VIP visit for Port Talbot RNLI
Father Christmas has paid a special visit to Port Talbot RNLI Lifeboat Station.
The station organised a carol service and a visit from Santa for children (0 to 12 years) belonging to crew and family members on Sunday 17th December.
The service was held in the boathouse led by the station chaplain, Rev. Phil Denyer and some beautiful carol singing ensued. Once the singing was over, the children all stood by the boathouse door and Father Christmas arrived in the lifeboat which was towed along the promenade.
Despite the atrocious weather he had a great welcome. It was then time for him to enter his decorated grotto (the crew room). The children were allowed into the grotto in ones or twos to meet Father Christmas and receive a present from him. He was helped by Mother Christmas who also turned up on the day. Once all the children had received their gifts it was then upstairs for a welcome buffet and a hot drink or squash.
It was a very enjoyable afternoon and in total 54 children received a present from Father Christmas.
Key facts about the RNLI
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.
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 or by email.
The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland