Books Cromer lifeboats 1804-2004 by Nicholas Leach and Paul Russell Published byTempus ISBN 0752431978 Price: £16.99 paperback In 2004, BBC viewers in Norfolk voted Coxswain Henry Blogg of Cromer their most famous local hero, above Horatio Nelson. The publication of this book is therefore well timed both for local and national interest.

As the most decorated lifeboatman in RNLI history (also see page 11), a large portion of this book tells of Blogg's bravery and his rescues. After the rescue of Fernebo, Blogg received his first RNLI Gold Medal for Gallantry and the RNLI inspector gave praise to 'his remarkable personality and really great qualities of leadership, which magnetised tired and somewhat dispirited men into launching.' Cromer, as all lifeboat stations, relies on team work and every notable achievement of the lifeboats and crews is listed making this an excellent reference book. The format is pleasing with a well-balanced mixture of text and images. Not only have the authors managed to source previously unseen images of old Cromer, they are to be acknowledged for their many new photos of today's lifeboats in action.

Rescued by the US Coast Guard - great acts of heroism since 1878 by Dennis L Noble Published by Naval Institute Press ISBN 1591146259 Price: £21 hardback Dennis Noble explores the 'heroic' history of the US Coast Guard, a service formed in 1878. The author is himself a former Coast Guard of 20 years but he delves back to 1885 to tell the story of Keeper Benjamin Dailey and his US Life-Saving Service crew, who rowed five miles in seas higher than the length of their boat to pick up shipwrecked sailors and bring them safely to shore.

In Noble's overview of more than a century of rescue missions, he provides details not widely known before and brings them to life - the more recent events described by the rescuers themselves.

Readers interested in maritime history should enjoy the survey of developments in equipment, lifeboats and aircraft used by the Coast Guard lifesavers. The book provides an interesting overseas comparison with a life-saving service different in many ways from that of the RNLI.

Transatlantic at last by Helen Tew Published by Seafarer Books ISBN 0954275071 Price £11.95 paperback 'Don't listen to the pessimists. Whatever you want to do, someone will tell you that you can't.

It's too difficult or too dangerous; you're either too young or too old. In fact, the time is never right, unless you make it so. My advice, therefore, is simple: just get on and do it.' So says Helen Tew in her book Transatlantic at last, published in November 2004, the same month as I death at the age of 92. She had worked tirelessly as a volunteer for the RNLI for nearly 40 years.

Helen founded the Lymington ladies lifeboat guild in 1966, was Chairman until 1977 and was an active guild committee member until she died.

Wider recognition didn't come until she decided to fulfil her life-long ambition, aged 88. Accompanied by her eldest son, Donald, Helen crossed the Atlantic in the Mary Helen, the 26ft gaff cutter her husband designed. She was almost certainly the oldest woman, in the smallest boat, to complete such a voyage and it earned her the accolade of runner-up to Ellen MacArthur in the Offshore Yachtsman of the Year 2002.

She was certainly a most remarkable lady and will be missed by all her friends at the RNLI. Her book is an inspiring and fitting memorial to her many achievements..