Story and photos by Robin and Mike Stout
Since July 31, 1991, members of the Royal Naval Tot Club of Antigua and Barbuda have met at 6 pm each evening to partake in a tot of rum and raise a toast to the monarch, mirroring the ritual once performed by Royal Navy sailors. The club is dedicated to upholding naval traditions, fostering camaraderie, and engaging in meaningful community activities; it has evolved into an integral part of Antigua’s cultural and social fabric.
“The Tot Club is a unique gathering of like-minded individuals who are dedicated to preserving Royal Navy traditions,” says Dez O’Connor, Royal Navy veteran and club chairman. “We honor the legacy of the Royal Navy while fostering friendships that span the globe.”
The origins of the club trace back to 1990 when founder Mike Rose was managing the Copper and Lumber Hotel in Nelson’s Dockyard. Mike, a retired charge chief petty officer who served in the Royal Navy for 26 years, was in the habit of having a tot of rum each evening in the bar. One evening a patron who had noticed this tradition asked him if he could join in. “I’ve already had my tot for the day but come back tomorrow and we’ll have one together,” Mike replied. That was the spark that began what today is a club with over 600 members.
Each evening at precisely 6 pm the rum bosun announces the beginning of the tot by calling out “Up Spirits!” Members and guests queue up and are provided a glass of rum and a glass of water. Guests are poured a tot using a cooper tot measure just like the ones that were used by the Royal Navy. If you ask a member how much rum is in a tot, they’re likely to respond “half a gill.” Turns out that is two ounces to landlubbers. After the tots are issued, the participants gather in a circle and the tot ceremony begins with the rum bosun inviting participants to “cleanse your palates” with a sip of water. Members introduce their guests and share club announcements before the rum bosun reads historical excerpts that occurred on that date in the past from the book, The Royal Navy Day by Day. Following these readings, participants hoist their glasses and propose the loyal toast for that day of the week, always adding “and the king, god bless him.” The toasts range from the sentimental “to absent friends and those at sea” on Sunday to the bellicose “to a willing foe and sea room” on Friday.
Becoming a member of the Royal Naval Tot Club is a structured and meaningful journey and many people visit Antigua on vacation for the purpose of joining the club. Aspiring members are required to attend seven tots within a 14-day period. To demonstrate their commitment and understanding of naval traditions, aspirants must pass an oral entrance exam focused on Royal Navy history after their sixth tot. This rigorous process ensures that members share a common passion for naval heritage and uphold the club’s esteemed traditions.
The final act of joining for each aspiring member is hosting a mismuster after the seventh tot. In the Royal Navy, a mismuster was a special issuance of rum when a sailor missed the regular tot through no fault of their own. The Tot Club holds mismusters to celebrate special occasions and the new member is required to invite and pay for a second tot for all members present. At the mismuster they thank those who assisted them joining and propose a toast, of which a favorite one is “there are good ships and wood ships and ships that sail the sea but the best ships are friendships and may they always be.”
Beyond its ceremonial gatherings, the Tot Club actively contributes to the local community. The club extends warm hospitality to visiting yachtsmen and women in English and Falmouth Harbours, fosters positive relations within the community, and hosts visiting members of His Majesty’s warships. A particularly noteworthy moment in the club’s history was the visit of HRH Prince William in 2008, during his tenure aboard HMS Iron Duke.
In addition to these social engagements, the club channels its efforts into charitable work, supporting various causes and maintaining the hiking trails in Antigua’s National Parks. Every Sunday morning members gather for a few hours of work to ensure that the trails and historical buildings in Nelson’s Dockyard National Park remain clear of brush and in good shape in what is humorously known as “Keep Fit.”
While the club’s heart remains in Antigua, its influence now extends far beyond the island’s shores. Official tot ceremonies have been conducted in prestigious locations across the United Kingdom, including aboard HMS Victory, the ship that Admiral Horatio Nelson commanded during the Battle of Trafalgar, and the Tower of London, as well as in far flung places such as Pitcairn Island in the Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, members have established chapters in key maritime hubs in the UK such as Portsmouth and Dartmouth, as well as in Westport, Connecticut, in the United States.
One of the most defining aspects of the Tot Club is its use of historical symbols and traditions. The club secured permission from the Ministry of Defense to use the pre-1801 White Ensign, a distinction rarely granted outside the Royal Yacht Squadron. Additionally, the club has the honor of hoisting the White Ensign in Nelson’s Dockyard on special occasions, such as the monarch’s birthday or the anniversary of notable British naval victories such as the Battle of Trafalgar.
Through its daily rituals, commitment to community service and international presence, the Royal Naval Tot Club is an enduring legacy of naval traditions and the power of fellowship. For those interested in naval history, the Tot Club provides a community that offers a unique and enriching experience that continues to thrive across generations and borders.
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