Born 12 weeks premature last October, the dainty daughter of volunteer lifeboat man Murray and his wife Gillian still only weighs 11 lb 10 oz.

“To me she is enormous,” said Gillian. “She has gone from 2 lb 3 oz (her weight at birth) to 11 lb 10 oz now at 26 weeks.”

The infant has made good progress since she had to be brought into the world early when mum, a diabetic, developed the potentially dangerous condition pre-eclampsia, which poses a threat to the life of both mother and baby.

However, with specialist care in the neonatal unit at Ninewells Hospital, mother and daughter pulled through.

Shortie, as Katherine is affectionately called by her doting dad, was unexpectedly home in time for Santa.

With the wee girl sleeping round the clock every night, none of the shine has worn off parenting. Gillian is still as joyful to have been blessed with a daughter as she was in hospital.

“She is marvellous. She is doing very well, and is the spitting image of her dad.”

Guests on the lifeboat will be limited in case there is “a shout” and they all have to get off in a hurry if the boat has to leave for a rescue.

Katherine will be accompanied by her parents and godparents, Elaine Smith, her mother’s sister, Neil McCallum, a friend of her dad, and Laura Ferrie, a member of Downfield Musical Society along with Gillian.

Also on the boat will be two sets of grandparents — Ena and Ernie Brown and Joan and Jack Reilly.

Great-granny Reilly will be waiting back at Katherine’s home in Broughty Ferry with a party of family and friends for a post christening celebration.

Murray and Gillian are so grateful for the care their daughter received in Ninewells they have already raised over £2400 for the neonatal unit there.

Murray takes part in the New Year Dook at the Ferry every year, and this January 1 he raised £1300.

More recently, Gillian, who is keen on amateur dramatics, took over the Downfield clubrooms for a home- grown “Stars In Their Eyes”.

At the end of the night, Katherine was brought on stage.

“It was fantastic, and we raised over £1100,” said Gillian. “Everybody was crying. I didn’t expect it to be that emotional.”