One of the highlights of the splendid 150th anniversary banquet in the Painted Hall at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, on October 11, 1974, was a piccolo solo by Band Corporal R. O.

Howgill, Royal Marines. The Duke of Kent, the RNLI's President, spoke of the work of the service over the past 150 years and the toast of the RNLI was proposed by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Michael Pollock, GCJB, MVO, DSC. The orchestra of the Royal Marines began by playing Dr. Malcolm Arnold's Padstow Lifeboat March. A magnificent cake in the form of a lifeboat was made by the RAF School of Catering, Hereford. The dinner was a subscription one financed by those who attended..