HM The Queen opened the new Cowes Lifeboat Station on 25 July.

The new station is 4 minutes closer to the Solent than the previous building. These 4 minutes could be the difference between life and death in an area like Cowes – popular with the leisure marine community and also busy with commercial shipping.

The Queen, the RNLI’s Patron, was presented with a framed record of her support of the institution over the past 60 years, and appeared genuinely touched (pictured).

She was accompanied by her husband, HRH Prince Philip. Cowes lifeboat crew were delighted when the royal pair signed the station’s visitor book – with The Queen taking on the role of Coxswain, and the Prince signing in as Mechanic!

We are still raising the £1M needed to offset the cost of the new lifeboat station at Cowes. Please visit RNLI.org/cowesappeal.

Meanwhile, RNLI volunteers were well represented in Her Majesty's Birthday Honours list this year.

Macduff Helm Andrew Findley, Ramsey Lifeboat Operations Manager Kevin Christian and Portrush Fundraiser Eleanore Huston were all awarded the MBE.

Andrew has been on the crew at Macduff since 1987, while Kevin has been with the RNLI 33 years, originally as a member of the seagoing crew. Staffordshire Fundraiser Edna Weatherby received a British Empire Medal.

Congratulations to all those honoured in our Patron’s Diamond Jubilee year.