Chairman's Newsletter - Aug 2025
Friday 12th September 2025
Chairman’s Newsletter August 2025
Dear Members,
We are well into the school holidays, and I have been helping with Taskmaster at Osborne. It has been lovely to see families and groups of all ages enjoying the challenges that are set at each ‘letter box’.
As many volunteers have been busy with Taskmaster, the library is not up and running yet. It will, however, be open on Monday 11th between 10am and 12pm; but I fear this newsletter will not go out in time for members to read this information. If the library is open on any other dates in August, I will put up the times on our website. As Osborne is the only EH property with a library, a new volunteer role is having to be created which is site specific.
Hopefully, it may be open in September, with a greater number of staff on the rota. However, FoO members will only be able to visit on a Monday and Friday, when we have entry into the house. We are exploring the possibility that some FoO members may be able to help run the library on a specific day. This is something that happened in the past when Friends had their own library, before we donated the books to be amalgamated with Osborne’s books. I know there are several members who are interested in this idea.
Please click here for photos of the library - Friends of Osborne | Osborne Library - August 2025 update .
We have no events for August, but we have several arranged for September.
The Quiz Night is on Friday September 12th. As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, the format has changed. We are not offering food, so tickets are just £2.50. However, the bar will be open for drinks and snacks. The Quiz remains the same, where teams compete for the coveted challenge cup in 4 specialist rounds of 10 questions, together with a Joker option, plus table questions. This is always a popular event and is held in the Terrace Restaurant.
For more details and booking forms please click here - Friends of Osborne | Quiz Night 2025
On September 18th Sarah Burdett is giving a talk on Osborne Royal Naval College.
Sarah Burdett from the East Cowes Heritage Centre has given us many informative talks in the past and her talks are always very popular. Sarah has given this talk on the Naval College before, but as we have so many new members, I asked her to repeat the talk; I know there will be a lot of interest. Sarah will give an illustrated talk showing slides and answering questions.
After the talk, for those who are interested, Sarah will take members for a walk in the grounds, where she will point out features of the Naval College that can still be seen today.
For more details and booking forms please click here - Friends of Osborne | Talk - Osborne Royal Naval College .
The Buckingham Palace trip is on 21st September. All places have been booked and the remaining balances paid. The organiser of the trip will be in touch via email shortly before the trip, to confirm details and times of the pre-arranged pick-up points.
Wednesday 8th October Toby’s Autumn Walk will take place. Come and join Toby, Osborne House’s Head Gardener, on his guided annual autumnal tour of the flora on the Osborne Estate. At the end of the tour enjoy a glass of warming ‘Autumn Cup’ and tasty nibbles in the Walled Garden.
Please click here for more details and booking forms - Friends of Osborne | Autumnal Walk 2025 .
Last year EH asked if we could fund an Education Award. We happily agreed and teachers were notified of the project at the end of this Summer Term. They will have a reminder at the beginning of September when the schools go back. The winning school will receive £250 and a beautiful trophy, which they will keep for a year. Schools have been sent the challenge and entries will be judged in October. Andy Fortune, a local wood turner, is carving the trophy from a piece of beech taken from the Osborne wood pile. We have already had some entries, and we look forward to seeing them displayed in the Education Rooms.
As I finish writing this newsletter the forecasters have said we are entering the fourth heat wave of the year! Enjoy the sun, down at Osborne Beach, and find some shade on the many benches in the grounds.
Best wishes
Allison Rogers