OVERSEAS Quarterly journal of the ROSL Issue 1, March-May 2013 NGOs revealed Winning performance Tribute to a Master From new technology- Why the standard With his solo show at the driven organisations to was higher than ever Tate, we take a closer a local arts charity, and at the NZ scholarship look at experimental calls for an NGO Day auditions this year painter Frank Bowling MembershipformsSee now renewalpage inside 23 OVERSEAS 2 OVER SEAS www.rosl.org.uk OVERSEAS 16 OVERSEAS ISSUE 1 March-May 2013 The Royal Over-Seas League is a self-funded Commonwealth organisation that offers clubhouse facilities to members, organises Commonwealth art and music competitions and develops joint welfare projects with specific countries. Overseas editorial team Editor Ms Miranda Moore Deputy Editor Ms Claire Simon: +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x205; [email protected] Design Ms Hannah Talmage Display advertisements Mr David Jeffries: +44 (0)20 8674 9444; [email protected] Royal Over-Seas League From the Director-General; News and views . 18 Incorporated by Royal Charter Editor’s letter . 4 The story in pictures from the clubhouses Patron Her Majesty The Queen Vice-Patron Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra KG GCVO ROSL world . 20 President The Rt Hon the Lord Luce KG GCVO DL World All the latest news from the branches. With Chairman Sir Anthony Figgis KCVO CMG* tributes to two untiring supporters of ROSL Vice-Chairman Sir Roger Carrick KCMG LVO* Hon Treasurer Mr Simon Ward FCA* Celebration time . 5 Over-Seas House, Park Place, St James’s Street, Why an international NGO Day, in recognition of Special links: taking care . 22 London SW1A 1LR; +44 (0)20 7408 0214; the important work they do, is long overdue A closer look at organisational partner HMCA www.rosl.org.uk; [email protected]; Fax +44 (0)20 7499 6738 NGO: what’s that? . 6 Annual subscription renewal Over-Seas House, 100 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 3AB; +44 (0)131 225 1501; www.rosl-edinburgh.org; Ranging from trade unions to local charities, what reminder 2013 . 23 [email protected]; constitutes an NGO can be a controversial matter All you need to complete your renewal today Fax +44 (0)131 226 3936 Central Council Power to the people . 8 Books . 24 Mr Graham Archer CMG*, Mrs Shirley Barr*, Mr Ralph New technologies have given rise to new NGOs Reviews of recent publications by members Bauer, Mr Clive Carpenter*, Mr William Chalmers, Prof Monojit Chatterji, Mr Sohail Choudry, Nik Raof that harness the possibilities for good they offer Daud, Mr John Edwards CMG, Mr David Fall CMG, Mrs Patricia Farrant*, Mr Simon Gimson LVO, Mr Peter Hamlyn, Mr John Harbor FCA, Miss Maureen Art for development’s sake . 10 In the UK Howley MBE*, Mr David Jamieson, Mrs Frances How an art charity in Kenya aims to instil King, Miss Sheila MacTaggart LVO, Dr Edmund confidence and innovation in young people Design inspiration . 25 Marshall, Mr David Newman, Mr Ian Partridge CBE, Mrs Doreen Regan*, Ms Lindsay Ross, Mrs Judith Inside the refurbished William Morris Gallery Steiner, Mr Geoffrey Thompson OBE WWI: untold story . 11 *Executive Committee Uncovering the small town of Montreuil – the Master of colour . 26 Director-General Maj Gen Roddy Porter MBE: nerve centre of the British war effort Tribute to the experimental artist Frank Bowling +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x201 Director of Admin and Finance Mr Shakil Tayub: +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x209 £1 add-ons raise £9,000 . 12 What’s on: London . 26 Director of Marketing Ms Gemma Matthews: How the generosity of members is securing the +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x204; [email protected] Director of Education & Development Projects success of ROSL’s development programme Ms Margaret Adrian-Vallance MBE: Events [email protected] Director of Arts Mr Roderick Lakin MBE: My Bangkok . 13 +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x325; [email protected] Recommendations for a trip to the Thai capital Younger Members . 27 Asst. to DG Ms Arabella Beresford-Mitchell: from the Chairman of ROSL Thailand, Jim Napier +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x201; [email protected] ROSL ARTS . 28 Membership Secretary Mrs Angela Farago: Festival spirit . 14 +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x214; [email protected] Experience Barcelona’s Night of Fire and find out Catering Director Mr David Laurance: Food and drink: London . 30 +44 (0)20 7408 0214 x331; David.Laurance@ why Midsummer’s Eve is a great time to visit With a review of Dane’s Yard Kitchen, a new graysonsrestaurants.com restaurant offering members a 30% discount Edinburgh House Manager Mr Daniel Campbell: [email protected] Scottish Development Officer Mr James Wilkie: ROSL news What’s on: Edinburgh . 