IF a power cut puts your Christmas lunch in jeopardy on Thursday, chances are it will be Ian Clarke who comes to the rescue.

The 40-year-old, of Stanway, Colchester, works for EDF Energy and is among dozens of engineers and linesmen who will be on call on Christmas Day.

Staff at the firm’s call and control centres will also be carrying out their normal duties.

Father-of-two Mr Clarke, who has worked for EDF Energy Networks and its predecessors for 20 years, will be working from 2pm to 10pm on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and will be on standby both nights.

He said: “Working during Christmas goes with the territory of the job and, after 20 years, it’s just something I’m used to.

“My son and daughter are now old enough to accept that their dad works shifts, and that doesn’t change over the festive period.

“This year I’m lucky, though, as we will get the chance to spend Christmas morning together before we all walk over to my mum’s house for an early dinner with the wider family.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to sit back and sleep off the meal in front of the TV.”

Someone who will definitely deserve 40 winks after lunch is PC Julie Cosson, who will clock off from a nightshift at Colchester police station at 6am on Christmas Day.

It is the 26-year-old’s second Christmas at work since she joined Essex Police two years ago.

She said: “It can involve covering the town in the evening or responding to calls coming in.

“We will be responding to everything.

“My family are completely understanding.

“They know this year we won’t be starting Christmas Day until 2pm at the earliest.

“I knew when I joined the police that it was not a Monday- to-Friday, nine-to-five job. I appreciate that and I enjoy it.

“We all do our share at the station and are understanding of people who have small children and would like to spend Christmas with them.”

Chrissie Carr, a domestic care support worker, of Church Road, Thorrington, will be visiting patients on Christmas Day who have just been discharged from hospital and helping them regain their independence.

The 57-year-old mother-of-two, who has worked for social services in Colchester since 1995, said she had put herself forward to work.

She said: “If you’re on your own at Christmas time, having someone coming to you on Christmas Day is wonderful.

“At any time of the year it breaks the day up and it’s just having someone to chat to and help you get your life back together again.

“I find it rewarding and satisfying to see someone get back on their feet again.

“I don’t want them to be miserable at Christmastime – that is the day they can need you most.

“It also makes my day if I can do someone else a good turn.”

Beverley Pickett, ward manager of the Rhys Lewis Ward at Essex County Hospital, will be hard at work from 7.30am on December 25, bringing some Christmas cheer to her patients who are unable to spend the day with family or friends.

Patients will wake to a champagne breakfast before a visit by Father Christmas and a festive greeting from the consultants, followed by presents.

The 33-year-old of Chappel will be leaving her 18-month-old baby to come to work.

She said: “We all know we are going to be working at Christmas at some point and we have to make the best of it.

“It is part and parcel of the job. The patients here are a lot worse off than we are.

“They are the important ones. I wouldn’t want to be in hospital on Christmas Day and, particularly with our patients, it might be their last Christmas so we want to make it as nice as possible for them.”

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