By Mal Butler
Cowes RNLI was kept busy during last week’s Cowes Week, with a variety of call-outs as some of the world’s leading sailors did battle on the water.
While the IW Observer was in town, we popped in for a chat with one of its volunteers, operations manager, Mark Southwell, who was accompanied by his faithful golden retriever, Maisy, at one of its open days.
He said: “The RNLI took over from the independent life boat in 2008 which was over at Shepards Marina near the floating bridge.
“We finally opened our new lifeboat station in 2012 and, as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations the following year, she was on the Island with Prince Philip, and officially opened the station – the only time Her Majesty performed this task.
“It was a challenging first few years to get the station fully operational, but we now have a 50-strong team of volunteers and fund-raisers.
“The lifeboat operates with a maximum of four crew with all sorts of interesting backgrounds. We have a radar designer and crew who run their own businesses, but they are all on hand to turn-up for a shout and the team works very well together.”
He is also happy to report that 30 per cent of the crew is female, adding: “As far back as 15 years ago the then-independent lifeboat already had a mixed crew, which went on transfer to the RNLI service. So from the start we have been able to demonstrate that the lifeboat it not a men’s club, and it’s not a club at all – but a serious professional service – ready at a moment’s notice.
“Today 30 per cent of the station itself is female. There are no bars or prejudices towards anyone here. Logically that’ll be a 50/50 split one day and rightly so, thus reflecting the population of Cowes. And all lifeboats should fully represent their towns.”
Carole Dennett