New Brighton Lifeboat station appoints first female helm

Fliss Green made history on Tuesday (September 10) by becoming the first female helm since the opening of the station in 1863.

Conditions were less than favourable for Fliss’ final pass out to determine her helm status on board New Brighton’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat, with high winds and tides making the River Mersey tricky to navigate.

But Fliss, who has been a volunteer at station since early 2022, showed that she is ready for all weathers as she excelled in her assessment.

With a selected crew of experienced volunteers, alongside an RNLI assessor, Fliss headed out in the wind and rain to face the assessment process.

Fliss brings the boat in for recovery, with some crew already guessing the outcome of the assessment (Image: RNLI/Connor Wray)

It lasted several hours and included a number of scenario-based exercises testing her awareness of policy and procedure, as well as her abilities in boat handling and crew management.

The helm of an Atlantic 85 lifeboat is responsible for the safety of the crew onboard and is in command of everything that happens during a rescue for the lifeboat.

The B class lifeboat is one of the fastest in the RNLI fleet and as a helm in New Brighton, Fliss will use it to oversee a busy area running the length and breadth of the River Mersey from Runcorn out into the Irish Sea.

Fliss Green is New Brighton RNLI's first ever female helm (Image: RNLI/Connor Wray) The Mersey is still used as a busy shipping channel, as well as being a popular spot for tourists and leisure users, meaning the range of shouts Fliss will face during her tenure will be varied indeed.

There has been an RNLI station in New Brighton since 1863, and the station has been awarded 48 medals for gallantry in that time. Fliss is the first female helm ever at station, something which she is very proud of -

Fliss said: "It's a huge honour and privilege to be the first woman to become a helm at New Brighton. We’re a busy station and you never know what you’ll get tasked to here.

"I have to say a massive thank you to the crew that came out with me today and did an amazing job, and to all those at station who have helped me to this point.

"I hope that my progress here can serve as an example to all current and future female crew at New Brighton, and that the station can celebrate more female helms to come."