projects place in the spring, we were delighted Schoeman. Michael Foyle and Martin restrictions, the new exhibition was still on encouraging and enabling arts education to be able to host the concert in his Cousin enthralled the audience with a fantastic programme and even better display at Over-Seas House for a short time around the globe. The sale has raised over 250th year, but even more delighted to a stunning performance of the Violin to be able to welcome our audience into before closure, and the work was available to £4,000 so far, all thanks to our artist friends and The money raised have an audience in the room, as well as Sonata No.10, the last violin sonata the clubhouse in person and virtually to purchase online so members around the world members who created and donated, as well as from each sale will online. As ever, our ROSL Annual Music Beethoven composed for this instrument celebrate with us. could get involved. those who have bought works. Competition alumni were centre stage, combination, and often described as the Watch the full concert on our YouTube Sold for £50 each, the artist name was only Thank you to everyone who supported the support the altruistic with pianists Tessa Uys, Ben Schoeman, loveliest. It was brilliant to be able to channel. Thanks to Ian and Susan Pettman revealed after the artwork was purchased. All exhibition. work of ROSL and Martin Cousin, and violinist Michael celebrate Beethoven’s birthday with such for kindly supporting this concert.

34 OVERSEAS JOURNAL MARCH - MAY 2021 WWW.ROSL.ORG.UK 35 More images online Visit our Facebook page and the ROSL website to see more photos of ROSL events. Get daily news updates on the News & views ROSL website and by News & views ROSL NEWS ROSL NEWS following us on Twitter.

Archiving update Once again delving into our history, Archivist Natalia Sedunova is back to finish the job

Thanks to funding from the ROSL Trust, Overseas magazines, committee meeting our work to properly catalogue and minutes, photographs, architectural archive ROSL’s extensive collection drawings, diaries from our founder of historical documents and artefacts Sir Evelyn Wrench, and much more. restarted late in 2020. Archivist Natalia Once complete, the next stage of Sedunova, who began the project as the process is to digitise much of the part of her undergraduate course at UCL, Overseas back catalogue. This will has returned to ROSL to complete the enable us to easily search through works part time, while she completes 106 years of back issues and bring her postgraduate studies in Archives and more content to you. Records Management at UCL. Keep an eye out in future issues and The first stage is to complete on the ROSL website for more updates cataloguing the collection of past on the progress of the project.

Workers busy unloading limestone, OFFICE by Aravinda Ganesan, from the successful 2019 competition, which SPACE AT ROSL focused on the theme of style We are adapting to these Covid times and are repurposing some of our bedrooms into office spaces. We can provide an office for two ROSL Photography Competition 2021 to three people, including an Following the success of our 2019 ROSL Photography Competition we are ensuite bathroom, Wi-Fi, and the pleased to announce that we are welcoming submissions for our 2021 option to hire meeting rooms Competition, focusing on the theme of ‘International Friendship’ when you need more space with colleagues and clients. Our 2019 Competition with the theme countries of the Commonwealth. promise’, which will be chosen solely by The Copper Tower, the small two- of ‘Style’ received over 250 submissions Free to enter, the competition has two judge Farah Mahbub in memory of her storey building on the right as from 21 countries, providing a wonderful categories, Camera and Mobile Phone, colleague and friend. As before, the top you enter ROSL’s courtyard, is also and diverse exhibition of images. With and applicants may submit up to five 20 images will be displayed in the Over- available as a self-contained office, three prizes selected by our expert panel images across both categories to be Seas House Exhibition and the work will with space for up to six people. of judges, it also provided a valuable judged individually. The Camera winner also be shared online. opportunity for those who entered to have will receive £2,000, a trip to the clubhouse Your business can take advantage their work seen by industry professionals. exhibition opening, a day of professional The deadline for entries is 5pm GMT on New furniture in the Drawing Room of our wonderful Mayfair location Through our competition, we want tutoring and their winning image will be Monday 6 September 2021, the 20 images Thanks to a generous legacy donation Featuring now sofas, seats, tables, with a garden overlooking Green to capture contemporary culture in the published in Overseas magazine, the Mobile selected for exhibition and overall from Mrs Audrey Roberts, the Willingdon planting, and more, the room is the most Park, and beautiful Grade 1 listed Commonwealth and ask that images Phone winner will receive £1,000 and prize-winners will be announced on Friday Drawing Room has been lovingly comfortable place in the clubhouse to building. If you know of a small be taken in the year prior to the their winning image will also be published 24 September 2021 and the exhibition of renovated with new furniture. A quiet sit and take in the view of Green Park, organisation looking for a new competition deadline. For 2021, all in Overseas magazine, and a Young final images will open at Over-Seas House and tranquil sanctuary away from the perhaps over the newspaper or even home, please contact Jon Kudlick - images submitted must be taken from Photographer from across the categories on Tuesday 7 December 2021. hubbub of London's streets, the Drawing afternoon tea. We hope you enjoy the [email protected] 7 September 2020, should relate to the will receive £500 as part of ‘The Madiha Visit www.rosl.org.uk/photography to Room is looking better than ever. changes for yourself when we reopen. chosen theme and have a link to current Aijaz prize for a young photographer of find out more.

