THE November meeting of the ROSL was held at Taunton and Bridgwater College (formerly Somerset College) on Wednesday, November 2.

Members gave a very warm welcome to the ROSL Director General, Major General Roddy Porter who spoke to members about various aspects of the ROSL.

The Royal Overseas League is a not for profit Commonwealth members association, supporting international understanding and friendship through social, music, arts and welfare activities.

Full members can enjoy a variety of benefits including centrally located clubhouses with accommodation overlooking Green Park in London and Princes Street in Edinburgh and reciprocal arrangements with over 80 clubs worldwide. Branch members can also enjoy a range of activities in their areas.

However, it is not simply a club. For over 50 years ROSL ARTS has developed a diverse portfolio of activities in music, visual arts, and literature. ROSL ARTS is devoted to the career development of talented young professional artists and musicians from the UK and the Commonwealth, and also presents readings and literary events at its central London headquarters.

The principal ways in which ROSL ARTS supports artists and musicians is through the ROSL Annual Music Competition, ROSL Commonwealth Music Scholarships, and ROSL Commonwealth Visual Arts Scholarships.

ROSL ARTS also provides performance and exhibition opportunities for its prizewinning artists and musicians early in their careers, and thus brings their work to the attention of the professional arts community, the media, and the general public.

The humanitarian work supports a range of projects in marginalised communities in Botswana, Sri Lanka, Namibia and Kenya. This work includes enabling children and young people from very poor backgrounds to be educated by providing materials and opportunities which would not otherwise be available to them. This work is wholly funded by funds donated or raised by ROSL members.

Further details of all these activities can be found on the Royal Overseas website.

After time for questions, members enjoyed a delicious lunch cooked and served by the students of the College in the Quantock Restaurant.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, December 7 when the speaker will be David Elkington on Archaeological sites in Turkey and Sicily. For details of how to become a member contact secretary Neil Milne on 01823 286732 or email rosl.taunton@gmail.com.