Santa swaps sleigh for lifeboat at Largs RNLI

Reports are true that Santa swapped the reigns of his sleigh to take up position on the Largs RNLI lifeboat. He was a little unsure about the handling of the Atlantic 85 lifeboat, and after realising that horsepower is a little different to reindeer power he left the job of helm up to the skilled lifeboat volunteers at the station.

Santa cleared his schedule on Sunday afternoon to allow for a flying visit to the RNLI lifeboat station in Largs to say a thank you to the children of the volunteer crew based there.

RNLI volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, and regularly have to have to leave their families during the middle of the night, dinner time, birthdays, and even potentially on Christmas Day. The crew’s children are always very supportive seeing their parents rush off to help someone in trouble at sea.

Upon his arrival at the Largs lifeboat station Mr Claus met with various lifeboat representatives including Stormy Stan, and presented selection boxes, which were kindly donated by the Community Champions at Morrisons in Largs, to the children of the volunteer crew.

Santa assured the children and the crew at Largs RNLI that they are all currently on the ‘Good List’ this year.

Before leaving Santa discussed lifejacket safety with both Stormy Stan and the Largs Lifeboat Operations Manager John Griffiths, explaining that he always carries a lifejacket under the seat of the sleigh as he regularly has to fly over water.

Claire McRae Lifeboat Press Officer at Largs RNLI said: ‘The crew at Largs would like to pass on their thanks to Santa for taking the time to visit the station during what is without doubt his busiest time of year.

‘The children of the crew here at Largs are incredibly understanding of having their parents rush out of the door to help other people, and hopefully having Santa visit the station will go a little towards thanking them for their support throughout the year.

‘Thanks also go to the Community Champions at Morrisons in Largs for their very kind donation of selection boxes for the children, it is very much appreciated by us all.

‘We would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of our volunteers, fundraisers, supporters, partner agencies and members of the public a very safe and happy Christmas.’

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.

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