20th December 2018. When Station Manager Geoff Peters was contacted a few weeks before Christmas asking if the NCI Portland Bill Watchkeepers would like to receive a Christmas Hamper, little did he know how this simple phone call would turn the station into international YouTube Stars! However, knowing that the Team would always polish off a few ‘treats’ he agreed to take part.

It turned out to be a major advertising campaign for Vodafone worldwide, and in fact the hamper would be delivered by Santa himself, by drone! This drone is the first to be controlled by 4G and this was the first ever UK drone delivery using a 4G mobile network.  The specially adapted drone was made to look like a twinkling Santa sleigh and carried festive treats.  It brought Christmas cheer to the National Coastwatch station at Portland Bill which sits on one of the most southerly points of the UK and operates 365 days a year.  It is manned by 75 volunteers, who are the eyes and the ears along the coast.  The Watch Keepers complete over 9,500 hours of service each year and work closely with other members of the emergency services to help save lives. Entirely exposed to the UK coast, the site can be hard to reach in winter months.  However, using Vodafone’s best ever 4G network, a delivery of much-needed mince pies, chocolate and gingerbread men was delivered to the hardworking volunteers.  Watchkeepers gathered to see Santa land outside the Lookout and, as promised, the mince pies and gingerbread people were handed out, along with crackers and other festive decorations. The Team then said goodbye to Santa leaving him to go back to Lapland to prepare for Christmas Eve when he would revert to his normal form of transport and re-employ Rudolph!

The video has already been viewed over 2000 times, and has even been viewed in Australia.You can watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/H5jNVhBbuZY