36 OVERSEAS JOURNAL MARCH - MAY 2021 WWW.ROSL.ORG.UK 37 News & views News & views ROSL NEWS ROSL NEWS

Atholl Swainston-Harrison studied music (violin) in South Africa before completing his army service and managing the Pro Music Orchestra and Opera Company, becoming Assistant Director of the Meet your Central Council Roodepoort City Theatre and Opera (Johannesburg) thereafter. He took Made up of ROSL members, Central Council works hand in hand on the role of Chief Executive of with the Director-General and Senior Leadership Team to provide IAMA from 2000 after further study in strategic direction for the organisation. As members, they are London. In his spare time, he serves as a trustee on the West London your representation in the decision making process at ROSL and Hospital Trust, Alex Simpson Smith make sure members’ interests are at the heart of what we do Memorial Trust (Great Ormond Street, London) and Howard Davis Farm Trust Alexander Downer AC (ROSL London Borough of Hammersmith (Jersey). He is also a council member Chairman) was born in Adelaide, and Fulham in 1999. He left there of the Royal Philharmonic Society. South Australia. He has served as in 2002 to commence his own Former Chairman a career diplomat in the Australian consultancy business. Anthony Teasdale, Director General Diplomatic Service and with the of the European Parliament’s Research appointed OBE United Nations. He was a member of Anjola-Oluwa Adeniyi leads EMEA Service, has had an eminent career Stanley Martin, who served as ROSL the Australian Parliament for 24 years Accounts at Securonix, a company in UK politics (special adviser to a Chairman from 2005 to 2010, has and spent nearly 12 of those years working in cyberthreat detection previous Chancellor of the Exchequer, been appointed OBE in the New Year as Australia’s Foreign Minister. He is using Machine Learning and Big Kenneth Clarke, and Foreign Honours for his services to diplomacy. also currently serving as the Executive Data, with responsibility for post-sale Secretary, Geoffrey Howe), as well as Pictured above in his ROSL portrait, we Chair of the International School for customer success, client relationships within the European Union institutions. send Stanley many congratulations. Government at King’s College London. and renewals. His previous He is a Visiting Professor at both experience includes organisations the LSE and Columbia University Anne Wilkinson (ROSL Deputy like Barclays, Aviva, BP, and CLS. in New York. He has extensive Chairman) worked as a Head of He is a member of the Information Ruth Bala is a successful rising star Zambia and Governor of Anguilla, networks in London (Parliamentarians, Corporate HR at a local authority in Systems Security Association (ISSA), at the Bar, practising from Gough currently part of the Royal Household Civil Servants, Policymakers) and London, followed by HR consultancy and holds the Institute of Directors Square Chambers, who can assist as the Marshal of the Diplomatic throughout Europe and in the US projects. She spent ten years as (IoD) Diploma in Company Direction. in promoting ROSL throughout the Corps, the liaison between HM The (NYC and Washington DC), which he a Trustee for a national domestic He is a Freeman of the City of extensive London and international Queen, and all the overseas High visits regularly to enhance ties to the violence charity, as well as being a London, and a Liveryman of the legal community, as well as applying Commissioners and Ambassadors in Parliament. volunteer Samaritan and serving on Worshipful Company of Information a forensic approach and exercising London. a national recruitment panel for senior Technologists. commercial judgment to strategy Susan E Walton is a senior finance volunteer roles and trustees for a and risk. Helen Prince started her career as and digital media executive with national charity. She has been Paul Arkwright CMG was until recently an Advertising Copywriter, and soon over 25 years of experience running a ROSL member since 2012, as well the UK Government’s COP26 Regional Nabeel Goheer, Assistant Secretary developed a specialism in marketing the global institutional investment as a Central Council member since Ambassador for Sub-Saharan Africa, General, has a pivotal role within and fundraising for charities. Since research franchises of top-tier 2017 and ROSL London Group having left the FCDO to set up his the Commonwealth Secretariat, and 2009, she has held various senior investment banks in London, New committee member. own consultancy focusing on Africa. a wide global network throughout management positions in charities York and Hong Kong. She is also He was previously CEO for the UK- the Commonwealth and beyond, and cultural organisations, most is an investor and entrepreneur Richard Harbord (ROSL Honorary Africa Investment Summit, British in addition to a background in recently as Head of Development founding a number of start-ups in the Treasurer) spent his main career in High Commissioner to Nigeria, and consultancy involving restructuring at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. technology and digital media space. Chairman visit Local Government, working in eight UK Ambassador to the Netherlands, of organisations, and PhD in As a member of ROSL for more than She serves as a board member and Despite the difficulties in branches Local Authorities in London and and has served in senior posts at Management from Judge Business 25 years, she is particularly focused senior advisor to leading think tanks, meeting around the world, ROSL the South East., becoming Chief the FCDO in London, including as School of University of Cambridge. on working with the ROSL team universities, cultural institutes, social Chairman Alexander Downer AC Executive and Director of Finance at Director for the Commonwealth. to develop fundraising to help the enterprises and charities including the was still able to visit the Western the London Borough of Richmond He has extensive ties throughout Alistair Harrison CMG CVO, is a organisation grow and thrive into Royal Hospital Chelsea and Charles Australian branch in 2020. in 1988, and Managing Director of Africa as well as in London. former British High Commissioner to the future. University in Prague.

