Anchors aweigh as Eden comes up with name for new lifeboat

The RNLI organised a competition with Waid Academy and local primary schools, with each class being asked to come up with three possible names for the new boat, a D class lifeboat.

Guidelines for the competition included not to make reference to other boats and to avoid some of the superstitions that surround seafaring communities.

After a shortlist was drawn up, actress Katrina Bryan was given the task of choosing the winner – Akira, submitted by Eden Russell (8), a pupil at Kirkton of Largo Primary School.

Eden explained how she came up with the name: “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 prizegiving 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.”

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 also be invited to the official naming ceremony of the lifeboat Akira.