International Gathering The week of midsummer 1999 will be remembered for a very long time by thousands of lifeboat people from the UK and Republic of Ireland and right around the world The unprecedented spectacle of the lifeboat sail-past at Poole Quay on Wednesday 23 June, was the pinnacle event of both the RNLI's 175th anniversary celebrations and the 18th International Lifeboat Federation Conference, hosted by the RNLI during that week.

An estimated 10,000 people, including supporters from all reaches of the RNLI and over 120 delegates and partners of the conference, lined the quay or boarded boats to witness the historic event. What exactly had they come to see? In essence, it was a celebration of 175 years of nationally co-ordinated life-saving at sea which had begun in 1824 with the foundation of the RNLI and which has since spread worldwide.

The years and the countries involved were represented by a flotilla of 48 lifeboats, some of them veterans of the past, others at the forefront of technology.

Seventeen had made the journey from overseas and the rest were RNLI.

The parade began with the moving sight of ten men at the oars of the 1887-built Queen Victoria, a magnificently restored 35ft pulling lifeboat which saw service for 15 years at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight. She was immediately followed by one of the newest lifeboats in the RNLI fleet, the 17th Severn class, Fraser Flyer (Civil Service No 43), helmed by the last man to be awarded the RNLI Gold Medal for bravery, Coxswain Mechanic Hewitt Clark of Lerwick.

Other medal winners took part in the parade including two other Gold Medallists, Superintendent Coxswain Brian Bevan of Number and former Coxswain Mike Scales of St Peter Port, Guernsey.

The procession which followed was a feast for the eye, albeit clouded from time to time with a nostalgic tear. There was bright colour from the beautifully turned-out boats, there was intrigue in the widely varied design of lifeboats from different European countries, there were fond memories recalled by the graceful lines of the veteran boats and above all there was an overwhelming atmosphere of admiration and affection, both for the boats and their crews.

There was much to contribute to the atmosphere, not least the music played by the band of the Royal Marines and the commentary by the well-known BBC sports commentator, Barry Davies, who gave his services free for the day.

Two rescue helicopters, one from the RAF and one from the Coastguard flew past in salute at the end of the procession and this was followed by a ceremony on the quay to grant the RNLI the rare honour of the freedom of the Borough of Poole. The borough celebrates its 750th anniversary this year and it is also 25 years since the RNLI moved its headquarters to Poole.

The waterborne formalities were then signed off as all the RNLI operational lifeboats sailed away again up the channel and the last in the line, Poole's Brede class, scattered hundreds of rose petals on the water, in memory of all the lifeboat crewmembers from all over the world whose lives have been lost at sea.

Lumps in throats swiftly became hearts in mouths as the Red Arrows burst onto the scene to pay a thrilling aerial tribute to the lifeboat service and to provide the most upbeat climax imaginable to a truly historic event.

But for the thousands of people on the waterfront, the day had still only just begun.

Now all the lifeboats in the parade were moored along the quay, ready to take on board visitors.

The quayside restaurants, bars and shops had all themed themselves with RNLI flags and decorations, the pulling lifeboat Queen Victoria, was now out of the water and had been drawn on her carriage by a team of shire horses to a position where she could be displayed on the quay.

There was much else to occupy the crowds throughout the day, including displays and demonstrations mounted by the RNLI depot and the 175th anniversary roadshow wagon, a self-contained interactive exhibition taking visitors on a journey through the different ages of the lifeboat service.

Even a fireworks display in the evening provided by the Borough of Poole to round off the day had RNLI connections as it was staged by a member of Brighton lifeboat crew who added some additional effects over and above his standard package, to ensure no-one would forget 23 June 1999..