There was a buzz in the Barbican on 19 May 2005 as RNLI Governors, crew, fundraisers and other supporters gathered for a day of reflection and celebration RNLI core supporters came from all corners of the UK and the Republic of Ireland to celebrate the RNLI's achievements in 2004.

At the start of the Annual General Meeting, the new RNLI Chairman Sir Jock Slater and the Trustee Committee took to the stage.

Sir Jock's address (excerpts are shown opposite) was warmly received.

After the adoption of the Annual Review, Report and Accounts 2004 and other formal business, comments and questions were invited from the audience.

These covered the organisational structure of RNLI Beach Lifeguards, the effect of increasing house prices on volunteering at lifeboat stations and the importance of the RNLI volunteer ethos. The Lifeboat was delighted to hear the comments of Peter Poole, a Governor from Slough, who congratulated the Editor and (her) staff on improvements to the magazine, describing the spring 2005 issue as the 'best ever'.

The Annual Presentation of Awards followed in the afternoon and the auditorium filled up with family and friends of the awardees. They were treated to a film review of the RNLI year compiled from a mixture of media and members' footage.

(If you have any film or photographs of RNLI events in 2005, please send to Eleanor Driscoll, Film and Image Manager, RNLI headquarters, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ.) Guest of Honour HRH The Duke of Kent addressed the gathering and proposed a Resolution thanking all those that make the RNLI what it is today, including crews, lifeguards, fundraisers, members and donors. This was carried unanimously.

Chief Executive Andrew Freemantle introduced the Supporter Awards - seven new categories of award that acknowledge outstanding support outside the traditional fundraising branch and guild system. These included a Corporate Supporter Award for National Boat Shows (see page 38) and an Under 12s Award for passionately keen Storm Force member Victoria Rose.

Then came the Honorary Life Governors, Bar to Gold Badge and Gold Badge recipients. This year over 50 loyal branch and guild supporters were involved, each personally congratulated by the Duke of Kent. A dozen more awardees attended regional presentations. This was the RNLI's prime opportunity to thank them for all their hard work.

'You feel pride for all the people who get the awards. When we fundraisers freeze in the street holding an RNLI collecting bucket, this will inspire us!' Pam Holloway, Nuneaton branch, present at the APA One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the Medals for Gallantry. Porthcawl Helmsman Aileen Jones was awarded the Bronze Medal, the first RNLI Medal for Gallantry awarded to a woman for 116 years. The crowd rose to their feet and gave her a standing ovation.

Cleethorpes crew Shaun Sonley, Tony Salters and Ian Sanderson were also awarded Bronze Medals. Their Helmsman Gary Barlow was awarded the RNLI's Silver Medal for Gallantry. Gary, too, received a standing ovation from the audience, bringing to an end a truly heart-stirring event. All present had been reminded of why they support the RNLI.

(For more details of the Porthcawl and Cleethorpes rescues see the Lifeboat magazine, spring 2005 and autumn 2004 respectively.)Excerpts from the Chairman's address I am delighted to welcome you all to my first AGM as Chairman ...

For over 180 years the support of countless numbers of volunteers and fundraisers throughout the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland has enabled our Institution to fulfil its role of saving lives at sea and latterly on inland waterways. Your support remains as vital as ever...

There were many proud moments for the RNLI in 2004 - not least when Her Majesty The Queen opened The Lifeboat College in Poole last summer...

Only some 10% of our volunteers have any professional experience of the sea before they join us... Crew training has never been more important... So this year we will be launching the Crew Training Campaign, which aims to raise £10M over the next five years. It has the most fitting slogan - 'Train one, save many'... [see page 4] Last year, despite an indifferent summer, the coast was busy and our fleet of 332 lifeboats launched 7,656 times, rescuing 7,507 people - an average of 21 people every day. Beach Lifeguards, who assisted a further 9,041 people and attended 8,010 incidents last year, are now operating on 59 beaches in the south and south west of England ...

The RNLI 200 project was initiated early last year, aimed at defining the operational configuration of the RNLI for the next 20 years without reducing the effectiveness or reputation of the service. The project's findings gave us an indication of how the RNLI might look in 2024, our 200th Anniversary year...

Our lifeboatmen and women continue to meet a wide variety of demands and dangers around the coast of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland - and in " some cases further afield.

In February, volunteers from our Rapid Response Unit flew to Guyana to assist with relief work in Georgetown after weeks of rain had made more than 250,000 people homeless. A deployment like this - paid for incidentally by the Department for International Development - is an indication that 2005 is already shaping up to be another eventful and busy year for the Institution ...

Turning now to the financial situation ... total income was £15M higher than in 2003, narrowing the annual deficit to just over £3M. This is a step in the right direction, but we must continue to grow our income and restrain costs if we are to move into an annual surplus and rebuild free reserves...

In a fundraising environment that is increasingly competitive, especially in the field of legacies, it is therefore imperative that we continue to increase income ...

Let me complete this annual Chairman's review by paying tribute to all those who work so tirelessly at every level for the Institution. We owe them a huge debt of thanks. But the Council, Trustees and I pay special tribute to all our volunteers - at sea and ashore - for their sterling and selfless commitment to ensuring that we run a lifesaving Service with a reputation second to none.

the Lifeboat Summer 2005.