It's 1864 and not much is happening in the fishing port of Fleetwood, Lancashire - apart from fishing. Fishing, fishing and more fishing. Fishing is in the air. But it can’t be smelt because winter storms and high seas have taken their toll on the fishermen’s sinuses. They are bunged up. A bit chesty. Definitely under the weather.
One year later and everything has changed. It’s 1865 and Fleetwood chemist James Lofthouse has invented Fisherman’s Friend. First as a liquid, and then in packets of “little friends”. It changes fishermen’s lives. Now they’re breathing deeply of the crisp clean sea air. They’re dancing jigs in the street and singing lusty sea shanties. They have taken a renewed interest in the local girls. The smell of fish has been replaced by menthol and eucalyptus.
"My word – these are strong", exclaims a fisherman, in a broad Lancastrian accent. And he is right.
Fast forward to today and Fisherman's Friend is still a mighty strong lozenge. Its strength is now appreciated all over the UK and all over the world. There may be a bit less fishing in Fleetwood, but there are now billions of Fisherman's Friends made in the town each year, and still by the Lofthouse family firm.