Christmas Day workforce 'ready to respond'

Christmas Day, for many of us, is a time for opening presents, eating roast dinners and spending time with family.

For others, it is literally just another day at the office as work continues as normal.

Zoo keepers, agricultural workers and emergency service personnel - whether they be full-time or volunteer crew - are just some of the people who cannot put their feet up on 25 December given the nature of their jobs.

However, while it is difficult to give up Christmas at home, many of those who must work say it is part of the vital service they provide.

Michael Milner is part of the Jersey fire team on duty during the day, working from 09:00 GMT until 18:00.

The St Helier-based firefighter said the station team had plans to do their own roast, which he would be able to double up on later when he got home.

"My family will go about their day without me, they're totally understanding after being in the emergency services for a couple of years now," Mr Milner said.

"When I get home, it'll be a second roast, so my belly is going to be bursting by the end of the day."

Hermione Bigwood, an advanced clinical practitioner at Treliske Hospital in Truro, will be on the 08:00 to 18:00 shift on Christmas Day in the emergency department.

"My biggest hope, and best Christmas present this year, would be that I see nothing that is life-changing," she said.

"I can't help but think how these kind of events will change people's Christmas for ever.

"We also see some people who are lonely and depressed over Christmas, so I'm very aware that Christmas is a hard time for lots of people."

Devon and Cornwall Police officer PC Ben Baber-Hale, who is on the early shift this year, said the atmosphere could be more light-hearted.

He said previous Christmas Day shifts have included secret Santa gift exchanges and party food.

But the Torquay-based officer added: "You have to be ready because at any moment in that day, you have to drop that to go out to the next 999 call that comes in."

Ch Insp Mark Hafey is among the States of Jersey Police officers working on Christmas Day.

With nearly 30 years experience, Ch Insp Hafey - who started his shift at 06:00 - said the day often brought a more light-hearted atmosphere to the office.

"However, like all emergency services, the police have a duty to provide the same level of response as any other day," he added.

"So, while we might gather for a tea, coffee or sausage roll, officers remain ready to respond as needed."

Guernsey Dairy remains open on Christmas Day in order to collect milk from farms.

Alex Tielles, the dairy's quality and compliance manager, said the workforce included tanker drivers and laboratory staff.

"Obviously nobody can tell the cows that it's Christmas, so that's our main reason for being around on Christmas Day," she said

Other animal-related workers on shift during the day are at Paignton Zoo in Devon, with bird team members Nikki Watt and Jess Shillabeer starting at 07:00 to start dishing out food.

Ms Shillabeer said: "You can still enjoy your evening and your afternoon.

"It's not the end of the world we have to work."

Ms Watt, a senior keeper at the zoo, added: "This is probably my 17th year of working Christmas.

"My family are very used to it.

"I've managed to persuade them to wait until Boxing Day to open presents."

In Cornwall at Padstow RNLI, Michael England is a full-time station mechanic and also a member of the volunteer crew who could get called out at any time to a rescue.

He said it could be frustrating at times if you had to dash out and leave the family behind, but it was something he and his relatives were used to.

"My late father Trevor England was coxswain at Padstow and served for 38 years," Mr England said.

"I grew up being used to the idea that dad might have to go at any time and we were restricted as a family then too."

Mike Harris, assistant harbour master at Guernsey Ports, said staff would be working throughout the day to make sure any issues or distress calls were dealt with.

Mr Harris said: "We can have our Christmas dinner and we can do all the bits and pieces that we normally do with our families.

"But obviously for me, you can't have a drink and you can't celebrate it as you normally would."

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