Pwllheli lifeboat service to restart after ‘relationship breakdown’ ended volunteering

Pwllheli’s lifeboat service is set to restart after a “relationship breakdown” brought volunteering arrangements to an end.

Nineteen crew members have so far reaffirmed their commitment to the RNLI by expressing a desire to return to their lifesaving roles.

It follows the RNLI ending volunteering arrangements with all operational crew due to a breakdown in relationships between people at the station.

The charity said the breakdown meant it was no longer possible to sustain a safe and effective lifesaving service.

More than half the volunteers are now set to return in a variety of roles, with a recruitment drive launched to fill the remaining spaces.

Ryan Jennings, RNLI regional lifesaving lead, said: “Discussions with former crew members have been extremely positive and we are pleased to be welcoming back those who are aligned to our values and are committed to moving on from the recent difficulties.

“I am confident we can move forward with an inclusive and sustainable lifeboat station at Pwllheli for many years to come.

“It has been a challenging time at Pwllheli and I want to thank all those people who have spoken to us about both their concerns and their aspiration to get back to saving lives at sea.

“The crew are now keen to look to the future and refocus all their efforts on restarting the lifeboat service.

“We will be getting the crew back to training very soon and are committed to getting the D-class inshore lifeboat back on service as soon as realistically possible.

“We are now calling on the community to show the lifeboat station some support and help us move forward.

“There are several different volunteer roles available at Pwllheli Lifeboat Station and full training and support will be provided to those who wish to be part of the crew.”

Anyone interested in joining the crew is invited to apply online at www.rnli.org/volroles.