2010 is a big birthday year for a number of lifeboat stations around the UK and RoI. Humber, East Yorkshire (pictured), celebrates its 200th anniversary, while Donaghadee, Co Down, is 100 years old and Beaumaris, Anglesey, celebrates 100 years’ service. This year also sees 150th anniversaries for Buckie, Morayshire; Margate, Kent; Portrush, Co Antrim; and Thurso, Caithness.

Find out more about the origins of the RNLI on page 34.