This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-46594873
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Why we are working on Christmas Day | Why we are working on Christmas Day |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| All over the world people are sharing gifts, scoffing mince pies and waiting for Elf to come on TV. | All over the world people are sharing gifts, scoffing mince pies and waiting for Elf to come on TV. |
| But whether you're half a day behind the UK, or several hours in front, spare a thought for those keeping the country ticking over on 25 December. | But whether you're half a day behind the UK, or several hours in front, spare a thought for those keeping the country ticking over on 25 December. |
| Bearing up | Bearing up |
| Adam Spencer is one of the rangers clocking in on bright and early at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster. | |
| He's keeping an eye on the carnivores at the 100-acre site, which is home to more than 300 animals including polar bears, lions, tigers and leopards. | He's keeping an eye on the carnivores at the 100-acre site, which is home to more than 300 animals including polar bears, lions, tigers and leopards. |
| Adam, who has worked at the park for three years, said he's one of about 10 people working today. | Adam, who has worked at the park for three years, said he's one of about 10 people working today. |
| He stopped to take a selfie with his colleague Colin and brown bears, Riku and Kai. | He stopped to take a selfie with his colleague Colin and brown bears, Riku and Kai. |
| "It's the second time I've worked on Christmas Day and it's a novelty," he said. | "It's the second time I've worked on Christmas Day and it's a novelty," he said. |
| "Not many people get to spend this quality time with brown bears and polar bears - and it's just a few hours out of my day." | "Not many people get to spend this quality time with brown bears and polar bears - and it's just a few hours out of my day." |
| Offshore account | Offshore account |
| It is the first Christmas spent offshore for 25-year-old gas rig worker Joseph Bensley, from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. | It is the first Christmas spent offshore for 25-year-old gas rig worker Joseph Bensley, from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. |
| The senior operations technician works on the Shell Leman Alpha platform, 29 miles (48km) off the Norfolk coast in the North Sea. | The senior operations technician works on the Shell Leman Alpha platform, 29 miles (48km) off the Norfolk coast in the North Sea. |
| Most of his 12-hour shift, which started at 06:00 GMT, will be spent checking the equipment outside, climbing up and down the eight flights of stairs on the platform. | Most of his 12-hour shift, which started at 06:00 GMT, will be spent checking the equipment outside, climbing up and down the eight flights of stairs on the platform. |
| "In the last week there have been 40 or 50-knot winds. It's cold - it makes your bones ache," he said. | "In the last week there have been 40 or 50-knot winds. It's cold - it makes your bones ache," he said. |
| "I would have been at my parents' house in Great Yarmouth. This is my first time working Christmas. I don't mind, it's part and parcel of the job. | "I would have been at my parents' house in Great Yarmouth. This is my first time working Christmas. I don't mind, it's part and parcel of the job. |
| "It's a bit disappointing as my brother is home from Hong Kong and I'll miss him on Christmas Day, but I'll see him after." | "It's a bit disappointing as my brother is home from Hong Kong and I'll miss him on Christmas Day, but I'll see him after." |
| Ditch the in-laws | Ditch the in-laws |
| Jon Bennett will be scaling one of England's highest peaks to check weather conditions. | Jon Bennett will be scaling one of England's highest peaks to check weather conditions. |
| The 56-year-old is one of two fell-top assessors who take turns to make a daily ascent of Helvellyn, in the Lake District, during the winter period. | The 56-year-old is one of two fell-top assessors who take turns to make a daily ascent of Helvellyn, in the Lake District, during the winter period. |
| And today, as on every day he is on shift, he will be at the 3,114ft (950m) peak, collecting information on wind speeds, temperatures, snow and ice. | And today, as on every day he is on shift, he will be at the 3,114ft (950m) peak, collecting information on wind speeds, temperatures, snow and ice. |
| The report is then posted on the Lake District National Park Authority's Weatherline service. | The report is then posted on the Lake District National Park Authority's Weatherline service. |
| Mr Bennett, who lives in Ambleside and has been doing this since 2007, says working Christmas Day isn't a problem. | Mr Bennett, who lives in Ambleside and has been doing this since 2007, says working Christmas Day isn't a problem. |
| "You don't have to celebrate it on the 25th. I visited my parents a few days ago and celebrated then. In some ways it's nicer to do it earlier." | "You don't have to celebrate it on the 25th. I visited my parents a few days ago and celebrated then. In some ways it's nicer to do it earlier." |
| And it can be festive up on the fell, with a surprising number of walkers, all of whom are "keen for a chat", he said. | And it can be festive up on the fell, with a surprising number of walkers, all of whom are "keen for a chat", he said. |
| "Many couples solve the dilemma of who to visit - parents or the in-laws - by favouring neither side of the family and going for a walk instead," he joked. | "Many couples solve the dilemma of who to visit - parents or the in-laws - by favouring neither side of the family and going for a walk instead," he joked. |
| The ascent usually takes about two hours, and the descent slightly less depending on the weather. | The ascent usually takes about two hours, and the descent slightly less depending on the weather. |
| Once home, though, he does not usually bother with Christmas dinner. | Once home, though, he does not usually bother with Christmas dinner. |
