Warrant Holders representative visits Angostura

PRESIDENT OF the Royal Warrant Holders Association of the United Kingdom, Andrew Prendergast, visited the House of Angostura on Monday to learn how Angostura Bitters is made. He also viewed the plaque which symbolises Angostura’s holding of the Royal Warrant, which was issued to the company in 1912. Angostura Ltd is the only holder of a Royal Warrant of Appointment of Her Majesty, the Queen of England in the region and one of three in the southern hemisphere. The Royal Warrant is a prestigious accolade granted by the British monarchy which selects particular products on the basis of quality, reliability and excellence. Addressing a small gathering at the Angostura Auditorium, Eastern Main Road, Laventille, Prendergast explained that the Royal Warrant Holders’ Association began as a charter company in 1940 and was given the right and power to lease the rules of the charter or defend its position.

A business qualifies for a Royal Warrant by supplying products or services on a regular basis to the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, or the Prince of Wales, for a period of five years. Warrants are only issued to tradesmen. Prendergast said: “The Warrant is a prestigious, sought after accolade, and this is without a doubt why people aspire to it.” Commending Angostura for its receipt of the Royal Warrant in 1912, he said: “There are not many countries now that can boast of having a Warrant for 50 years, let alone 92. This just goes to show that it is held in great esteem throughout the business world.” Prendergast congratulated Angostura Ltd’s chairman, Lawrence Duprey, for being named the Grantee of the Royal Warrant on behalf of Angostura by the Royal Household Tradesmen Warrants committee at Lord Chamberlain’s office.

This title means that Duprey is now responsible for ensuring that the Warrant is correctly used.  There are strict rules which govern the use and display of the Royal Arms, which currently stands in the lobby of the House of Angostura. Expressing his honour at being granted the title of Grantee, Duprey noted that those who travelled the world would understand the importance of such an endorsement. He said: “Not only have we been selected from other companies in the hemisphere, but the Royal Warrant will assist us in putting out to the public the quality and other attributes of our product. “It is almost a guarantee that we conform with the best products worldwide.”