The garden party was an opportunity for the Lieutenant Governor to say thank you to the crew, operational support teams and fundraisers, and their respective partners, for their service in volunteering to save lives at sea in Jersey.

His Excellency was also able to present 30 year long service awards to Lesley Carter & Deputy Steve Luce, the King's Flag to Nigel Sweeny MBE, Lifeboat Operations Manager for RNLI Jersey, and a framed certificate to the St Catherine's Lifeboat Station for 50 years' of service.

The Lieutenant Governor had the opportunity to see the work of the St Helier crew first hand on Sunday when an all-weather lifeboat exercise at which he was present was tasked with the assistance of a broken down motor boat.

As if our garden party at Government House wasn't special enough, we were also honoured with the presence of the newly appointed Chief Executive of the RNLI, Peter Sparkes. This was his first official appointment as the RNLI's Chief Executive and also gave him the opportunity to catch up with the Lieutenant Governor, with whom he has been friends for many years.

On Thursday, Peter and his wife, Karen, were also able to visit both RNLI Jersey lifeboat stations and the Lifeguard Support Centre, where they had the chance to meet some of the crew and lifeguards in less formal circumstances.

Peter and Karen then flew to Guernsey for the naming ceremony of the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Harold Hobbs on the Friday, meaning that both Channel Islands were effectively the first port of call in in Peter's new official capacity.