Historic Gales beer benefits Seafarers charity

l Surgeon Vice-Admiral Ian Jenkins (right), chairman of the Seafarers UK charity, accepts a cheque from Fuller's Beer Company managing director John Roberts, representing proceeds from fund-raising sales of Gales Seafarers Ale

January 24, 2008: A total of £3,916.30p has been raised for the Seafarers charity through sales of a Gales beer of the same name brewed for last autumn's Fuller's beer festival.

During the course of the festival, 78,336 pints of the ale were sold in Fuller’s pubs throughout the UK, along with several independent pubs, making the beer a huge success. For every pint sold, 5p has been donated to Seafarers UK.

That money has now been handed over to the charity;s chairman, Surgeon Vice-Admiral Ian Jenkins, by John Roberts, managing director of the Fuller's Beer Company. The presentation took place in the Hock Cellar at Fuller’s Griffin Brewery, in Chiswick, West London.

Surgeon Vice-Admiral Jenkins said: “We are extremely pleased that Fuller's brewery has chose to create this ale for Seafarers UK and are delighted by the huge success it has had, not only raising money for but also the profile of Seafarers UK.

"As an island nation we depend on seafarers for our defence, food and consumer goods. Many elderly, injured and homeless seafarers, and their families and widows, now rely on charitable help. By buying a pint of Seafarers Ale, consumers have been personally contributing towards helping these individuals.”

Mr Roberts added: "Gales Seafarers Ale is a fantastic beer, brewed to an old recipe from the Gales brewing book, and we've been delighted with the success of the ale and the money it has raised for such a worthwhile charity. We hope to carry on the tradition of supporting our nation's seafarers long into the future."