By Zoë Carlton
The Royal Naval Tot Club of Antigua & Barbuda celebrated Pickle Night with purpose this year, raising funds for Jamaica and preparing for Remembrance Sunday in true Antiguan style.
Over a hearty tot of rum and the camaraderie of their annual Pickle Night Dinner, members of the Royal Naval Tot Club of Antigua & Barbuda (RNTCAB) raised their glasses — and funds — for a good cause. This year, the club collected US$700 to support children and families in Jamaica affected by recent hurricanes.
The evening, held at Slates at Crawl Bay and run by Colin and Bex McGurran, was as memorable for its hospitality and food as for its purpose. Guests enjoyed an atmosphere so warm — and the food so exceptional — that, as one totter joked, “the crew of the original Pickle never ate this well.”
The event commemorates the 1805 arrival of HMS Pickle in London, bearing news of victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, blending naval tradition with generosity and good cheer.
A long-standing fixture in Nelson’s Dockyard, the Tot Club meets nightly across the area’s historic venues and is widely respected for its volunteer work maintaining the scenic trails and pathways of the National Park — a favourite with locals and visitors alike.
Its members hail from Antigua, the UK, Germany, Sweden, Argentina, and beyond — but there’s only one place in the world you can officially join: right here in Antigua. The Tot Club is, at its heart, a truly Antiguan tradition — where history, humour, and community spirit blend as smoothly as the rum they toast with.
Steeped in Royal Navy history, the club upholds the centuries-old ritual of the naval “tot” with loyalty, respect, and friendship. Military service may be common among members, but it’s the shared spirit of tradition and belonging that truly unites them.
Close behind Pickle Night on the club’s calendar was the Remembrance Sunday service in the Dockyard. The valley echoed with the sounds of the Last Post, the flag lowered to half-mast, and a series of beautiful and moving poems was read — a brief but meaningful ceremony honouring the courage and sacrifice of those who served, marking another moment when the Tot Club gathers to remember, reflect, and raise a glass together.
