The History of the Blyth and Cambois Lifeboats The History of the Eyemouth Lifeboats by Jeff Morris Published by the author - prices in text Jeff Morris, the Honorary Archivist of the Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society continues his self-imposed task of writing and maintaining up to date histories of the RNLI's lifeboat stations with these two volumes - covering stations which although fairly close together geographically straddle the England/ Scotland border.

Blyth can trace its lifeboat history back to 1808 when a Greathead lifeboat was purchased by a local landowner, with the help of Books reviewed on these pages are not available from the RNLI unless this is stated in the text.

Where the books are available only from one source an address will be given in the review. Otherwise readers should contact a good bookseller, quoting the title, publisher and the International Standard Book Number (ISBN).

Lloyds. Her career was brief - for just two years later she was lost returning from a service and 26 men were drowned. Another tragedy struck the station in 1841 when another 10 people died attempting to reach a local brig. A second station, just to the north of the town at Cambois, was set up in 1854 but was closed in 1927. Jeff Morris's history of the station could hardly be more up to date, as the closing chapter relates the arrival of the new Trent class and her naming ceremony in July of this year.

Eyemouth too has a long association with lifeboats, a station being established in the town in 1876, and it now also has a Trent - the naming ceremony in June '96 bringing this volume right up to date.

As usual with the 'History of...' series both books are illustrated with period photographs and are soft-back A5 publications.

Both can be obtained from the author and publisher at 14 Medina Road, Foleshill, Coventry CV6 5JB at £2. 50 each, including P&P.

The 37ft Oakley Lifeboats A History 1957-1994 by Mark Roberts and Nicholas Leach published by Norfolk and Suffolk Research Group at £5 fine P&P) The Oakley class lifeboat marked a watershed in lifeboat design. Entering service in 1958 the design was in use operationally for 36 years and was the last of the 'conventional' double ended boats to see service with the RNLI. In addition the Oakleys used an innovative self-righting system using water ballast which overcame many of the objections raised to earlier methods of self-righting.

This book traces the evolution of the design, the reasons behind it, the modifications and the evolution into the 37ft Rother class using an almost identical hull form but without the water-ballast system. The complete history of each of the 26 boats built is included, together with photo- BRITAIN'S COASTLINHS Britain's Coastlines from the Air Text by Jane Struthers, photographs by Aerofilms Published by Ebury Press in association with the RNLI at £19.99 ISBN 009 180763 8 Anyone who has been following our 'High Seas' series of aerial photographs in The Lifeboat is almost certain to find this book a delight. None of the photographs which have appeared, or will appear, in The Lifeboat are the same as the 160 in the book - even the single one which shows a similar scene being taken from a different angle. Not every photo on each of the 144 pages contains a lifeboat station, although several of them are obvious and yet more are either tucked away in the detail awaiting the curious magnifying glass or just out of shot.

The large-format, high quality volume looks in turn at each of the sea areas whose names are so familiar from the radio Shipping Forecast, reproducing around ten extremely well-printed photographs from each sea area backed up by a small amount of text which either puts flesh on the bones of the picture or adds some fascinating detail.

The flights which Aerofilms made to take the photographs for this volume enabled the RNLI to obtain photographs of each of its stations for a nominal sum, but the book goes even further to help the lifeboat service. A percentage of the royalties goes to the Institution and, of course, buying through the RNLI makes an even bigger contribution to the coffers - just write to RNLI Sales enclosing a cheque for £23.19 (which includes post and packing) and quote the catalogue reference 02421.

graphs and details of some of the more notable services.

Sadly the unique self-righting system, and in particular the complex structure which it required, worked against the boats at the end of their service lives. None could be sold as private vessels as the RNLI could not guarantee that the complex system would continue to work without the specialised maintenance needed. So, with the possibility of failure or hull deterioration making the boats potentially dangerous in private hands it was decided that those boats which could not be found a home on display ashore - with an undertaking that they would not be taken to sea again - were dismantled or broken up.

The History of the 37ft Oakleys is available from Mark Roberts at 4 Raines Orchard, Cheddington, Bedfordshire LU7 OSN at £5 including P&P. Cheques should be made payable to the RNLI Norfolk and Suffolk Research Group..