Essential Personnel Work on Christmas Day to Provide Key Services

For numerous individuals, Christmas Day signifies a period for unwrapping gifts, enjoying festive meals, and being with relatives. Conversely, for others, it represents a standard workday, with professional duties proceeding without interruption. Individuals such as zoo keepers, agricultural staff, and emergency service personnel – encompassing both full-time employees and volunteer teams – are among those whose occupations prevent them from relaxing on 25 December. Despite the challenge of foregoing Christmas at home, many required to work emphasize that their efforts contribute to essential public services. Michael Milner, a member of the Jersey fire team, is scheduled for duty on Christmas Day, operating from 09:00 GMT to 18:00. The St Helier-based firefighter mentioned that his station colleagues intended to prepare their own roast, which he anticipated enjoying a second time upon returning 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 stated. He added, “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, is assigned to the 08:00 to 18:00 shift in the emergency department on Christmas Day. “My biggest hope, and best Christmas present this year, would be that I see nothing that is life-changing,” she commented. She continued, “I can’t help but think how these kind of events will change people’s Christmas for ever.” She also noted, “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.” PC Ben Baber-Hale, an officer with Devon and Cornwall Police, who is working the early shift this year, indicated that the mood might be more relaxed. He mentioned that past Christmas Day shifts have featured secret Santa gift swaps and festive refreshments. However, the Torquay-based officer cautioned: “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.” Chief Inspector Mark Hafey is one of the States of Jersey Police officers on duty on Christmas Day. Possessing nearly 30 years of experience, Ch Insp Hafey, whose shift commenced at 06:00, observed that the day frequently introduced a more cheerful ambiance to the workplace. “However, like all emergency services, the police have a duty to provide the same level of response as any other day,” he further stated. “So, while we might gather for a tea, coffee or sausage roll, officers remain ready to respond as needed.” Guernsey Dairy continues its operations on Christmas Day to facilitate milk collection from farms. Alex Tielles, the dairy’s quality and compliance manager, noted that the staff comprised tanker drivers and laboratory personnel. “Obviously nobody can tell the cows that it’s Christmas, so that’s our main reason for being around on Christmas Day,” she explained. Additional animal care professionals working on Christmas Day include Nikki Watt and Jess Shillabeer, bird team members at Paignton Zoo in Devon, who begin their duties at 07:00 to distribute food. Ms Shillabeer commented: “You can still enjoy your evening and your afternoon.” She added, “It’s not the end of the world we have to work.” Ms Watt, a senior keeper at the zoo, further remarked: “This is probably my 17th year of working Christmas.” “My family are very used to it.” She also stated, “I’ve managed to persuade them to wait until Boxing Day to open presents.” In Cornwall, at Padstow RNLI, Michael England serves as a full-time station mechanic and is also part of the volunteer crew, liable for call-outs to rescues at any moment. He acknowledged that it could occasionally be frustrating to depart suddenly and leave family, but noted that this was a situation he and his relatives had grown accustomed to. “My late father Trevor England was coxswain at Padstow and served for 38 years,” Mr England recounted. He continued, “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, confirmed that personnel would be on duty all day to ensure that any problems or emergency calls were addressed. Mr Harris commented: “We can have our Christmas dinner and we can do all the bits and pieces that we normally do with our families.” He added: “But obviously for me, you can’t have a drink and you can’t celebrate it as you normally would.”