Young girl wins competition to name Anstruther's new lifeboat
It was the birthday present of a lifetime for Eden Russell when she won the competition.
Eden Russell was eight on Thursday and then two days later actress Katrina Bryan picked Eden’s entry to name a new boat at Anstruther.
Eden, a primary three pupil at Kirkton of Largo Primary School, chose the name Akira for Anstruther’s new D class lifeboat which arrives later this year.
The delighted girl said, ‘We went on holiday to the Isle of Skye and I was asking my parents what the Gaelic names meant. I asked about Akira and was told it meant anchor.’
Eden and her proud parents Grant and Angela were at a prize giving ceremony at Anstruther on Saturday in front of more than 100 people.
Katrina, who has starred in Taggart and Nina and the Neurons, told the crowd, ‘It was really hard to choose a winning name from so many great entries. Eden’s name of Akira was a winner because it had a lovely sound and a nautical meaning.’
Each class at the nine primary schools and one secondary school in the Anstruther area were tasked to come up with the best three suggestions of what to name the new boat. Guidelines for the competition included not to make reference to other boats and to avoid some of the superstitions that surround sea fairing communities.
After each class had selected the best contenders for the competition, a shortlist was then submitted to Katrina to choose the winning name and announce on the day.
Station coxswain Michael Bruce added, ‘The competition has helped our volunteer crews engage with children from the schools. We were absolutely delighted that Katrina not only attended the ceremony but took a great interest in our charity.’
Eden will be invited next year for the official naming ceremony of the D class lifeboat Akira.
Photos: Eden Russell is pictured with actress Katrina Bryan. Credit: RNLI/Richard Smith.
RNLI media contacts: RNLI Anstruther volunteer lifeboat press officer, Martin Macnamara, on 07969 773075, [email protected]
Or Richard Smith, RNLI Public Relations Manager Scotland on 01738 642956, 07786 668903 or [email protected]
Or Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, [email protected]
Or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.
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, X, TikTok 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.