It is 50 years since Harrow's Old Speech Room Gallery was established and, to mark the occasion, a new book has been published, The Old Speech Room Gallery: A Collection Revealed.

The launch of the book took place at the end of last term where guests were also treated to the unveiling of Lord Byron's dressing case which was has recently been donated to the Gallery.

Home to an exquisite and extensive collection of antiquities and fine art, the Gallery also provides a valuable resource for Harrovians to learn about object handling, conservation, documentation and collections care and to help research, design, curate and advertise exhibitions.

At the launch, Old Harrovian Timothy Bentinck MBE (Moretons 1966³) spoke of the inspiring collections of the OSRG and the new book which summarises them. We would like to thank the Leventis and Murray families for their sponsorship of the book and the many contributors for their personal anecdotes and recollections. 

Former English Beak and House Master of The Park, Peter Hunter, then introduced the OSRG exhibition Fifty Years On: The Evolving Collection 1976-2026.

The Star Piece object was then unveiled: Lord Byron's Dressing case which was presented to Constantine Leventis on his 60th birthday and his widow had now given the item in memory of her husband, and to mark the 50th anniversary of the OSRG.