Meet Santa as he brings Christmas cheer to Cowes on historic RNLI lifeboat

Santa will arrive on his lifeboat at Trinity Landing at noon on Saturday, December 13th – get ready to wave! Meet Santa at Cowes RNLI Station at 12.30pm, where you can chat to him, share your Christmas list and spend time on some fun games and crafts.

At 1:30pm, Santa will be joined by the beloved RNLI mascot, Stormy Stan, to lead a festive walk along Cowes High Street, spreading Christmas cheer as they go.

Following the parade, head to Town Quay from 2pm to tour Santa’s historic lifeboat—the famous Sir William Arnold.

Part of the iconic Arun-class, this lifeboat served from 1973 for over two decades, participating in 550 rescue missions and earning its brave crews 15 RNLI medals for gallantry. This is a chance to step aboard a piece of RNLI history.

All donations will go to Cowes RNLI Station. On average, RNLI lifeboats launch over 100 times during the Christmas period every year, with 119 launches in 2024. Christmas is a time for family and friends, but our volunteers will once again be ready to leave their own celebrations and answer the call for help. These rescues, and others all year round, are only made possible by the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed to keep crews prepared and protected.

To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal, and enable the charity to continue its lifesaving work, visit: RNLI.org/WinterAppeal

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RNLI media contacts

• Sofia Voudouroglou, Cowes RNLI Volunteer Press Officer 07594051372/ [email protected]

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789.

About Cowes RNLI Station

Cowes Lifeboat Station is converted from a former HM Customs Watch House, the rear of which is 300 years old. It looks out onto one of the world’s busiest shipping waterways and carries out a range of interesting services every year. It is the only station to be opened by Queen Elizabeth II.