WORDS Lucy Sanderson
PHOTOGRAPHS Danny Evans
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE IN A TRIBE? CAMARADERIE, FELLOWSHIP, SHARED INTERESTS AND VALUES OR POLITICAL AND CULTURAL EXPRESSION… PROBABLY A SMIDGEN OF ALL OF THAT AND SOME.
Gallery’s tribe edition is being brought to you right at a time when we are apart; social distancing or self-isolating and managing the current, global coronavirus fallout.
While we may all be apart, people the world over are coming together, metaphorically speaking. In fact, feeling part of a tribe has never been so poignant.
Jersey’s little microcosm is home to a vast number of tribes, gangs, groups, squads, cliques… whatever you want to call them. Some are tribes we are grateful to, others make us laugh, some are inclusive, others not too much; all of them have one thing in common – a bit of love and a lot of friendship and familiarity.
HERE’S ONE TRIBE THAT SERVES UP HARDWORKING, SEAFARING BRAVERY AND DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY. WITH OUR SEAS LAPPING AT OUR SHORES ALMOST A STONE’S THROW FROM WHEREVER WE ARE ON THIS LITTLE ROCK, OUR RNLI LIFEBOAT TEAM ARE AN EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT PART OF ISLAND-LIFE.
The tribe (aka the crew), are an eclectic mix of people who share one particular thing; a common goal of wanting to help others and give something back to the community of Jersey. Being a lifeboatman stems from an inherent desire to help people but the boys all say that fellowship and camaraderie becomes all the more prevalent when they’re thrown into difficult and dangerous situations as a team.
The Jersey RNLI Lifeboat Crew are all enthusiastic and committed, motivated and passionate about what they do and its their shared goal and drive to be of service that binds them as a tribe. Relying on each other through stormy seas (literally) and being there for one another as friends and peers means the world to this hard-working bunch. Time out from the day job means working hard as a tribe to ensure the safety of islanders on the sea and if any readers wish to get involved, this tribe has an open door and is always keen to meet new, like-minded people to join.
The Jersey Lifeboats are an essential tribe, one to which we owe a lot of gratitude. If you want to support them you can always do so by donating or helping them fundraise… There are opportunities to meet them and take a look around the boats and the station and if anyone is serious about joining this tribe then they welcome new additions!
The chaps from our lifeboats wanted to use this opportunity to thank the Jersey community for their support. We say, thank YOU lifeboat tribe.. you are heroes.