38 OVERSEAS JOURNAL MARCH - MAY 2021 WWW.ROSL.ORG.UK 39 News & views News & views ROSL NEWS EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

The ROSL legacy lives on UPCOMING Over the past 111 years, ROSL has been lucky enough to count some hugely supportive Evelyn Wrench members of society amongst its ranks, who have served ROSL as members and officials Lectures for years and even decades in some cases. They have also left behind generous legacies Wednesday 28 April, which will help support and nourish us for many more years to come 6pm, Online ROSL Annual Music Competition 2021 The New Industry. Light Rail Manufacturing, We are sorry to announce the recent “Colin Imray was my oldest and closest This past year has been a turbulent Singers, Strings, and Keyboard Engineering and Operation in the UK passing of Sir Colin Imray (pictured below), friend in the Diplomatic Service for one for everyone, but our Annual solo sections and the collaborative Representatives from the All-Party who served as ROSL Chairman from 2000 over 60 years. We met in 1958, when I Music Competition has continued to piano prize receive £5,000 each. Parliamentary Group for Light Rail (APPLRG) to 2005. Born in Newport in 1933, Colin took over his desk on my first day in the grow in profile, and we were thrilled We are looking forward to another will discuss the emergence and benefits of led a distinguished diplomatic career with Service. As a newcomer hoping for help to successfully complete the 2020 fantastic competition and hope light rail trams in several cities in the UK. postings in Australia and Kenya, as British if I needed it, I was dismayed when he competition, albeit with a few delays that you will join us to cheer on the They are ecological, non-toxic vehicle fleets, Trade Commissioner in Canada, Consul said he was off to his first posting - in along the way and supported by so fantastic music making. which will contribute to the decarbonisation General in Pakistan, and Deputy High Australia, which then sounded as far away many of you in the audience in the of the country’s transport system in a highly Commissioner in India, among others. as the moon. When ROSL was looking for Princess Alexandra Hall and watching Visit www.rosl.org.uk/amc for more cost-effective way. As well as serving on ROSL’s a Chairman at the end of the from home. Our commitment to the information as dates are confirmed Andrew Carter MP; Beverley Nielsen, Central Council and as century, I suggested Colin. young musicians never faltered, and Chair, Ultra-Light Rail Partners; Nicola Small, Chairman, he was also Patron Colin Imray was He was elected to the Central this year we had a record number of AMC 2021 Applications Coventry City Council, Programme Director, of the Friends of the Center Council and his modesty, entrants for the 2021 competition. Due Very Light Rail; and Daniel Giblin, Director, UK a fine man, who Percentage of total applicants for the Rehabilitation of the charm, and intelligence soon to the latest lockdown restrictions, we Ultra-Light and LCT Ltd. James Harkins, Head for each section Paralysed and a member of enriched the life won over his new colleagues. have had to delay the section finals for of Secretariat, will moderate the discussion. • Ensemble A 8% the Travellers Club. Colin Imray was a fine man, the Annual Music Competition, which of ROSL as a fine • Ensemble B 6% Former Director-General Chaiman who enriched the life of ROSL means we must change the traditional • Keyboard 13.5% Robert Newell said: “I was as a fine Chairman.” format, but only slightly. We plan to • Singers 27.5% particularly fond of him. He was one of We have also recently lost Marilyn hold our solo section finals, followed • Strings 25% the very best ROSL chairmen, a very wise Archbold (pictured right), who joined ROSL by our Gold Medal, which will take • Wind and Brass 20% and eminent person with enormous charm in 1961, met her husband at the club and Group and a keen follower of ROSL’s place in the Queen Elizabeth Hall at Nationalities represented this year and intellect.” would go on to serve on Central Council, artistic output, she also lent her expertise the Southbank Centre, and then finish • British Former Chairman Stanley Martin said: as Chair of the West Sussex Branch and to several ROSL committees. our competition with our ensembles • Australian as Vice Chairman for five years from 2006. Former Director-General Roddy Porter section finals back at Over-Seas House. • British Overseas (Hong Kong) Speaking to Overseas in 2018, Marilyn said: “Patricia made a clear impression All dates to be confirmed. • Canadian Thursday 3 June, 6pm, Over-Seas House recounted how she met her husband: on me. She possessed a keen sense of The competition offers more than • New Zealander “I was sitting at the desk in the Central humour and when she laughed, as she £75,000 in awards with a £15,000 • Indian Inspirational Black Women in Music, Lounge one evening and frequently did, her eyes first prize for solo performers and • Singaporean Publishing and Fashion someone I recognised from would twinkle in amusement. chamber ensemble awards of £10,000. • Irish These three women have created and run work, Norman, came in and I much appreciated her The winners of the Wind & Brass, • South African brand new businesses, to encourage and exclaimed ‘What are you She had a deep wisdom, especially whilst support black authors and musicians, and to doing here?’ I never in my passion for ROSL I was new to the workings offer affordable bespoke fashion to all women. wildest dreams, imagined and everything of Central Council and the They will talk about the businesses they that I was meeting my future it stood for Executive Committee. She have created and the challenges they have husband. Unknown to me, he had a deep passion for ROSL ROSL Book Group had to face. Valerie Brandes (middle) is the was a member of the club and would have and everything it stood for, which found Meets on Wednesdays either at the Club or on Zoom at 6.00 until 7.30. founder of inclusive independent publishing meetings in London on a Wednesday and expression in the way she cared for staff For further details and to reserve a place for the discussion (essential), house Jacaranda Books; Chi-chi Nwanoku stay at the clubhouse on a Tuesday night. and fellow members. please contact Eve at [email protected] (left) is Professor of double bass at the Royal Sometimes he would drive me home and We are the poorer for her passing.” Academy of Music she is the Founder, Artistic that’s how things developed.” A huge thank you to all those who have 24 March: The Village in the Jungle by Leonard Woolf & Executive Director of Chineke! Foundation; Former Central Council member Patricia served ROSL in their lives and continue to 21 April: Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart and Dr Maggie Semple (right) is a successful Farrant has also recently passed away at do so, through the generous legacies that 24 May: Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh business woman and entrepreneur who the age of 93. A member of the London have been left to the organisation. founded the Semple brand in 2010.

