The Story of the Weston-Super- Mare Lifeboats The Story of the Eastbourne Lifeboats Written and published by Jeff Morris Two more in the series of detailed 'station history' booklets written and produced by Jeff Morris - with Dave Hendy as co-author for the Eastbourne story.

Both are new versions of existing works in the series, and bring the events at the two stations up to date. They follow the history of the stations through from their earliest days, and although they do not chronicle every service they do describe a good cross-section of the activities at the stations.

Illustrated with period photographs, and more modern ones by the author, the booklets provide a fascinating look at the past and the present at the stations.

The Story of the Weston-Super-Mare Lifeboats is available from Mrs J. Allam, 22 Ashcomb Road, Weston, Avon for £1.50, and The Story of the Eastbourne Lifeboats from D. Huggett, c/o The Lifeboat Museum, Grand Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex, for £1 (both plus 25p post and packing).

Grace Had an English Heart by Jessica Mitford, published by Viking at £14.95 ISBN 0-670-81202-1 "The story of Grace Darling, heroine and Victorian superstar' it says on the front cover of this book, published to mark the 150th anniversary of the epic rescue on 7 September 1838.

'Who was Grace Darling?' asks Jessica Mitford, 'her name is virtually unknown in America, but to this day is recognised, albeit dimly, throughout Britain; she has become to a younger generation a semi-folk - loric character, akin to, say, Queen Boadicea or Lady Godiva, whose existence had some basis in historical fact but whose legend had far outstripped reality.' That legend, the fact and fiction, the hype, the marketing of Grace Darling goods at every turn, the newspaper accounts, books and plays of 150 years all come under the. Mitford microscope.

This personal, highly entertaining and often mischievous look at Grace, beautifully and lavishly illustrated, must appeal to anyone interested in the Victorian era, and to anyone else who thinks they know about Grace Darling.

One gets the feeling that Jessica Mitford is on Grace's side, but one thing is certain - Grace still attracts the sort of attention that eventually killed her.

GP The Story of Grace Darling by Helen Cresswell, published by Puffin (paperback) at £1.75 and Viking/ Kestrel (hardback) at £5.95 ISBN 0-14-032434-8 For children everywhere. A very different account compared to Jessica Mitford's adult version, this is the traditional story, vividly told by Helen Cresswell.

The events are told from Grace's point of view, and this moving and atmospheric portrayal of her life in the remote Fame Islands tells of the shock of the wreck, courage of the rescue and the aftermath of attention and fame.

Delightfully illustrated by Paul Wright, this book will enchant young readers.

GP A small part of the proceeds from the sale of Helen Cresswell's book, The Story of Grace Darling, will be donated to the RNLI's Grace Darling Appeal..