LIFEBOAT crews have observed a minute's silence in memory of their patron.

The crews from across the RNLI's North division had travelled to Teesside for the opening of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) base in Thornaby, Teesside.

Adrian Carey, deputy divisional officer for the North division, said: "It was a rare opportunity to have such a gathering of lifeboat crews from the whole of our division.

"We thought it was only fitting to have a silence as a mark of respect to the Queen Mother, who had a strong connection with the RNLI."

The base provides support and 24-hour emergency cover for the 34 lifeboat stations in the North - from the Scottish borders to Skegness and Chester.

Nineteen staff work at the divisional base, including lifeboat inspectors, electronic and mechanical engineers, and administration staff.

The Queen Mother had been patron of the charity since 1937.

Following the death of her husband, King George VI, she continued her close association with the RNLI, and regularly visited lifeboat stations, in particular those that were close to her holiday homes in Scotland and Norfolk.

In 1969, when the Longhope Lifeboat Disaster claimed the lives of eight lifeboatmen, she was among the first to send a message of sympathy to the wives and relatives of the men who died.

In 1989, the Thurso lifeboat was named the Queen Mother. Even at the age of 89, she put on a lifeboatman's yellow protective jacket over her pale blue outfit and went aboard the lifeboat.