40 OVERSEAS JOURNAL MARCH - MAY 2021 WWW.ROSL.ORG.UK 41 Book online Go online to get full details and book your next event at ROSL calendar www.rosl.org.uk/events ROSL NEWS

25 13 14 MAR2 MAR APR APR

MEDICAL MUSICAL SOCIETY CONCERT 1932: PICASSO'S ROSL AMC WIND WITH SOLEM 'YEAR OF WONDERS' AND BRASS FINAL QUARTET DATES Tuesday 2 March Tuesday 13 April TBC Wednesday 14 April 20 22 FOR APR APR ROSL PUBLIC AFFAIRS YOUR ROSL AMC SERIES, SIR SHERARD VOCAL FINAL COWPER-COLES DIARY… Tuesday 20 April TBC Thursday 25 March

27 28 APR APR

EVELYN WRENCH LECTURE ULTRA-LIGHT RAIL MARMEN QUARTET CONCERT Wednesday 28 April Thursday 22 April

29 13 ROSL PUBLIC APR MAY11 MAY AFFAIRS SERIES, KWASI KARTENG MP ROSL PUBLIC ROSL AMC Thursday 29 April ROSL AMC AFFAIRS SERIES, KEYBOARD FINAL STRINGS FINAL ANATOL LIEVEN Tuesday 27 April Tuesday 11 May TBC Thursday 13 May

26 JUNE MAY18 MAY EVELYN WRENCH 3 JUNE8

INSPIRATIONAL BLACK WOMEN IN ROSL AMC ROSL AMC GOLD PUBLISHING, MUSIC ROSL AMC STRINGS OVERSEAS FINAL MEDAL AT QEH AND FASHION ENSEMBLES FINAL Tuesday 18 May TBC Tuesday 26 May TBC Thursday 3 June Tuesday 8 June TBC Camera category

10 JUNE15 JUNE17 winner 2020: JUNE ROSL AMC MIXED ENSEMBLES FINAL ROSL PUBLIC Holding Hands Tuesday 15 June TBC AFFAIRS SERIES, TOM TUGENDHAT MP by Isabella Agbaje Thursday 17 June COMEDY NIGHT Thursday 10 June

22 SHOWCASE THE CONTEMPORARY CULTURE JUNE OF THE COMMONWEALTH The Royal Over-Seas League is pleased to announce the 2021 theme of the ROSL Photography Competition as ‘International Friendship’ SHADOW STATE: JULY2 MEDICAL MURDER MAYHEM MUSICAL SOCIETY AND RUSSIA’S Prizes of up to £2,000 available CONCERT WITH REMAKING OF LINOS PIANO TRIO THE WEST The competition has two categories: Camera and Mobile Phone Tuesday 22 June Friday 2 July Enter now: www.rosl.org.uk/photography The deadline for entries is 5pm GMT on Monday 6 September 2021

42 OVERSEAS JOURNAL MARCH - MAY 2021 WWW.ROSL.ORG.UK 43 THE PASS IT ON PLEDGE When you’re finished with your copy ofOverseas , please don’t throw it straight into the recycling, pass it on! We’re encouraging our members to spread the word, so if you know any non-members that might enjoy reading the articles and the great window they provide into the world of ROSL, please pass it on to them. If they end up becoming a member, you could even be entered into our prize draw to win a hamper from Davy’s if they mention you on their application, as part of our ‘Propose a Friend’ scheme. www.rosl.org.uk/proposeafriend