
New rum dedicated to Whitby RNLI's lifesaving history in the town.
Trainee Luke Pentith was inspired to create the rum in partnership with the RNLI after signing up as a volunteer last year.
Luke who owns Whitby Distillery with his wife Jess, is donating 10% from the sale of each bottle to the RNLI.
Luke said: 'The RNLI is a charity we have always admired. I joined the crew as a trainee last year and seeing first-hand the dedication and passion my crew mates have for their role is what inspired us to create the product.
With the introduction of the new Shannon Lifeboat to the Whitby RNLI station we recognised the level of ongoing support that is needed to keep the station running.'
The bottle features the RNLI logo, as well as important safety messages such as float to live, a message which can make the difference between life and death.
If you found yourself struggling in the water unexpectedly, your instinct would tell you to swim hard. But cold water shock could make you gasp uncontrollably. Then you could breathe in water and drown. Instead, you should Float to Live.
It also features an image of Henry Freeman on the seal, Henry Freeman was the only surviving crew member in the great lifeboat disaster of 1861. The crew launched five times to rescue stricken vessels, but on their sixth launch, tragedy struck. A freak wave hit the lifeboat, which capsized, and all but one of the crew were lost. Freeman survived because he was wearing a new design of cork lifejacket.
Whitby RNLI station manager Barry Brown said: 'Luke and Jess have created a great product that is a real tribute to the RNLI and Whitby's lifesaving past. There is a long history of rum and seafaring, as the navy sailors used to be given a daily ration of the drink, however these days we wouldn't recommend consuming alcohol at sea!'
https://rnli.org/safety/know-the-risks/alcohol
For more information contact Lifeboat Press Officer Ceri Oakes on 07813359428 or at [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.