Patients at The Royal Children’s Hospital were woken up Christmas morning with a gift at the end of their beds and a visit from Santa.

As is tradition at the RCH, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade escorted Santa to the hospital in a flurry of lights and sirens.  Children watched from their windows as new and vintage fire engines paraded into Royal Park.

Santa visited every child, accompanied by fire fighters and family members dressed as clowns.  MFB musicians filled the wards with the sound of Christmas carols.

It is the 81st year that the MFB has come to the RCH for Christmas.  The tradition began at the hospital in Pelham Street Carlton in 1928 when firemen took Santa to visit another fireman’s child who was in the hospital.  This was the beginning of the ‘once-a-year club’ with doctors and fire-fighters as members.