• Grahame Farr, one of the honorary archivists of the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society, is a true historian and whenever he publishes a paper containing the results of his research he makes available a new and valuable chapter to all those interested in the detailed story of the lifeboat service.

Aids to Lifeboat History No. 2 is a historical and geographical list of British lifeboat stations. In his introduction Grahame Farr says: 'The origins of the lifeboat service were far more fragmented than people imagine. They rest within a multitude of Societies, Associations, Trusts—call them what you will—which sprang up between 150 and 200 years ago. They were, of course, formed with the finest of intentions whether they started as an offshoot of a powerful harbour trust, or as the result of a subscription list initiated by the clergy of a seaside parish.

'It is well known that many failed, but a strong nucleus succeeded and when the time was ripe, in the 1850s, the national body founded by Sir William Hillary in 1824 was ready to integrate all who wished to join while it expanded into the wonderful service we know today.' In addition to the text there are some very useful diagrams. One shows the first phase of British lifeboat stations, up to 1823; another is a family tree of the RNLI showing how the principal independent lifeboat societies joined the national body; and a third is a graph of station lifeboats showing changes in numbers and types (sailing and pulling, steam, motor, ILB and FAB) from 1860 to the present day.

The booklet is available from Grahame Farr, 98 Combe Avenue, Portishead, Bristol BS20 9JX, price 60p including postage and packing.—J.D.

• Malcolm Robson's French Pilot volumes one and two, which cover Omonville to Treguier and then westward (in volume two) Port Blanc to He de Sein, are a welcome addition to his Channel Islands Pilot and are produced in the same professional way. They will be of great use to yachtsmen cruising the Brittany Coast.

As part of the enjoyment of any cruise is in the preparation, it is often a help to have photographs, aerial or otherwise, of the harbours or coasts it is proposed to visit, especially when planning to sail to an area for the first time, and if any criticism of these pilots could be made it might be the absence of photographs. There are, however, excellent sketches and diagrams. In his guide to pilotage, Malcolm Robson depends largely on the traditional technique of transit lines, making use of rocks, lighthouses, churches, watertowers and other prominent landmarks which he has drawn from his own yacht as they appear from the cockpit when actually steering along the line.

French Pilot is published by Nautical Publishing Co.; the price of volume one, Omonville to Treguier, is £9.85 and of volume two, Port Blanc to He de Sein, is £10.85.—E.J.

• Not only does Practical Sailing by Wendy Fitzpatrick (Ward Lock, £4.95) give a good introduction to the newcomer to sailing but its wealth of photographs, both colour and black and white, is in itself a positive encouragement to 'go down to the sea'; so much of the joy of sailing as a sport and as a holiday way of life is portrayed.

The author is herself an experienced sailor and, among other successes, won the first British Laser class championship in 1973. Her book includes useful chapters on suitable clothing, the rules of the road and on understanding the weather and it is illustrated throughout by good, clear diagrams.—J.D.

• Latest addition to the library of lifeboat station histories is The Cromer Lifeboats 1804-1979 by R. W. Malster and P. J. R. Stibbons. Very readable, this booklet is also exceptionally well illustrated with photographs both of lifeboats old and new and of lifeboat people. On one page there are portraits of Cromer's seven coxswains between the years 1872 and 1976, including Henry Blogg (1909 to 1947) and Henry 'Shrimp' Davies (1947 to 1976); another page is a veritable mosaic of the faces of just some of the people associated with the station.

The booklet is available from Cromer station honorary secretary, J. J. Smith, 33 Hillside, Cromer, Norfolk, price 60p plus 15p postage and packing.—J.D.

• Lloyd's Register Today is a new brochure brought out by Lloyd's Register of Shipping, the oldest and largest of the world's ship classification societies, describing the services it offers to help in the maintenance of high standards in ship design and building, in offshore services and in industry, and its links with the marine and industrial world. Free copies are available from the Public Relations Officer, Lloyd's Register of Shipping, 71 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4BS.

• Readers of THE LIFEBOAT are also offered a free specimen copy of Emergency Services News, a bi-monthly journal for all emergency and rescue services. Please send a large (12in x 9in) 9Vzp stamped addressed envelope to Emergency Services News, 106 Middleton Avenue, Chingford, London E4 SEE.

Lifeboat books The RNLI stocks certain books on lifeboat subjects. A list of titles is available from RNLI, 21 Ebury Street, London SW1.

Please send a stamped addressed envelope..