Santa Surprise at RNLI Hastings Lifeboat Family Christmas
The Electric Cinema in Hastings was filled with festive cheer as RNLI Hastings volunteer lifeboat crew and their families came together for a special Christmas celebration.
The independent cinema hosted a family Christmas screening of Elf for the children of the volunteer lifeboat crew – some of whom may well be future RNLI crew members. Babies as young as five months old joined older children and grandchildren for an afternoon of festive fun.
Behind every life-saving volunteer is a family who shares their commitment and sacrifices, particularly at times like Christmas, and every RNLI lifeboat station receives annual funding to support a family event. However, this year, RNLI Hastings was able to make the celebration extra special thanks to additional support from the Beacon Owl Trust. The Sussex-based charity works to protect owls and other wildlife through conservation, education and habitat creation, and their generous contribution enabled the lifeboat management team to arrange gifts and food for the festive event.
The excitement was taken to another level with the surprise arrival of Santa, who delighted the children by handing out presents. Lifeboat Operations Manager Sarah Milne stepped into the role of Santa’s elf assistant for the afternoon and was thrilled with how the event unfolded. It was noted that volunteer crew Mick couldn't be spotted during Santa’s visit!
Sarah said: ‘It was wonderful to see our volunteer crew families all together, especially at such a busy time of year. Events like this are a great way to say thank you to our volunteers and the families who support them.’
The festive cheer wasn’t just reserved for the youngsters. An anonymous benefactor kindly provided a Christmas drinks kitty for the volunteer crew, allowing them to enjoy a seasonal drink from the Electric Cinema’s well-stocked bar.
As the holiday season gets underway, RNLI Hastings’ volunteer lifeboat crew remain on call throughout Christmas and the New Year, ready to respond to emergencies at sea and along the coast, ensuring the charity’s core mission, to save lives at sea, continues.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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