It was the birthday present of a lifetime for Eden Russell when she won the competition.
Eden Russell was eight on Thursday and then two days later actress Katrina Bryan picked Eden’s entry to name a new boat at Anstruther.
Eden, a primary three pupil at Kirkton of Largo Primary School, chose the name Akira for Anstruther’s new D class lifeboat which arrives later this year.
The delighted girl said, ‘We went on holiday to the Isle of Skye and I was asking my parents what the Gaelic names meant. I asked about Akira and was told it meant anchor.’
Eden and her proud parents Grant and Angela were at a prize giving ceremony at Anstruther on Saturday in front of more than 100 people.
Katrina, who has starred in Taggart and Nina and the Neurons, told the crowd, ‘It was really hard to choose a winning name from so many great entries. Eden’s name of Akira was a winner because it had a lovely sound and a nautical meaning.’
Each class at the nine primary schools and one secondary school in the Anstruther area were tasked to come up with the best three suggestions of what to name the new boat. Guidelines for the competition included not to make reference to other boats and to avoid some of the superstitions that surround sea fairing communities.
After each class had selected the best contenders for the competition, a shortlist was then submitted to Katrina to choose the winning name and announce on the day.
Station coxswain Michael Bruce added,
‘The competition has helped our volunteer crews engage with children from the schools. We were absolutely delighted that Katrina not only attended the ceremony but took a great interest in our charity.’
Eden will be invited next year for the official naming ceremony of the D class lifeboat Akira.
For more information please see the website of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute
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