WHEN a lifeboat volunteer crewman and his wife’s new baby was born there was only one place he was going to be christened - aboard his lifesaving vessel.

Andrew King of Tynemouth RNLI and wife Sarah’s held a moving ceremony aboard Tynemouth RNLI station’s Severn class all weather lifeboat Spirit of Northumberland.

Local vicar Reverend Dorothy Robinson christened Frankie Andrew James King in front of the proud parents, along with Godparents, family, friends, and Mr King’s fellow lifeboat crew members.

The tradition of christening “lifeboat children” aboard RNLI lifeboats goes back over 200 years and is said to bring good luck to the child.

The christening font normally found in a church ceremony is replaced by the upturned ship’s bell from the lifeboat, held on this occasion by volunteer Second Coxswain Ian Black.

During the ceremony Frankie’s mum held him in her arms and both parents were pleased that he behaved impeccably during the service.

Mr King, of North Shields, who runs a window cleaning business said: “I hope that Frankie will one day follow in my footsteps and become a lifeboatman himself and help save lives at sea.”