Lifeboat station histories The History of the Sheerness Lifeboats by Jeff Morris published by the author at £2.50 This, the latest of the author's comprehensive booklets on RNLI stations, was published in late 1996 when Sheerness was celebrating the 25th anniversary of the formal establishment of a lifeboat in the port - although there had in fact been a lifeboat on trial there for two years before that.

This early period makes very interesting reading, for it covers the time in which an unusual lifeboat carried out services in the area.

This lifeboat was the only one of her class, a 40ft boat based on a Halmatic hull and bearing the number 40-001.

She was the first RNLI life- Skegness Lifeboats by Lt Cdr F. S. W. Major RNVR and Coxswain P. D. Martin publishedby Skegness Lifeboat Station at €4.75 ISBN 0 9527200 0 0 This nicely produced, 118- page volume paints a detailed and lively picture of this east coast lifeboat station from the very first, pre- RNLI boat of 1825 through to today's carriage launched Mersey.

The two authors share the tale, the first up to 1977 with the later years coming from the pen of the current coxswain.

Situated almost at the point where the north sea becomes The Wash, the station covers an intriguing area of open water and tricky shoals which has led to many an interesting lifeboat service.

Well illustrated and with the narrative backed up with comprehensive appendices of the boats, coxswains and services Skegness Lifeboats is a comprehensive guide to the lifeboat station and its boats over the past 170 years.

The book can be obtained from Skegness Lifeboat Station, Tower Esplanade, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 3HJ for £4.75 including post and packing.

All proceeds from the book go to the station.

boat to be built in glass reinforced plastic (GRP), and with her maximum speed of 19 knots showed the Institution's continuing interest in fast boats following the introduction of the Waveney in 1964.

Indeed the prototype Waveney also appeared in those pre-establishment days, covering for 40-001's absence, but when the Nelson- type moved on for further trials her place was taken by 46ft Watsons, the former Holy Island lifeboat Gertrude being there when the station was formally established in 1971.

However three years later Sheerness had a Waveney again, in the shape of Helen Turnbull - which was destined to serve at the station for 22 years, being replaced only when a new Trent class arrived in 1996.

Jeff Morris's account of the station's busy quarter century follows his normal format, with plenty of detail of the more interesting services, relief lifeboats and the crews which manned them.

As usual there are many interesting illustrations, reproduced simply to keep the cost down to its low level.

The History of the Sheerness Lifeboats can be obtained from Jeff Morris at 14 Medina Road, Coventry CV6 5JB at £2.50, including p&p.General interest., The Call of the Sea Britain's Maritime History 1900- 1960 by Steve Humphries published by BBC Books at £16.99 ISBN 0-563-38722-X The Call of the Sea has been published to coincide with the screening of a BBC television series of the same name which was due to start on March 15-after this issue of The Lifeboat had gone to press.

If the series reflects the contents of the book it will make interesting viewing, being based on the recollections of those who actually served at sea during the 60- year period covered. During the first half of this century Britain's role as a seafaring nation was major and diverse, which is reflected in the subjects covered.

The lifeboat service features strongly in the final chapter - For Those in Peril - and the episode which covers this should be essential viewing for those with an interest in lifeboats.

In Brief...

A Dog Collar in the Docks by Bob Evans published by Countyvise at £5 ISBN 0 907768 76 8 An interesting autobiography of the author and his work as a minister with the Mersey Mission to Seamen (who benefit from the book) over almost 30 years.For the yachtsman Learning the Rule of the Road by Basil Mosenthal published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £7.99 ISBN 0-7136-4529-6 It is a safe bet that everyone using the roads has at least read the Highway Code • (even though one sometimes doubts it!), yet a surprising number of those who go to sea in small boats have a very sketchy knowledge of the maritime equivalent.

Perhaps it is the impenetrable full title of the Collision Regulations, or the heavy prose of the official version; it may even be that the lighter traffic and apparently small risk of collision at sea lulls some people into a false sense of security.

The last has never been a reason for not knowing the collision regulations and the first two excuses wear thin in the light of very readable explanations such as Basil Mosenthal's concise paperback.

Here you will find the essence of the rules, the lights and shapes to be shown and sounds to be made together with the full text of the Regulations for those who wish to delve deeper.

Even if you do not commit to memory what normal lights plus three all-round greens in a triangle indicate, it would be advisable to have the book on board for reference - particularly so since you would be looking at a minesweeper which is dangerous to approach within 1,000 metres! The books reviewed are not available from the RNLI.

Where the books are available only from one source an address will be given, otherwise readers should contact a good bookseller, quoting the title, publisher and ISBN..