• Visitors to Clovelly usually see this famous Devon coastal village in a setting of a calm sea.

Conditions are not always as idyllic as this, however. Evidence of this is given in the excellent Short History of the Clovelly Life-boat Station written by Enid M. Seden to celebrate a hundred years of life-boat work by the station (Mrs. E. M. Seden, 100 The Square, Clovelly, Bideford, North Devon, price 3s., plus 6d. postage). Through the text and by illustrations Mrs. Seden tells of the valiant work carried out by Clovelly life-boatmen since the first life-boat, 35-feet long and pulled by 10 oars, was placed there in 1870, up to the present day with a modern 70-feet steel craft moored offshore. The spirit of the local life-boatmen was well revealed when the first boat capsized in 1871 in a strong gale. Wearing the cork life-jackets of those days the crew managed to scramble back on board as the life-boat righted.

It is recorded that the crew expressed themselves well pleased with the boat's performance! This determined spirit continues to be seen in the many accounts of difficult rescues recalled by Mrs.

Seden.—S.E.B.

• Ships '71 is the title of a well illustrated book edited by David A. Parsons which has come from Ian Allan Ltd., price 15s. (75p). Modern ships of every description are covered, including the latest in the military field, but readers of the Journal will buy the book because no less than five pages are devoted to the R.N.L.I's latest life-boats. Really large photographs go with the text.—E.R.C.

9 Many R.N.L.I, supporters will be glad to learn that the Rovex plastic model North Sea life-boat has been recently re-issued (now costs 14s. 6d.) and is available throughout the U.K. The model represents the 37-foot Oakley life-boat which was at Caister, Norfolk, until that station closed, but it can of course be readily modified to resemble an Oakley of that type at any appropriate station.

The model is a good one, being well moulded in white plastic, and when completed looks very fine indeed with a length of almost 10 inches. The moulded detail is first rate and the instructions ensure that assembly is perfectly straightforward. The colour diagram is also good, and it was found that the most accurate match to R.N.L.I, blue was to give the hull three coats of Humbrol paint matt blue, overcoating with a light coat of Translac eggshell varnish. To maintain the scale effect, only a low gloss or eggshell varnish ought to be used. There is no shame in masking the hull to obtain the correct depth of the blue, and other Humbrol range colours will be found useful also. Branch secretaries might consider bulk purchase of these kits so that they can be used in addition to other R.N.L.I, fund-raising items.—J.D.F..