Personalised book launched by RNLI

Heart-warming new book, The Big Christmas Rescue, tells the story of Santa’s sleigh crashing into the sea on Christmas Eve and how volunteer lifeboat crew members carry out a brave rescue – with a helping hand from a special child.

Written by the RNLI’s senior editor, Rory Stamp, and illustrated by Hannah Cumming, the book enables people to select the name, gender and skin tone of the child at the heart of this festive story.

Roseanne Blaze, community fundraising manager, said: “The Big Christmas Rescue can be personalised so that your little loved one is the star of the story.

“It is a lovely book and it will make an ideal gift for young children, with all profits helping the RNLI save lives at sea.

“This Christmas, volunteer lifeboat crew members across the UK and Ireland will be on call, ready to drop everything and save lives at sea when the pager goes off.”

The story gives children a magical introduction to the work of the RNLI’s volunteer lifesavers, while raising vital funds for the charity.

Rory, 37, from Poole in Dorset, has written many stories of heroism and drama over the ten years he has worked for the lifesaving charity.

“I wrote the story in the build up to Christmas 2013 and was able to try it out on the most honest and beautiful critics I could possibly have found, my daughters Lucie and Hattie,” he said.

“It is wonderful to see this book being well-loved by kids, introducing them to the RNLI as well as raising money to help keep volunteer lifeboat crews equipped, trained and safe.”

The book was brought to life recently by children’s TV favourite, Chris Jarvis, when he visited Tower RNLI lifeboat station in London to do a special reading on camera. This will be broadcast on the charity’s YouTube channel on Sunday as a special bedtime story.

The book is priced £9.95. Visit RNLISHOP.org/BigRescue to order. The last order date to guarantee delivery before Christmas is Monday, December 15.