Four more volumes from Jeff Morris, the Honorary Archivist of the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society, chronicling the life and times of various lifeboat stations - this time taking in three stations in England and one in Wales.

All four follow the author's normal A5-size booklet format, with the Eastbourne volume, a second edition, having the latest style of full-colour cover.

The History of the Angle Lifeboats Situated on the southern side of the entrance to Milford Haven in Wales, Angle lifeboat station has seen just about every kind of vessel seeking the shelter of this large natural harbour.

To emphasise the changing times the ruin of the original lifeboat house, built in 1868 when the station was established, now overlooks a modern oil refinery while further round the headland a modern slipway lifeboat house was opened only a few years ago at'a cost of some £1.2m. The booklet recounts the history of the station from inception through to modern times and is, as usual, illustrated with facinating photographs both old and new.

Available from Jeff Morris, 14 Medina Road, Coventry CV6 5JB at £2.50 including post and packing.

The History of the Cullercoats Lifeboats Cullercoats, on the north east coast in former Northumbria, also has a long lifeboat tradition, dating back to 1852. A modern high speed Atlantic 21 now serves the port and Jeff Morris's history traces the evolution from pulling and sailing lifeboats through D and C class inflatables up to the 30- knot days of the Atlantics which arrived in 1991. The usual compelling mix of old and new photographs and services giving the full flavour and character of the station.

Available from Jeff Morris, 14 Medina Road, Coventry CV6 5JB at £2.50 including post and packing.

The Story of the Eastbourne Lifeboats A second edition of this comprehensive history, originally co-written with local crew member Dave Hendy who died in 1989, and now sporting a full-colour card cover.

In addition to the earlier years, from the first lifeboat in 1822, the new edition brings the history of Eastbourne's lifeboats right up to date with the arrival of the Mersey class Royal Thames which arrived in mid 1993.

Available from Mr. B. Chessel, 82 Baldwin Avenue, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 1 UP at £2.50 including post and packing.

The History of the Portsmouth Lifeboats The Solent may appear almost land-locked and well sheltered but the strong tides in the area contribute to sea conditions which can change rapidly for the worse - a fact borne out by the number of services carried out by lifeboats in the area. This volume covers both the old Southsea lifeboat station (1886-1918) and the more recent Portsmouth (Langstone Harbour) ILB station established in 1965.

Available from Jeff Morris, 14 Medina Road, Coventry CV6 5JB at £2.50 including post and packing.Spurn Lifeboat Station - the first hundred years by Roy Benfell published by the author at £9.95 A well produced soft-back volume, running to more than 200 pages, recounting in detail the early years of the Spurn lifeboat from the first suggestions in 1802 and establishment in 1810 through to 1910, the final year before the station passed into the control of the RNLI - later becoming Humber lifeboat station and still performing sterling service to this day.

Spurn Point has had an interesting history and its lifeboats seem to have reflected that. Its important position on a busy sea route, its isolation and the ever changing shape of the long peninsula on which it is situated have made it unique - it is for example the only lifeboat station which now has a fulltime crew, a result of its isolation and distance from any sizeable community.

The peninsula has been in the news recently as a result of erosion, but this fascinating volume reminds us that this is nothing new - a chart published in 1855 and reproduced in the book clearly shows 'Spurn Island', completely cut off from the mainland.

Also recounted is the way of life at Spurn in the last century and how the earliest lifeboat crews earned their living - loading gravel into ships from the banks in the area.

The crew were given sole rights to this work, leading to conflict and animosity.

A well-researched book, illustrated with some interesting early photographs and reproductions of original documents.

'Spurn Lifeboat Station - the first hundred years' is available from the author, Roy Benfell, at 3 Maple Grove, Garden Village, Hull HU8 8PL for £9.95 plus £1.20 post and packing. All profits from the sale of the book will go to the local appeal for a new Severn class lifeboat for Humber.

The Lynmouth Lifeboat by John Loveless published by the author at99p A simply produced - but well illustrated - booklet which recounts all of the launches of the Lynmouth lifeboat during the 75 years the station was operational, many of them in some detail.

The station was established in 1869, closed in 1944 and even the lifeboat house disappeared in the terrible floods of 1952. Three lifeboats were based at the North Devon port over the years, but the most famous of them must be Lou isa, the boat involved in the famous 'overland launch' in 1899. Louisa was hauled overland on a ten-hour journey to launch to the aid of the Forest Hall in darkness, though terrible weather and along roads which were barely wide enough for her carriage.

No account of the work of Lynmouth's lifeboats would be complete without reference to this incredible achievement and the author does it full justice with a chapter of its own.

Period photographs, bring this small booklet to life, and at just 99p it is excellent value.

Contact John Loveless at The Bungalow, Lydiate Lane, Lynton EX35 6DE for stockists or orders in multiples of 20.

Lists of British Lifeboats, Part 3 The Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society has published the Second Edition of Jeff Morris 's'Lists of British Lifeboats, Part 3 (Station Lifeboats 1888- 1901, Motor Lifeboats 1904-1993)'.

The booklet is available at £7.00 from The Honorary Publications Officer, LEES, 16Picketts, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL8 7JH. Cheques should be made payable to 'RNLI/Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society'.All Her Glories Past - The Zetland Lifeboat by David Phillipson published by Smith Settle at £6.95' ISBN 1-85825-024-2 We are used to hearing lifeboats referred to as the 'old boat' and plans being laid to replace her with something more modern - but the antiquity of Zetland, without doubt the oldest surviving lifeboat in the country, is brought home when reading that this particular lifeboat was being referred to in this way in 1871! And indeed she was old at that time, having been built by Henry Greathead in 1802, three years before the battle of Trafalgar.

