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A record £2941.70 raised in the annual RNLI Jersey Boat Pull, in 2014 |
RNLI and the Lifeboat Saga: A Comment
The Doctor’s resignation
The JEP published a full and frank interview with Andy Hibbs on Friday, in which he stated that one of the reasons why Dr David Howell resigned. This is what Mr Hibbs said:
“In October, volunteer medical adviser Doctor David Howell resigned after the RNLI tried to make him take a First Aid course.”
There is some evidence for this being part of the reason for Dr Howell’s resignation, as one report states: “Dr Howell, who also carries out of medicals for crews at no cost, said he also considering whether he would do this in future too after what he said was a row over courses he had to attend.” (BBC News)
What also is stated is that his letter cited “citing multiple issues”, one of which was the way in which the RNLI handled complaints. What we have not seen is the full text of the letter, and instead all we have are bland assurances from the RNLI that “We will be addressing any concerns he may have raised.”
It would be extremely useful to see the concerns that were raised in the letter, preferably by one of the parties in the dispute or Dr Howell himself allowing its publication.
While the RNLI might dismiss Andy Hibbs as something of a maverick, those accusations would seem facile if made against a professional member of the medical establishment. It would be also good to have accurate confirmation that part of the row was about him having to attend a First Aid course.
That’s rather like asking a Chartered Accountant to undertake a course on elementary book keeping! If true, it would highlight an odious tick box mentality by the RNLI that should certainly be subject to scrutiny.
The Offer to Arbitrate
Many people watching in dismay from the sidelines have wondered why no one steps in to help arbitrate, or as I have heard it express for forcibly, to “bang heads together”. But it turns out offers have been made.
Ben Shenton, in his JEP column, notes that:
“Sir Andrew Ridgway, the former Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, and I wrote to Paul Boissier and Stuart Popham of the RNLI on 9 October 2017 and offered to act as mediators in the dispute. This would have been in an honorary capacity at our own expense.”
“The reply we received was courteous and explained that ‘the channels of communication between the RNLI and all the various stakeholders in the Island remain open’, and there was no need for our services at that time. A follow-up offer on 14 November 2017 was also rejected.”
It is clear that the RNLI does not want an independent arbitrator. This is not some Facebook group of activists. Sir Andrew Ridgway is a highly esteemed former Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey. To refuse that offer seems to give little hope for a way forward, and once again the RNLI seem to be acting in a manner likely to anger the general public.
Any establishment of an independent lifeboat service would be fraught with problems (insurance, ongoing maintenance), and it would be best if the dispute could be solved without that. But the RNLI don’t seem to want any peacemakers to get involved, and in the meantime, a group has been formed to look at an independent life boat.
They will also need a lifeboat station, and perhaps the only thing that might cause the RNLI to leave their citadel and actually take up Ben Shenton’s offer would be some kind of stick. The lifeboat is a movable object, and has gone off Island.
The lifeboat station remains, albeit locked up, and if nothing is done to resolve the dispute, then surely the possibility of compulsory purchase by the States for the Island of Jersey might be considered. That threat might just be sufficient to bring the RNLI to their senses and allow an intermediary.
As Ben Shenton says:
“If there is no mediation and no resolution, Islanders should throw their full weight behind the creation of a local lifeboat service early in 2018. And the States, as custodians of our money, should dig deep in their pockets to make it happen. After all, they are partly responsible for the mess we find ourselves in.”
And after all, the compulsory purchase of a station would only be buying back for the people of Jersey what their own fund raising efforts gave the Island in the first place.
Sources on Dr Howell's resignation
JEP,: Oct 5, 2017
The crew’s lifeboat medical adviser, Dr David Howell, stepped down this week and it has also emerged today that second deputy coxswain Graham Smith quit earlier this year.
Speaking about Dr Howell’s resignation, Mike Jackson, deputy launch authority for the crew, said losing a qualified doctor was a real blow. He was a much-valued member of the crew. He was with the crew for some five years. I am very saddened by it,’ he said. ‘Having a qualified doctor on crew is a real asset and medical knowledge on-board is a real benefit.’
In a statement, the charity said: ‘We can confirm that we have received Dr Howell’s letter of resignation from the volunteer crew on St Helier lifeboat.
‘While we respect individuals’ 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. We will be addressing any concerns he may have raised. We are still committed to working with remaining volunteers at the station.’
BBC Oct 3rd
3 October: David Howell resigns from the crew citing multiple issues including the "outrageous" way a complaint against lifeboat manager Glen Mallen was handled by the charity.
BBC, 4 October
The RNLI said it was "committed" to working with remaining volunteers at the St Helier lifeboat station after a volunteer crew member resigned, saying he had "lost all respect" for the organisation. Dr David Howell wrote to the local crew, criticising how complaints within the organisation were being handled and to highlight the amount of money the charity had lost as result of the dismissal and reinstatement of the coxswain earlier this year.
BBC, 3 October
Dr Howell, who also carries out of medicals for crews at no cost, said he also considering whether he would do this in future too after what he said was a row over courses he had to attend.
