THE SPICE OF LIFE by 'Albert' Published by Harvey Press, 23/20 Royal Hospital, London SW34SRat£10(plus£1p&p) ISBN 09517513 01 'Albert' is one of the dedicated band of pensioners from the Royal Hospital, Chelsea who collect thousands of pounds for the RNLI at the London Boat Show every January.

There's much more to mildmannered Albert than one might guess, as his autobiography reveals. From his earliest memories in a Norfolk children's home during World War I, Albert guides us through his early years and then service in the Royal Army Service Corps in an easy-going, chatty style. We hear of his experiences overseas and his activities since donning the famous Chelsea scarlet, including a trip on Selsey lifeboat in 1985 ('It's much better than a tank transporter!').

Albert's life has been a patchwork of colourful episodes, happy and sad, but the overall result is a fascinating insight into the times of an extraordinary 'ordinary' man.

A SHIP TOO FAR The mystery of the Derbyshire by Dave Ramwell & Tim Madge Published by Hodder & Stoughton at £14.99 ISBN 0 340 56997 2 Twelve years ago the Derbyshire, the largest ship ever lost to the UK register, sank off the coast of Japan in a tropical typhoon she should theoretically have survived with ease.

Now Tim Madge and Dave Ramwell reopen this mysterious case and explore the events which led to the tragedy.

The book investigates the 'Frame 65' theory, which proposes the possibility that flaws in the ship's production and the use of inappropriate mate- Books on this page can be ordered from all good bookshops (except where alternative addresses are given) by quoting author, title, publisher and ISBN.

rials might have caused its downfall, contrary to the government- recognised reason of 'human error'.

This book, with the aid of meticulous research, endeavours to find out what really caused the Derbyshire to sink with the loss of more than 40 lives and why no formal inquiry was ever convened.

STORM WARRIOR The turbulent life of Henry Freeman by Ian Minter and Ray Shill Published by Heartland Press ISBN 09517755 02 From his birth in 1835 to his death in 1904 Henry Freeman's life seemed entwined with the lifeboat service and the fishermen of Whitby, where he lived.

At 25, he took part in the rescue of the crews of five ships, before becoming the only survivor of an ill-fated rescue mission to save the crew of the schooner The Merchant.

It claimed the lives of 12 of his fellow crew members.

This book chronicles important occasions in the life of an heroic and enigmatic character.

It provides an interesting and informative read which details Henry Freeman's struggle against both bureaucracy and the elements.

RNLI LIFEBOAT LYME REGIS Edited by T.K. Faragher Available from the chairman, Lyme Regis Guild, 9 Springhill Gardens, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3HL at £3.99 (+£1.31 p&p) ISBN 09519803 00 Twenty five years after the town's lifeboat station reopened, the local guild has produced a book, which the RNLI's Director Brian Miles describes in his foreword as being 'full of local interest as well as [having] a strong lifeboat theme'.

Chapters include 'The Story of the Lyme Regis Lifeboats', 'Lifeboat Week and Fundraising' and 'Lyme Regis and The Sea' .All proceeds go to the Lyme Regis Guild.HEROES ALL! The story of the RNLI by Alec Beilby Foreword by RNLI Chairman Michael Vernon Published by Patrick Stephens Ltd at £14.99 ISBN 1 852604190 A year's research - and visits to more than 130 lifeboat stations - has culminated in this comprehensive story of the RNLI, as it was in the early days, through the war years and as it is today, with chapters on the crews, the fundraisers and 'behind the scenes' at the Poole HQ and depot.

Mr Beilby dedicates half this book to a station-by-station account of the lifeboat service and the crews, recognising that each station has its own amusing or sad story to tell and illustrating that the calls upon a lifeboatman's skills will always be diverse and unpredictable.

Theauthor, himself closely involved with the sea nearly all his life, presents the Institution from the point of view of an 'independent observer', and Heroes All reflects the enthusiasm, dedication and courage of the men and women of the lifeboat service, all of whom the author clearly greatly admires.

A contribution of50p is made to the RNLI with every copy sold.TOTAL LOSS by Jack H. Coote Published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £9.99 ISBN 0-7136-3613-0 The very words 'total loss' are enough to send a shiver down the spine of anyone who goes to sea - and after reading Jack Coote's excellent compilation of first-hand account of the loss of some 40 yachts that shiver turns to a shudder.

The author says in his preface This is not a pessimistic book...' and despite its contents it is not. It is sobering reading, but from its pages the average sailor may learn much from the experience of others who have survived the trauma of losing a vessel, whether in mid-ocean or approaching Poole Harbour - just two of the incidents related in detail in this interesting volume.

THE LINE OF BATTLE The Sailing Warship 1650- 1840 Editor Brian Lavery Published by Conway Maritime Press at £28 ISBN 085177 561 6 This, the second volume of Conway's The History of the Ship makes fascinating reading for anyone with an interest in the history of sailing ships and in particular the fighting ship. With Dr Basil Greenhill as consultant editor and contributions from other experts in various fields one feels that it can be trusted to be as accurate as modern research allows. A beautifully produced and well-illustrated book covering a fascinating period in the evolution of the fighting sailing ship, sure to find a home on many a bookshelfThe following booklets have been received from author Jeff Morris, honorary archivist of the Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society and are available as indicated. Prices include post and packing.

The Story of the Scarborough Lifeboats, from Mr G. Exley, Flat 3, Dentdale Manor, 56 Lowdale Avenue, Scarborough at £2.35.

The Story of the Torbay Lifeboats, from Mr R. Littlewood, 95 Berry Head Road, Brixham, Devon TQ5 9AG at £2.40.

The Story of the Ilfracombe Lifeboats, from Mrs Jean Boyles, 3 Victoria Road, Ilfracombe, North Devon EX34 9LY at £2.20.

The Story of the Thurso Lifeboats (2nd edition), from Mrs I. Jones, 9 Brimms Road, Thurso, Caithness KW14 7PD at £2.

The History of the Brighton Lifeboats (at £2.25) and The History of the North Sunderland Lifeboats (at £2.30) are available from Jeff Morris at 14 Medina Road, Foleshill, Coventry CV6 5JB..