That Zetland survives is remarkable, that at 192 years of age she is still in excellent condition is incredible and this fascinating 124-page softback volume traces the reasons for the old boat's popularity and preservation.

Very detailed in its earlier years, with accounts of many important services the book becomes progressively more concise as the years pass and Zetland's tale 'slows down', until more than a decade (1982- 1994) occupies a mere paragraph.

A most interesting volume which brings to life the story of a remarkable vessel.

* The publishers, Smith and Settle, Ilkley Road, Otley, West Yorkshire are donating £1 of the cover price of each book to the RNLL The Fighting Captains by Alan Burn published by Pen and Sword Books at £17.95 ISBN 0-85052-315-X Alan Burn served under Captain Frederick Walker, a man who devised and employed anti-U Boat tactics during the period 1940 to 1943 when the toll on the Atlantic supply convoys almost brought Britain to her knees.

In this account of Walker's activities - still a largely unsung hero - Alan Burns succeeds in bringing to life the dramatic days in the Atlantic: the awful weather, the lurking U-boats and the indomitable spirit which kept the convoys going.

For the small boat sailor Marine Law for Boat Owners by Edmund Whelan published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £12.99 ISBN 0-7136-3911-3 Although most of us go afloat to escape everyday pressures and regulations there are so many possible pitfalls that, especially in this everlitigacious age, it is wise to be aware of the implications of the law when applied to all aspects of boating.

Edmund Whelan is the Royal Yachting Association's Legal and Government Affairs Manager as well as being a barrister and is well qualified to write this extremely useful A5 paperback.

Also Received Ocean Navigator (Sixth edition) by Kenneth Wilks, revised by Pat Langley-Price and Philip Ouvry published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £19.99 ISBN 0-7136-3924-5 So very few people make ocean passages in yachts that this must be rated a very specialised book - although an excellent one. Mainly concerned with traditional celestial navigation, although modern electronic aids are also considered.

Slow Boat Through Germany by Hugh McKnight published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £17.99 ISBN 0-7136-3778-1 The latest in Hugh McKnight's accounts of wandering through inland waterways. An interesting and amusing travelogue which would also be factually useful to anyone travelling in the author's wake.

Through the French Canals (Eighth edition) by Philip Bristow published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £11.99 ISBN 0-7136-3844-3 The latest edition of an extremely useful book which must have tempted umpteen yachtsmen to venture into French inland waterways.

Contains general hints and information and specific details of 39 routes.

Covering such diverse subjects as buying and selling, rights of navigation, salvage and mooring contracts the book gives a good insight into what is likely to be inflicted on the boat owner and the ways in which he can both avoid trouble and seek redress.

Handbook of Offshore Cruising by Jim Howard published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £24.99 ISBN 0-7136-4044-8 A substantial volume which although aimed primarily at the long-haul cruising yachtsman offers a great deal of commonsense to those with more modest ambitions in the sections on boats and equipment.

The author's and the book's American origins show through occasionally with the European equivalents added sometimes rather as afterthoughts.

The illustrations too are disappointing, the artist has rendered them well but the choice of subject is rather strange. Surely an experienced yachtsman has no need of a half page sketch of rather ordinary foul-weather gear or the way to through-fasten an eye-bolt? Criticisms notwithstanding this an interesting book for any cruising yachtsman, a very interesting one for those making long passages and possibly an essential one for the world cruiser.

Surveying Small Craft by Ian Nicolson published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £19.99 ISBN 0-7136-3949-0 The third edition of this nowclassic work by a very respected author on the subject.

Full of practical advice and informative sketches aimed at helping the prospective purchaser of boats built from almost any material.

Existing owners may also find much of value in diagnosing and correcting faults in their own boats or ensuring that their fittings and equipment are up to the highest standards.

How to Choose the Right Yacht by Joachim Muhs published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £8.99 ISBN 0-7136-3950-4 A curious book which skips lightly through the basic aspects the average sailor would consider and then plunges into charts, graphs and formulae which would allow detailed comparisons of such things as the Dellenbough co-efficient of stability - if the necessary data and time were available.

The translation from the original German also seems to have led to some confusion in places.

If relying upon a book to help choose a yacht this reviewer would prefer a little more reasoned insight than that applied, for example, to rigs. To say of a ketch's mizzen: 'The only time it might be useful is when sailing on a beam reach - and for carrying the radar scanner that is difficult to attach on to a sloop' may have some basis in aerodynamics, but rather misses the point when choosing a suitable rig for cruising! Some Essentials of Efficient Sail Boat Design by Dr T. S. Morley published by the author at £30 ISBN 0-9521767-0-X It would be hard to recommend this book partly because of its high price for the quality of production and partly because it really adds very little to already published works on the subject.

Skimpy in places, highly detailed in others one is rather left with the impression that the book is mainly a vehicle to promote the author's ideas on his Tethered Kite Rig, ideas for sailing commercial vessels and deep twin skegs and rudders.

Please note that books reviewed on these pages are not available from the RNLI unless specifically stated. Where a volume is obtainable from only a single source an address wiill be given in the text. All other books can be obtained from good book sellers by quoting the full title, author and International Standard Book Number (ISBN)..