RNLI management visit shadowed by brewing concerns

Thursday 05 October 2017

A senior manager from the RNLI is due to meet lifeboat volunteers in Jersey today to try and defuse rising tensions with the St Helier crew.

Community Lifesaving and Fundraising Director Leesa Harwood’s trip to the island was said to be pre-planned - but it comes just days after the resignation of crew member and doctor David Howell on Tuesday, who criticised the RNLI for failing to recognise his expertise.

In a statement, the RNLI expressed their regret at Dr Howell’s departure and thanked him for his service, adding that they would “address any concerns that he may have raised.”

“We can confirm that we have received Dr Howell’s letter of resignation from the volunteer crew on St Helier lifeboat. While we respect individual’s decisions, we’re always very sorry when a volunteer makes the difficult decision to step away from their role.  We will be following normal procedures to acknowledge Dr Howell’s resignation from the crew and thank him personally for his volunteering commitment to the RNLI over the last five years,” a spokesperson said.

This latest development in the ongoing lifeboat saga comes three months after formerly sacked coxswain Andy Hibbs was reinstated. He had been dismissed over an alleged breach of the charity’s code of conduct, prompting his 25-person team to resign in sympathy. 

Pictured: Protests followed the dismissal of Andy Hibbs earlier this year.

Islanders rallied in support behind the coxswain of 25 years, with a petition calling for his return gathering over 4,600 signatures and hundreds of Islanders attending peaceful protests at the Lifeboat Station. At the height of the drama, long-time supporters suspended their fundraising efforts, while others called for a RNLI boycott altogether at the Jersey Boat Show.

While that chapter closed in late June, tensions appear to be growing again, with sources within the crew alleging that the team “could resign at any point” as they believe their concerns aren't being taken seriously. Those concerns include the presence of a new station manager, who they claim watches over them “like schoolchildren.”

Pictured: Coxswain Andy Hibbs, after he was reinstated.

They added that the RNLI are still yet to hand over a report into Andy Hibbs’ conduct, which they feel both the public and the entire crew should be entitled to view.

An RNLI spokesperson confirmed that the charity was “still committed to working with remaining volunteers at the station.”