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Santa joins Largs RNLI for a festive visit

Lifeboats News Release

Santa Claus cleared his schedule this morning (Sunday, December 1 2024) to allow for a flying visit to the RNLI lifeboat station in Largs.

Santa with the lifeboat

RNLI/Kevin Paterson

Santa with the lifeboat

Regular training at the lifeboat station was interrupted when HM Coastguard requested assistance with a secret mission; ‘Big Red’. Diverting from training in Largs Yacht Haven the volunteer crew met Mr Claus at a secret location where he swapped his reindeer for a ride on the Atlantic 85 lifeboat.

Santa requested the crew return to the lifeboat station where they were met by a waving and cheering crowd of volunteers, along with some of their family members.

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 along the coast or at sea.

Each year RNLI volunteers are prepared to leave their loved ones to save others at Christmas, including those at Largs RNLI.

While at Largs lifeboat station Mr Claus presented selection boxes, which were kindly donated by the Community Champions at Morrisons in Largs, to the children of the volunteer crew, assuring the children and the crew they are all currently on the ‘Good List’ this year.

A few of the crew dogs were also in attendance and Santa was also able to present them with some yummy dog treats for being such good girls and boys throughout the year.

Claire McRae Lifeboat Press Officer at Largs RNLI said: ‘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.

‘The volunteer 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.

‘Thanks also go to the Community Champions at Morrisons in Largs for their very kind donation of selection boxes and dog treats, 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.’

Notes to editors

Additional photos can be found on the Largs RNLI Facebook Page

RNLI media contacts

Claire McRae, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07738681546, [email protected]

Brian Rankin, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07810862468, [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

Santa on Largs lifeboat

RNLI/Kevin Paterson

Santa on Largs lifeboat
Lifeboat selfie with Santa

RNLI/Orric at Largs RNLI

Lifeboat selfie with Santa
Collecting the selection boxes from Morrisons

RNLI/Claire McRae

Collecting the selection boxes from Morrisons

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, 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 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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