New lifeboat coxswain

A COXSWAIN has swapped life on the south coast of England for Shetland after landing a new job with the Lerwick lifeboat station.

Alan Tarby teamed up with the Lerwick crew this week to start a new life in isles.

He brings with him nearly 40 years experience of working with the lifeboat service in Padstow in Cornwall, where he was previously a coxswain.

“I think I wanted to get away from all the hassle down there in Cornwall, and all the people,” Tarby said.

“I’ve also been working for the last 12 months in Scotland doing relief work.”

Tarby said he is expecting a different type of call-out in Shetland than in Cornwall. “I think the weather itself will be a challenge,” he smiled.

He will juggle the coxswain role with working as a lifeboat mechanic to help out current crew member Ian Harms, who also does both jobs.

Before going full-time with the RNLI, Tarby worked as a fisherman.

He added that “helping people” and working with “boats and the sea” were some of the reasons why he’s dedicated decades to the lifeboat service.