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'''The Sailors' Fund''' was a charitable fund established in 1970 following the abolition of the daily [[rum ration]] in the [[Royal Navy]]. It provided recreational, welfare and other charitable benefits for Royal Navy ratings and [[Royal Marines|Royal Marine]] other ranks and their dependants.<ref name="CC2">{{cite web |title=THE SAILORS' FUND – 261530 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/261530/full-print |access-date=21 August 2026 |website=Charity Commission for England and Wales}}</ref> The fund was also known as the Sailors' "Tot" Fund or "Tot" Fund.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=The Rum Ration – The End of the Tot |url=https://www.navyrecords.org.uk/members_blog/the-rum-ration-the-end-of-the-tot/ |access-date=21 August 2026 |website=Navy Records Society}}</ref>

== History ==
In January 1970, the government announced that £2.7 million would be paid into the fund. The [[Navy Records Society]] reported that ratings would play a major role in its administration, and in March the government told the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] that arrangements for its administration had been communicated to the Fleet.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |date=28 January 1970 |title=Royal Navy (Rum Ration) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1970/jan/28/royal-navy-rum-ration |access-date=21 August 2026 |website=Hansard}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=17 March 1970 |title=Defence Estimate, 1970–71 (Vote on Account) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1970/mar/17/defence-estimate-1970-71-vote-on-account |access-date=21 August 2026 |website=Hansard}}</ref>

The fund began making grants in 1970. A grants committee consisting of six sailors and a [[Royal Marines|Royal Marine]] allocated funds among ships in commission and for improvements to naval amenities. Among its early grants was £24,000 towards improvements to the swimming pool at [[HMS Mercury]].<ref>{{cite magazine |date=Winter 1970 |title=The Swimming Pool |url=https://www.rnars.org.uk/documents/Communicator/The%20Communicator%20Vol%2020%20Nr%203%20Winter%201970.pdf |access-date=21 August 2026 |magazine=The Communicator |volume=20 |issue=3}}</ref>

The fund supported naval amenities during the 1980s, including a contribution from the fund and Fleet Amenities Fund towards a multi-gym.<ref>{{cite web |title=VIEWPOINT RN AUTUMN 88 |url=https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/9283 |access-date=21 August 2026 |website=Imperial War Museums}}</ref>

By 1991, t the fund's investments were valued at approximately £10.5 million. It spent more than £380,000 on projects that same year and made grants totally about £75,000. Among the grants were £48,000 towards refurbishment of the Trident Club at [[HMS Neptune]], £17,600 towards refurbishment of the Warrant Officers' and Senior Rates' Mess at [[HMS Raleigh]], £12,000 towards a glider and trailer for the Culdrose Gliding Club, and £10,000 towards a multi-sports area at [[HMS Sultan]].<ref>{{cite news |date=August 1991 |title=Gulf Awards |url=https://cd.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/rnweb/navynews/archivepdfs/1990s/1991/navy-news-august-1991-issue-445.pdf |access-date=21 August 2026 |work=Navy News}}</ref>

In evidence to the [[House of Commons Defence Committee]] in 1999, the fund was noted as a source of funding for naval welfare services.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 October 1999 |title=Minutes of Evidence |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmselect/cmdfence/689/0112206.htm |access-date=21 August 2026 |work=House of Commons Defence Committee}}</ref>

== Charitable purposes ==
The fund's charitable objects included providing recreational and entertainment facilities for the [[Royal Navy]] and [[Royal Marines]]; assisting naval ratings, Royal Marine other ranks and their dependants in need; and providing resettlement, further education and training facilities. Its objects also included supporting churches and religious activities for naval ratings and Royal Marine other ranks.<ref name="CC2" />

The fund later received donations associated with the commercial revival of Royal Navy rum. In 1979, [[Charles S. Tobias]] established Pusser's Rum after obtaining permission from the British Admiralty to reproduce the former Royal Navy rum blend commercially. As part of the arrangement, Tobias agreed to make donations from sales of the rum to the fund.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pietrek |first=Matt |date=24 July 2020 |title=Pusser's Rum Charles Tobias: On the Record (Part One) |url=https://cocktailwonk.com/2020/07/charles-tobias-part-one.html |access-date=21 August 2026 |website=Cocktail Wonk}}</ref>

In 2009, the fund received a substantial donation from worldwide [[Pusser's Rum]] sales. It was the fund's largest source of income apart from its original bequest.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 2009 |title=May 2009 |url=https://www.latitude38.com/eBooks/2009/L38200905.pdf |access-date=21 August 2026 |work=Latitude 38}}</ref>

== Registration and dissolution ==
The fund was registered as a charity in [[England]] and [[Wales]] on 7 December 1970 (charity number 261530). Its [[Trust deed (real estate)|trust deed]] from 10 August 1970 was amended in 1990, 1995, 1996 and 2006.<ref name="CC2" />

The charity's assets were transferred to the [[Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity]] on 10 January 2007. The fund was removed from the [[Charity Commission for England and Wales|Charity Commission]] register on 22 September 2009 following the transfer of its funds.<ref name="CC2" />

== References ==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Charities based in England]]
[[Category:Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1970]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 2009]]
[[Category:1970 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Rums]]

The Sailors' Fund - Revision history