It was a memorable moment on a truly proud day for the Institution that saw Her Majesty The Queen, the RNLI's patron, declare the College officially open. Volunteers, supporters, staff and locals turned out in their hundreds to get a glimpse of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh during their visit on Wednesday 28 July. With flags waving and the Royal Marines Band providing stirring music, a reception line including the RNLI's President The Duke of Kent, Chairman Sir Jock Slater, Chief Executive Andrew Freemantle and College Principal Sue Hennessy welcomed the Royal Party.

The tour began with a look at the training rooms, where lifeboat crew members from Castletownbere in the Republic of Ireland were hard at work. They were attending a precommissioning training course for their new Severn class lifeboat. The volunteers were delighted to take a break to meet The Queen, white HRH Prince Philip shook hands with Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteers.

Next the Royal Party met some of the generous fundraisers and donors who helped make The Lifeboat College possible, before walking across the bridge linking the College to its Survival Centre. There they saw a demonstration of the full-bridge training simulator and were also some of the first to witness a capsize drill in the wave tank.Three cheers from 237 coxswains, helmsmen and lifeguards rang out as Her Majesty The Queen waved to the crowds at the Royal opening of The Lifeboat College A milestone in RNLI history Pausing to add their names to the visitors' book, The Queen and Prince Philip were escorted out into the July sunshine in the waterfront courtyard where guests waited in excitement.

Today marks a major milestone in the history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution,' said Sir Jock Slater during his Chairman's speech. 'We are greatly honoured, Ma'am, that, as our patron, you could be with us today to open The Lifeboat College.' He added that lifeboat crews deserve the finest equipment, the best training and the fullest support that can be given.

Wearing a mint green outfit and cream hat with a lilac flower, The Queen said: 'Having just seen some of the excellent training that is already being delivered, I am certain that The Lifeboat College will play a vital role in helping the RNLI to save even more lives at sea. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I declare The Lifeboat College open.' Three cheers As holders of Gold Medals for Gallantry, Keith Bower, Hewitt Clark MBE, and Michael Scales have enjoyed some very proud moments with the RNLI, but this was an occasion to rival them all as they met the Institution's patron face-to-face.

The Royal Party, including The Duke of Kent, then stood for a much-anticipated photograph with coxswains, helmsmen and lifeguards, representing each of the lifeboat stations in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

The organisers who masterminded the successful visit and opening ceremony - James Vaughan, Philip Gilbert, Shelley Tilley and Linda Vatcher - were the next to be presented to The Queen. Then the honour of presenting a posy of blue and white flowers to Her Majesty fell to grinning eight-year-old Luke Brown, grandson of Mobile Training Unit Instructor Trevor Stevens.

Bidding farewell to their hosts, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were escorted onto the Severn class lifeboat Annette Hutton, crewed by some now familiar faces: the volunteers from Castletownbere.

Royal waves The Royal Party and assembled crowds were treated to the fantastic sight and sound of the coxswains and helmsmen holding their caps aloft as they gave three cheers for The Queen, which she acknowledged with a smile and a wave. Crowds waved from the quay and nearby pleasure boats as the Royal Party departed to the sound of A Life on the Ocean Wave, the music again provided by the Royal Marines Band.

It was the climax of months of preparation, but the organisers could not have prepared for the worrying discovery made just days before the event.

On the previous Friday, a construction firm working on the neighbouring supermarket site uncovered some longburied phosphorus grenades. Everyone on the College and RNLI Headquarters site had to evacuate the area while a controlled explosion was carried out. To the relief of all those looking forward to the big day, the Environment Agency said the phosphorus, once cleared, would not cause a problem to the royal guests during their visit.

Speaking after the opening, RNLI Chief Executive Andrew Freemantle said: 'Her Majesty The Queen's first visit to RNLI Headquarters was an outstanding success, due to the efforts of a large number of staff and volunteers who did a magnificent job.

We are grateful and deeply honoured that Her Majesty The Queen, as our patron, was present to open The Lifeboat College, which is a huge asset to the Institution.' A plaque unveiled by The Queen, which reads The Lifeboat College opened by Her Majesty The Queen 28 July 2004,' will now take pride of place in the College reception - a permanent reminder of this most illustrious of commendations for the RNLI's commitment to training..