4 May this year marked the 200th anniversary of Sunderland lifeboat station, the first RNLI station in England to reach this landmark. To mark this occasion, a dinner and disco was held at The Stadium of Light, home of Sunderland Football Club. RNLI director, Andrew Freemantle, presented a special vellum to honorary secretary Brian Robbie. Also celebrating 200 years in 2000 was Montrose lifeboat station, in Scotland..