Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother hands the RNLI's new colour to Coxswain Leonard Patten of Newhaven.

Partly obscured is Mr James Westoll, Chairman of the Clothworkers' Foundation, which sponsored the colour, commissioning the Royal School of Needlework to undertake the work. Later, in her speech, the Queen Mother said: 'The colour is a most fitting tribute to everyone who has been involved with the lifeboat service in the past, and it will carry forward their deeds, to those who will serve in the future.' photograph by courtesy of David Trotter.