Leading Cadet James Louch and CPO (SCC) Damien Hawkins piped and bugled at the 44th annual Rum Tot Day ceremony held at the Corner House Inn, Portland on Saturday 2 August 2014.
Since the issue of a daily tot of rum stopped in the Royal Navy on 31 July 1970, veterans have gathered annually, on the closest Saturday to the 31 July, at the Corner House Public House on Portland to re-enact the ceremony and ‘Splice the Mainbrace’.
The ceremony started at 1500 precisely with CPO Hawkins sounding the ‘Grog Call’ on the bugle. This was followed by a short historical introduction to the ceremony.
Leading Cadet Louch then piped “Up-Spirits”, on a traditional Bosun’s call, as a carefully measured issue of rum was decanted and served to each of those present.
Rhys Tanner
