Stormy Waters

Whatever Happened to the Jersey Independent Lifeboat Committee?

I’ve just been reviewing Ben Shenton’s recent press release. He is the Chairman of the Jersey Lifeboat Association. He commented:

“I am delighted to be associated with the Jersey Lifeboat Association. The provision of year-round lifeboat facilities to a small island community is of vital importance. The charity aims to work closely with the community in a manner that only a locally managed organisation can, with monies donated fully accountable and identifiable. The appreciation and respect of volunteers shall be at the forefront of everything that we do.”

“The council members of the charity are delighted to have a strong body of  volunteers working with us under the leadership of Paul Battrick MBE as  Chair of the JLA Volunteers Committee. “

As well as Mr Shenton, the founding council members of the Jersey Lifeboat Association are accountant Ian Jones as treasurer, trustee Tim Cartwright as secretary and marketing director Simon O’Donoghue as council member.

So effectively the old crew are now part of the JLA Volunteers Committee and not in the direct management of the JLA.

  

Remember this – 22 December 2017:

“An independent lifeboat for Jersey could be ‘in the water’ by early January, organisers have said. Philip Rondel, who chairs the Jersey Independent Lifeboat Committee, said they were looking at a vessel currently based in the UK, expected to cost about £250,000.”

That was the committee of what was also called the “Jersey Independent Voluntary Lifeboat Service”. It was chaired by former St John Deputy Phil Rondel, former crew’s spokesman Paul Battrick, and several others, as the JEP reported:

“Former St Helier coxswain Andy Hibbs and his partner Anna Davies are also involved, as is Senator Sarah Ferguson, long-distance swimmer Sally Minty-Gravett and fishmonger Vicky Boarder.”

“Founders of the political lobby group the Jersey Action Group John Baker and former States Member Sean Power are also on the committee, together with former St Helier crew member Robin Ovenden, jeweller Rachael Fay and Annalisa Bale.”

It had its own Facebook page, together with mug shots of some of the principals. And its first meeting was described on 28 November 2017 in the JEP:

“There was standing room only at the Town Hall as the Jersey Independent Voluntary Lifeboat Service committee held its first public meeting since the St Helier crew's acrimonious split from the RNLI.”

“In paperwork handed out to the crowd, the committee displayed vessels it intended to acquire and estimated that two million Euros would be needed to by two boats (1.8 million Euros for an all-weather lifeboat and 200,000 Euros for an inshore vessel).”

“Addressing crowds, former Deputy Sean Power, a member of the new committee, said the Island must not let people in the UK decide the future of lifeboat cover in Jersey.”

So whatever happened to the Jersey Independent Voluntary Lifeboat Service committee? It seems to have gone, or been subsumed into the JLA Volunteers Committee, although apart from Paul Battrick, there is precious little information about membership. Phil Rondel seems to have retired again, although Sarah Ferguson is bringing a petition to the States.

On December 5^th, the JEP reported:

“Following meetings in St Helier and St John – both of which were filled to capacity – the Jersey Independent Lifeboat Committee is to give a presentation at St Peter's Community Centre at 8 pm on Tuesday. A question and answer session will also be held. Former Senator Ben Shenton will be in attendance.”

So whatever happened to it? When Senator Sarah Ferguson lodged a petition on 18 January, it asked the States "to support the Jersey Independent Lifeboat Service Committee in establishing an independent Jersey Lifeboat Station, disassociated from the RNLI." 

This calls the old committee a "steering committee" and says "A steering Committee was formed, under the joint chairmanship of former Connétable Phil Rondel and Mr. Paul Battrick, M.B.E., in order to set up the organisation required to provide the service. This will be led by an Association." 

But with the advent of the JLA, it seems the Steering Committee's raison d'etre has vanished.

It is notable that the new Jersey Lifeboat Association Facebook page says firmly:

“WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE OF THE JERSEY LIFEBOAT ASSOCIATION.THE ONLY PAGE AUTHORISED BY THE JLA TRUSTEES..

The objects of the Association are: 1. To save lives, promote safety and provide relief from disaster, in relation to the coastal waters of the island of Jersey. 2. To advance the education of the public in matters relating to sea, and  inland and flood water safety.”

This is a far cry from December, when the other committee was in charge and when Ben Shenton was only  "in attendance".  

The fact that this is the "Only Page Authorised" seems to indicate that the previous steering committee has been sidelined and the new one certainly doesn’t want any supporters shouting their mouths off when it looks to work more closely with the RNLI:

“We have received a letter from the RNLI saying that they are willing to give their assistance in establishing the Jersey Lifeboat Station. We are not sure what form this assistance will take, but we are looking forward to working with them”

The JLA also says it “has the support of Andy Hibbs”, in other words, he is no longer on a decision making committee, although no doubt his input and expertise will be used by the JLA:

“The council is delighted to have the support of Andy Hibbs and the former St Helier lifeboat crew, whose knowledge of local waters and professionalism is unsurpassed.”

Interestingly the claims of the new JLA have moderated as well. On 4 February, the JEP reported Ben Shenton as saying:

‘We are in the very early stages, but I hope we will have a boat in the water in a matter of weeks rather than months”

But as Ben has been finding out, you need administration to manage the books and fundraising, insurance for the crew and equipment, rules to govern how the boat is used and when.

"When the RNLI raised the prospect of setting up an Independent Lifeboat,  during negotiations with the St Helier Crew, there would have been little comprehension amongst the crew of the enormity of the task ahead. Albeit  they did have the RNLI’s offer of support."

"To build a Charity from scratch is an enormous task and fortunately the JLA  has a very large bank of volunteers behind the scenes. The public have not  seen much yet because strong foundations are being laid and there is a massive amount of paperwork.”

Steve Luce, back in November 28, warned that setting up an independent lifeboat organisation would be “massively technically difficult” – he didn’t say impossible. Now that the initial euphoria has begun to evaporate, and more level heads like Ben Shenton are looking at the JLA, it is becoming clearer that this is not an overnight task.

One final comment – Ben Shenton comments that:

"Rather disappointingly we have received a very negative letter from the  Jersey Government, signed by the Chief Minister. This is not a problem as it is preferable to know where people stand on issues at the outset than be  misled, and we shall endeavour to convert our political leaders. I am proud

to be the spokesman and I am sure that the JLA will live up to the public’s  expectations."

It would be nice rather than giving an opinion on a letter, he explained what the contents were that were “very negative”. It couldn’t be that the States were not prepared to provide financial support for an Independent Lifeboat, perhaps, when the RNLI would provide cover for free? It would be nice to know, one way or the other.