| "Couldn't be doing with cooking that, not after the climb," he said. "I just eat something a bit more special than a normal meal... like a steak." | "Couldn't be doing with cooking that, not after the climb," he said. "I just eat something a bit more special than a normal meal... like a steak." |
| You might also be interested in: | |
| Can you enjoy Christmas while pregnant? | |
| Most wanted? Christmas gifts from years ago | |
| Sharing your birthday with Jesus | |
| Taking one for the team | Taking one for the team |
| Claire Chambers is a passenger services supervisor at Exeter Airport. | Claire Chambers is a passenger services supervisor at Exeter Airport. |
| She is going to work especially to meet passengers who will arrive on the only flight on its runway later. | She is going to work especially to meet passengers who will arrive on the only flight on its runway later. |
| "My children are grown up now so I wanted to give those with younger children the day off," said Claire, from Willand in Devon. | "My children are grown up now so I wanted to give those with younger children the day off," said Claire, from Willand in Devon. |
| "I'll be meeting the passengers on the TUI flight from Tenerife at 7:30pm. | "I'll be meeting the passengers on the TUI flight from Tenerife at 7:30pm. |
| "I've worked at the airport for 22 years, but this will be my first Boxing Day off." | "I've worked at the airport for 22 years, but this will be my first Boxing Day off." |
| Part of the work family | Part of the work family |
| Andrea Ravese has worked at Body Worlds, and its predecessor Ripley's Believe It or Not, for four years. | Andrea Ravese has worked at Body Worlds, and its predecessor Ripley's Believe It or Not, for four years. |
| He is a duty manager responsible for taking care of guests, the team, and exhibits, at one of London's only tourist attractions open on Christmas Day. | He is a duty manager responsible for taking care of guests, the team, and exhibits, at one of London's only tourist attractions open on Christmas Day. |
| "Christmas Day is actually very fun to work - you see visitors being very festive and wearing all sorts of funny Christmas jumpers and hats," said the 26-year-old. | "Christmas Day is actually very fun to work - you see visitors being very festive and wearing all sorts of funny Christmas jumpers and hats," said the 26-year-old. |
| "People are in great spirits and customers tend to engage even more with the team - there is lots of fun banter. | "People are in great spirits and customers tend to engage even more with the team - there is lots of fun banter. |
| "The only downside would be not spending it with family, but we make work fun and it turns out to be great every time. | "The only downside would be not spending it with family, but we make work fun and it turns out to be great every time. |
| "Some of our team live away from their homes and families so they love coming to work and being part of the work family Christmas Day." | "Some of our team live away from their homes and families so they love coming to work and being part of the work family Christmas Day." |
| Andrea, who is originally from Castelvetrano in Sicily, says he worked on Christmas Day every year since 2013 except last year, when he took it off and "kind of missed it". | Andrea, who is originally from Castelvetrano in Sicily, says he worked on Christmas Day every year since 2013 except last year, when he took it off and "kind of missed it". |
| Dutch courage | Dutch courage |
| Father John Caster is spending his seventh Christmas delivering services at St Barnabas Church in Tunbridge Wells. | Father John Caster is spending his seventh Christmas delivering services at St Barnabas Church in Tunbridge Wells. |
| He first worked on Christmas Day 24 years ago, and has only missed three years, while training in Oxford. | He first worked on Christmas Day 24 years ago, and has only missed three years, while training in Oxford. |
| "In my last parish, I used to do a hospital round after all the services," he said. | "In my last parish, I used to do a hospital round after all the services," he said. |
| "I enjoy being able to finish after midday now. I can decompress quickly." | "I enjoy being able to finish after midday now. I can decompress quickly." |
| The 47-year-old said one of the things he likes most about working on 25 December is seeing new members join the congregation, if only for one day. | The 47-year-old said one of the things he likes most about working on 25 December is seeing new members join the congregation, if only for one day. |
| "It is a happy day, and I love seeing the mix of people who leave their personal confines to share that joy." | "It is a happy day, and I love seeing the mix of people who leave their personal confines to share that joy." |
| However, he said Midnight Mass can bring some challenges. | However, he said Midnight Mass can bring some challenges. |
| "Dutch courage probably gives some non-churchgoers the confidence to come in. | "Dutch courage probably gives some non-churchgoers the confidence to come in. |
| "I've seen some extreme situations before - even the police being called out - but on the whole, people are merry... one way or another." | "I've seen some extreme situations before - even the police being called out - but on the whole, people are merry... one way or another." |
| And finally... | And finally... |
| Even on 25 December, you'll find a journalist or two huddled by a heater in an otherwise empty newsroom. | Even on 25 December, you'll find a journalist or two huddled by a heater in an otherwise empty newsroom. |
| This year it's me, Lauren Potts, keeping an eye on world events, alongside other BBC teams around the country and the world. | This year it's me, Lauren Potts, keeping an eye on world events, alongside other BBC teams around the country and the world. |
| I'm hoping everyone remains on best behaviour until I can put my feet up with a glass of wine. | I'm hoping everyone remains on best behaviour until I can put my feet up with a glass of wine. |
| In the meantime, I raise a coffee cup to my fellow festive workers - a #HappyWorkingChristmas to all. | In the meantime, I raise a coffee cup to my fellow festive workers - a #HappyWorkingChristmas to all. |