The Doctor’s resignation
The JEP published a full and frank interview with Andy Hibbs on Friday, in which he stated that one of the reasons why Dr David Howell resigned. This is what Mr Hibbs said:
“In October, volunteer medical adviser Doctor David Howell resigned after the RNLI tried to make him take a First Aid course.”
There is some evidence for this being part of the reason for Dr Howell’s resignation, as one report states: “Dr Howell, who also carries out of medicals for crews at no cost, said he also considering whether he would do this in future too after what he said was a row over courses he had to attend.” (BBC News)
What also is stated is that his letter cited “citing multiple issues”, one of which was the way in which the RNLI handled complaints. What we have not seen is the full text of the letter, and instead all we have are bland assurances from the RNLI that “We will be addressing any concerns he may have raised.”
It would be extremely useful to see the concerns that were raised in the letter, preferably by one of the parties in the dispute or Dr Howell himself allowing its publication.
While the RNLI might dismiss Andy Hibbs as something of a maverick, those accusations would seem facile if made against a professional member of the medical establishment. It would be also good to have accurate confirmation that part of the row was about him having to attend a First Aid course.
That’s rather like asking a Chartered Accountant to undertake a course on elementary book keeping! If true, it would highlight an odious tick box mentality by the RNLI that should certainly be subject to scrutiny.
The Offer to Arbitrate
Many people watching in dismay from the sidelines have wondered why no one steps in to help arbitrate, or as I have heard it express for forcibly, to “bang heads together”. But it turns out offers have been made.
Ben Shenton, in his JEP column, notes that:
“Sir Andrew Ridgway, the former Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, and I wrote to Paul Boissier and Stuart Popham of the RNLI on 9 October 2017 and offered to act as mediators in the dispute. This would have been in an honorary capacity at our own expense.”
“The reply we received was courteous and explained that ‘the channels of communication between the RNLI and all the various stakeholders in the Island remain open’, and there was no need for our services at that time. A follow-up offer on 14 November 2017 was also rejected.”
It is clear that the RNLI does not want an independent arbitrator. This is not some Facebook group of activists. Sir Andrew Ridgway is a highly esteemed former Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey. To refuse that offer seems to give little hope for a way forward, and once again the RNLI seem to be acting in a manner likely to anger the general public.
Any establishment of an independent lifeboat service would be fraught with problems (insurance, ongoing maintenance), and it would be best if the dispute could be solved without that. But the RNLI don’t seem to want any peacemakers to get involved, and in the meantime, a group has been formed to look at an independent life boat.
They will also need a lifeboat station, and perhaps the only thing that might cause the RNLI to leave their citadel and actually take up Ben Shenton’s offer would be some kind of stick. The lifeboat is a movable object, and has gone off Island.
The lifeboat station remains, albeit locked up, and if nothing is done to resolve the dispute, then surely the possibility of compulsory purchase by the States for the Island of Jersey might be considered. That threat might just be sufficient to bring the RNLI to their senses and allow an intermediary.
As Ben Shenton says:
“If there is no mediation and no resolution, Islanders should throw their full weight behind the creation of a local lifeboat service early in 2018. And the States, as custodians of our money, should dig deep in their pockets to make it happen. After all, they are partly responsible for the mess we find ourselves in.”
And after all, the compulsory purchase of a station would only be buying back for the people of Jersey what their own fund raising efforts gave the Island in the first place.
Sources on Dr Howell's resignation
JEP,: Oct 5, 2017
The crew’s lifeboat medical adviser, Dr David Howell, stepped down this week and it has also emerged today that second deputy coxswain Graham Smith quit earlier this year.
Speaking about Dr Howell’s resignation, Mike Jackson, deputy launch authority for the crew, said losing a qualified doctor was a real blow. He was a much-valued member of the crew. He was with the crew for some five years. I am very saddened by it,’ he said. ‘Having a qualified doctor on crew is a real asset and medical knowledge on-board is a real benefit.’
In a statement, the charity said: ‘We can confirm that we have received Dr Howell’s letter of resignation from the volunteer crew on St Helier lifeboat.
‘While we respect individuals’ 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. We will be addressing any concerns he may have raised. We are still committed to working with remaining volunteers at the station.’
BBC Oct 3rd
3 October: David Howell resigns from the crew citing multiple issues including the "outrageous" way a complaint against lifeboat manager Glen Mallen was handled by the charity.
BBC, 4 October
The RNLI said it was "committed" to working with remaining volunteers at the St Helier lifeboat station after a volunteer crew member resigned, saying he had "lost all respect" for the organisation. Dr David Howell wrote to the local crew, criticising how complaints within the organisation were being handled and to highlight the amount of money the charity had lost as result of the dismissal and reinstatement of the coxswain earlier this year.
BBC, 3 October
Dr Howell, who also carries out of medicals for crews at no cost, said he also considering whether he would do this in future too after what he said was a row over courses he had to attend.
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