Bitter row rages over sacking of popular RNLI coxswain Tom Clark
Three volunteers have also left the charity as public petition to reinstate life-saver hits 4,000
munity involvement is important to the RNLI. It does mean, though, that when we make difficult decisions like this, it’s not uncommon to get some disagreement and even protest locally. However, this can’t stop us doing the right thing.
“Safety is always a priority and when serious breaches of safety occur, we have to tackle them.”
Mr Clark disputes the RNLI’s version of events.
He said: “To say that the launch was not authorised is rubbish. I informed the lifeboat operations manager, deputy launch authority, 2nd coxswain, deputy 2nd coxswain, station mechanic, head launcher, tractor driver and the crew I was taking to sea, including the two trainee coxswains that the exercise was aimed at. All gave their blessing and clearance.” To view the petition visit https://you.38degrees.org.uk/ petitions/reinstate-scarborough-rnli-coxswain-tom-clark. + WHAT DO YOU THINK OF TOM’S SACKING? The RNLI released further information which it says was a factor in its decision.
It said: “While we can’t go into all the details, we can say that the coxswain led an unofficial exercise in which he took Scarborough’s Shannon class lifeboat to sea with untrained passengers on board and without enough qualified crew members. “From the investigation evidence, it is also clear that the untrained passengers on board were given operational control of the lifeboat in poor weather conditions and strong winds.” Mr Clark said that he had previously taken donors out on the boat at the RNLI’s request, though the two passengers on the day in question were not donors. Meanwhile the petition to reinstate him says: “Being disrespectful to Tom is like being disrespectful to the sea. Scarborough Lifeboat needs Tom Clark.”