31 [email protected] Print Hastings Printing Company: It just gets better and Members’ events . 32 +44 (0)1424 720 477 better . 16 The journal is published by the Royal Over-Seas League, Over-Seas Why the competition was tougher than ever for Discussion Group and House, Park Place, St James’s Street, London SW1A 1LR. Any views expressed in editorial and any advertisements included are not the 7th Pettman/ROSL ARTS music scholarship London Group . 34 necessarily endorsed by the Central Council. ISSN 00307424 FRONT COVER: MASK student Benson Kinyanjui’s painting of a Sipili street © MASK March-May 2013 OVER SEAS 3 OVERSEAS From the Director-General Editor’s letter winning SmilES: Director-General Roddy Porter was on the winning hen I team at the ROSL Quiz was in November house- Whunting in East London, one enthusiastic Estate Agent took me on a tour of the Arts and Crafts terraces that characterise the area. Rather unjustly, Walthamstow is better known for crime, poverty – and the unfortunate boy band East 17. Yet this is William Morris country and there are many reminders of this heritage, if hristmas and New Year are long recollections. To the family and friends of you know where to look. The William Morris behind us but the festivities we these wonderful ladies, we extend our deep Gallery reopened last year after a two-year enjoyed were as wonderful as sympathy and our appreciation for their renovation, and I was excited to check out C ever, and the trees and decorations lives well lived. the improved museum (page 25). in the clubhouses looked incredible. I am delighted to welcome Gemma Thanks largely to my work with ROSL Attendance at the Christmas and New Year Matthews and Anton Cole to the ROSL and as a volunteer on development projects functions in London and Edinburgh was staff. Gemma arrived in November to take overseas, I have a healthy interest in the high, making for a fine atmosphere in both over from Margaret Adrian-Vallance as our work of NGOs. So many are doing important locations. Thank you to our hard-working new Marketing Director, and Anton to work, yet there are also well-documented staff for their efforts over the festive period; replace Emmerson Wood as Guest problems with getting resources to those and very many thanks to all our members, Relations Officer in December. They are who need them and making sure funds are who again gave so generously to the staff now settled and Gemma is developing used in ways that are truly beneficial – Christmas fund. The ROSL staff really strategies for improving our communication themes that are central to J M Shaw’s 10 appreciate your kindness. with you (including through the website), Weeks in Africa (page 29). In this context, As this issue of Overseas takes shape, recruiting new members, clarifying the ROSL’s achievements in this area are weather systems around the world continue benefits of membership, developing our particularly gratifying, with members raising to surprise and endanger. Green Park is networks of contacts internationally, and more than £9,000 last year so that young white and, from a snow-bound UK, we leading on improvements to membership people in Namibia and Kenya could continue extend our sympathies to our brethren in administration. This work is a high priority their studies (page 12). Our Focus on NGOs New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, for me this year. looks at some of the new technology- who have been coping with extreme What else have we in train? Refurbishment driven organisations (page 8) and calls for a temperatures and widespread destructive work in the Wrench Room finishes soon World NGO Day, which would celebrate bushfires, and to those in Queensland and already looks stunning. We have the good they do and provide an dealing with yet more floods. We hope that completed a survey to install wi-fi opportunity to share best practice (page 5). the weather returns to normal soon. throughout Over-Seas House London and With such a buzz surrounding the new This time of year usually brings tidings of hope to have that in place soon. Our plans Hollywood take on Les Misérables, I’m sure both joy and sadness, and 2013 is no for a battlefield tour to Ypres in May have members will be as fascinated as I was to exception. We were delighted to read that matured (please contact us if you have not discover the hidden story of Montreuil, Fatima Vanicek has been appointed MBE yet expressed an interest), and many other where the early part of that story is set. for her many years of dedicated service to exciting events are planned, including a tour Surrounded by medieval ramparts, the ROSL, and our Chairman celebrates this of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in small town in Pas-de-Calais became the news further on page 18.