• A new, updated version of Gillian Howie and Gillian Zealand's history of Arbroath's lifeboats May 1982 has been compiled by Alasdair M. Sutherland, himself a crew member. With the aid of photographic illustrations Arbroath Lifeboat offers a comprehensive history of the lifeboat service from its beginnings in 1803 (before the RNLI), with a description of the first lifeboat and its first recorded service, to the modern day.

The book also lists the lifeboats used from 1865 (The People's Journal No. 2) to date (Shoreline), their period of use, number of launches and lives saved.

Similarly, it lists the coxswains and honorary secretaries from the mid 1860s to date, the ladies' guild presidents, and a map of the operating range of Arbroath's lifeboats. The photographs span a century and portray the community of the lifeboatmen as well as providing an interesting comparison of boats and equipment in use then and now. A useful reference book available from A. M. Sutherland, 6 Elliot Street, Arbroath, Angus, DD11 3BY—J.E.P.• Soay is a small island close to Skye in the Hebrides. People came to live on it during the clearances two hundred years ago. They stayed until 1953 when the whole native-born population was evacuated at their own request. The Soay of our Forefathers is their story and the author, Laurance Reed, has told it so that the struggle of past generations may not be forgotten. Mr Reed is donating all proceeds from the sale of the book to the RNLI and the Missions to Seamen. It can be obtained from Mr L. Reed, Isle of Soay, By Mallaig, Inverness-shire, price £3 plus 50p p&p.—M.G.

• Wight Hazards by Peter Bruce, available from Boldre Marine, Kestrel Cottage, Shirley Holms, Lymington SO41 8NH, price £4.95 plus 45p p&p.

This 48 page book is a must for anyone sailing around the Isle of Wight.

Concise text and 55 aerial and sea-levelphotographs show clearly the rocks and wrecks, and safe passages, as well as pleasant anchorages and landing places.

The book is also interesting for a visitor or local keen to learn the names of parts of the coastline and some of its history.

For instance, Admiral David Beatty, the hero of the Battle of Jutland was wrecked upon Bembridge ledge in a gale on December 16, 1899—a fact not recorded by his biographers!—G.P.

• In Dartmouth Royal Regatta from 1834 to the present, Gordon Davis has written an exciting and precise account of the history of the regatta. Without being too technical he shows how well the development of yachting and small boat sailing during the last four decades of the nineteenth century is reflected in the regatta. The book is well illustrated with regatta scenes from 1871 to the present day, including charts and maps, and there is a brief section referring to the races held in support of the RNLI.

The publishers are Harbour Books and the book can be obtained from The Harbour Bookshop, 12 Fairfax Place, Dartmouth, Devon TQ6 9AE at a cost of £4.75.

• In The Story of the Exmouth Lifeboats Jeff Morris relates several brave rescues from ships wrecked in heavy seas off Exmouth but it was not until 1858 that the RNLI established a lifeboat station there. This was a Peake type self-righting boat named Victoria, rowing six oars, and costing £140. There is a fascinating picture of the second Victoria taken outside the boathouse when she was stationed at Exmouth from 1867 to 1884 and many more pictures of each succeeding lifeboat through the years to the present day, with details of their outstanding services.

The booklet can be obtained from Mr D. Sargeant, Littlefield Cottage, Salterton Road, Exmouth, South Devon EX8 5BW, price £1.25 plus 25p p&p.

Another of Jeff Morris' little gems is The Story of the Newhaven Lifeboats.

This is the second edition and brings the station record right up-to-date with the arrival of RNLB Keith Anderson in 1986.

The story tells of the extreme bravery and hardship suffered by the crews in the 19th century, who relied on physical strength and stamina over long periods, particularly as many of the rescues were made more hazardous by the condition of the casualties, usually sailing boats with fallen masts, rigging, sails and ropes. The booklet can be obtained from Mr R. Fenner, 59 Vale Road, Seaford, East Sussex BN25 3RZ, price £1.25 plus 25p p&p.—M.G.

• Lists of British Lifeboats: Part 3, Steam Lifeboats 1888-1901 and Motor Lifeboats 1904-1985 by Jeff Morris.

Jeff, well known for his popular lifeboat station histories, has donned his other hat as honorary archivist of the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society to produce this comprehensive record of facts and figures covering nearly 500 lifeboats.

Besides such technical data as dimensions, displacement and the number and type of engines, each boat's name, official number, operational number, donor, builder, cost and date of completion are recorded. There are also brief details of stations and dates, together with the number of launches and lives saved. Line drawings of 23 types and varieties of lifeboat trace the evolution from the earliest single engined boats still equipped with sails and oars to the latest Tyne class fast slipway boat.

The completion of Part 3 marks the fulfilment of a lifetime's ambition of the late Graham Farr, Jeff Morris' predecessor as honorary archivist of the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society who, ably assisted by his wife, fought against worsening health to complete this unique historical record, but who sadly did not live to see the publication of Part 2.

Lists of British Lifeboats: Part 1, Non Self-righting Pulling and Sailing Boats, 1775-1916; Lists of British Lifeboats: Part 2, Self-righting Pulling and Sailing Boats 1851-1918 and Part 3, all of which broadly follow the same format, are available from Mrs E. M. Farr, 98 Combe Avenue, Portishead, Bristol BS20 9JX, priced £3.50 each including p&p (cheques made payable to Mrs E. M. Farr)—M.L.S..