Navy Tot Fund gets another boost from Pusser’s Rum

(Left to right:Charles Tobias, Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey, Commander Paddy McClurg, General Secretary Royal Naval Association)

On the eve of Black Tot Day, 30 July, Charles Tobias, Chairman of Pusser’s Rum, handed over a substantial cheque to navy charities.

The cheque was accepted by the Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey in the Great Cabin of Lord Nelson’s Flagship HMS Victory on behalf of the Royal Navy Sailors Fund, otherwise known as the Tot Fund.

This is an annual donation made by Pusser’s Rum to the Royal Navy Sailors Fund which was set up by the Admiralty in recompense for discontinuing the tradition of serving a daily rum tot on ships of the Royal Navy. The Fund provides amenities for serving  members of the Royal Navy and Pusser’s is the largest contributor to the Fund, outside the original bequest.

It was on 31 July 1970,known as Black Tot Day, that the serving of the daily rum issue was discontinued. However, in 1979 entrepreneur Charles Tobias obtained the original blend for Pusser’s Rum from the Admiralty and commercially started blending Pusser’s Rum for public consumption.  In appreciation, Pusser’s Rum makes a donation from worldwide sales to the Sailors Fund. To date, donations have reached over £1million and Pusser’s Rum has become known the world over as the authentic rum that fuelled the courage of British sailors for more than 350 years.

In recognition of his long relationship with the Royal Naval Association, Charles was presented with the Association’s Admiral Lord Nelson Medal by Commander Paddy McClurg, General Secretary of the Association.

Steeped in naval history the daily rum tot was one of the longest unbroken traditions of the sea and a highlight of the sailor’s day. Although its serving on board ships is now discontinued, Pusser’s Rum is designated as the Official Rum of the Royal Naval Association.