Newell has been Director General of the Royal Overseas League (ROSL) for 20 years and Jones is the Chief Executive and Co-Founder of catering firm CH&Co, formerly known as Charlton House Catering Services.
Robert Newell CVO FIH was honoured as a Commander of the Victorian Order for his 20 years as Director General of the Royal Overseas League (ROSL).
The ROSL, which celebrated its centenary last year, is a non-profit organisation that offers clubhouse facilities in London and Edinburgh and supports the Commonwealth through its own social, music, arts and welfare activities. The Queen is patron of the ROSL, which has 18,000 members and 85 reciprocal clubs throughout the world.
Commenting on his honour, Newell said:”It’s only in the gift of the Queen, which makes it special. I also think the honour recognises the ROSL itself and its role over the last 100 years in fostering friendship and understanding. We are exclusive but not elitist. Our members come from every walk of life – from sheep shearers to Knights of the Realm.”
Before joining the ROSL Newell was a hotelier in Kenya, Iran and the UK. He was a visiting lecturer at Ecole Hoteliere Lausanne for 18 years and was instrumental in establishing Utalii College, the Swiss hotel school in Nairobi, Kenya.
The key to excellent service and hospitality was to make people feel comfortable and wanted, said Newell: “You’ve got to have a real interest in people, to like people and enjoy giving service.”
Hoteliers and Institute of Hospitality Members are entitled to special ROSL rates. For more information go to: www.rosl.org.uk
Robyn Jones OBE FIH is now an Officer of the Order of the British Empire thanks to her 30 years of service to the hospitality sector. After being made redundant in 1991 she set up Charlton House Catering Services with the help of her husband Tim Jones. Previously she worked for a number of catering firms, including a period as an advisor to the Potato Marketing Board.
In May 2010, her company Charlton House was re-branded as CH&Co and now consists of five specialist divisions: Charlton House (staff catering at business and industry sites), Lusso (City and fine-dining), Chester Boyd (livery halls and private venues), It’s the Agency (venues and events booking agency) and Ampersand (public and private event catering at iconic venues).
As well as creating jobs for some 2,000 people and growing the business into a dynamic catering group with a varied client base, Jones is a trustee of the PM Trust, a patron of the Association of Catering Excellence and a guardian member of the industry charity Hospitality Action.
The UK honours system recognises people of outstanding merit. Anyone can be nominated for an honour, but only exceptional people are honoured. The latest list includes school crossing wardens, pharmacists, fashion designers, foster carers, postmen, charity workers and a beekeeper.
Honours lists are published twice a year at New Year and in mid-June on the date of The Queen's official birthday. Anyone can receive an award if they reach the required standard of merit or service. Anyone can nominate someone for an award. For more information on making a nomination, click here.
