RNLI crew members and fundraisers were among the guests at the Buckingham Palace garden party on 14 July. Rhyl Coxswain Peter Robinson (pictured meeting HM The Queen) says: ‘It was an honour for my wife and myself to attend and we thoroughly enjoyed our day. We are surprised and grateful that the RNLI nominated us!’

Crew and volunteers from Bembridge, Bridlington, Burry Port, Dungeness, Happisburgh, Horton and Port Eynon, Lymington, Minehead, Portaferry, Portrush, Seahouses, Sennen Cove, Skerries, St Bees, St Ives and West Kirby were also invited.

Meanwhile, on 2 July HM The Queen visited Eyemouth lifeboat station. Lifeboat Operations Manager James Tarvit says: ‘We were proud to be introduced to Her Majesty. It was a real honour for the lifeboat crew, our station and indeed the whole of the RNLI. I’m delighted to say we also managed to organise brilliant sunshine for her visit!’

Birthday honours

More royal connections were made in June when Her Majesty honoured the following RNLI people with MBEs:

• Robert Erskine, Coxswain of Portpatrick lifeboat, and Christopher Hurst, Coxswain of Fleetwood lifeboat station – for service to maritime safety.
• Evelyn Ford, President of Berkhamsted branch; Cicely Anne Hughes, President of Torfaen branch; Audrey Leonard, President of Whaley Bridge branch; and Barrie McGill, Lifeboat Operations Manager of Abersoch lifeboat station – for voluntary service to the RNLI.