The story of Lighthouses, Lightships & Lifeboats

by Olwen Reed, Robert Ayton (Illustrator)

The Story of Lighthouses, Lightships and Lifeboats (A Ladybird Book)

50 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 1968

Reviews

[Judith Johnson]

This is in the Ladybird ‘Achievements’ Series 601, and full of fascinating information, albeit now outdated. My husband acted in a TV commercial for Heinz Homestyle Soup in the 1980s, which was filmed at the Needles Lighthouse. It was still manned then by three lighthouse keepers, but I think soon after became automated.

I was really interested to learn of the history of this subject, and I’m sure children reading this in the 1960s and since were thrilled at and inspired by the stories of intrepid inventors and heroic lifeboatmen.

The illustrations are wonderful, with lifelike depictions of tempestuous seas. I loved the one of lifeboatmen running down to the lifeboat station en route to a rescue. I lived in the Old Town of Hastings in the early 1970s, and remember witnessing a scene just like this, as men ran down the hill towards The Stade pulling their jumpers on as they went. Stirring sight indeed!

[Sophie Crane]

This is one of those old Ladybird books, in this case focusing specifically on the history of the many Lighthouses & Lifeboats that Keep us Safe on the Seas!

[Paul Pryce]

Great book!