The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Fife RNLI volunteer has her children christened on lifeboat
Anstruther: After a miserable few weeks the weather played nice for christening on board the Kingdom of Fife
The Firth of Forth became holy water as a lifeboat volunteer had her children christened on board the boat.
Vikki Munro, 30, a volunteer crew member with Anstruther lifeboat, wanted to share her love of the sea with Danny, four, and seven-month-old Daisy, as well as husband, offshore worker Daniel, 35.
The family was joined by friends and relatives for the short ceremony, conducted by Rev Margaret Rose of Pittenweem Church.
The gathering on board Kingdom of Fife included Vikki’s dad David Morris, who is also a member of the Anstruther lifeboat crew.
Vikki said it was not the first time such an event had taken place, and that her nephews had been christened on board the same boat around five years ago and she had wanted to do the same for her own children.
Despite a decidedly dodgy spring, even the conditions played their part.
“We were so lucky with the weather because it had been so rubbish last week,” Vikki explained.
“It was foggy in the morning, but then it cleared up.”
She said 18 adults and nine children had been invited to the christening but the ceremony on the boat just included the children, the two parents and godparents, Vikki’s sister Jenna, cousin Lorraine Morris and friend Darren McLauchlan. “It was quite special,” said Vikki. “It’s not an everyday occurrence so we felt quite privileged to be able to do it.”
The full-time mum, who lives in Anstruther, described it as an unforgettable experience for all involved and thanked Ms Rose for officiating at the rather unusual celebration.
“The minister is really involved and has a lot to do with the lifeboat,” Vikki continued. “She is always about if we need her.” A spokesperson for Anstruther lifeboat described the occasion as “a really nice family story”. It was also a big hit on social media. A picture of the ceremony on the organisation’s Facebook page immediately proved popular and has quickly received almost 200 “likes”.
Anstruther is one of 237 RNLI stations across the UK and Ireland.
It is a local institution as there has been a lifeboat in the East Neuk village since 1865.
Its last shout was on January 29 when it was called to rescue a person and a dog stuck on a cliff at Pittenweem.
We were so lucky with the weather because it had been so rubbish last week. VIKKI MUNRO