Product Description
'SHELLEY THE LIFEBOAT LABRADOR' is a story about our life in Southwold, Suffolk, England and moving down to Sussex. The story is linked by the writers personal experiences and the bond and affection between the writer and his Labrador Dog 'SHELLEY' over a period of 13 years.
The 'Lifeboat' connection is that the writer became a crew member of the Shoreham Harbour R.N.L.I Lifeboat Station (Coastguard Rescue in the USA) and there are many related chapters to this. Shelley became established down the boathouse with other crew members. There are the stories of rescues at sea, fund raising events, and situations associated with life around an active Lifeboat station with Offshore and Inshore Lifeboats.
The Preface to the book is written by Peter Huxtable MBE who was Shoreham Harbour Lifeboat Coxswain and often took his dog Gilbert to sea with him when he was a fisherman. This is a 'Real Salty Dog Story.' It was an era when the crews were steeped in family tradition and maroons were fired to launch the lifeboat! In the late 70's and early 80's technology was very different and the crews did enjoy an active social life which is mentioned with humour!
Shelley was always at the boathouse waiting for the lifeboat to return from rescues at sea ready to greet the crew with a wet paw at the bottom of the slipway. She helped the crew on many fund rasing activities wearing her collecting boxes with real pride!
Both Shelley and the writer who was involved in Healthcare sales travelled around the UK ,meeting many characters and visiting other Lifeboat stations sometimes staying away for days with Shelley always in the back seat of the car. It is a story tinged with laughter,sadness and adventures.
There were personal problems to overcome after a broken marriage and loss of his parents. It was a case of 'one man and his dog' starting life again as a team in pastures new. The bond between man and dog shows true affection proving that dogs do understand humans more than one realises!
The book is written in an informal, friendly and personal style giving the reader the opportunity to feel what it was like to see into the lives of both Shelley and its writer. One is able to meet their many friends through the pages of this book!
A respected photojournalist with many published features in the Nautical - Equestrian and Aviation Press the writer is also an established photographer. Many of his images have been used by the R.N.L.I and one even made a Royal Mail Postage stamp showing a rescue at sea.
Links to the Royal Airforce are mentiond in the book following the rescue of one of the famous RAF Red Arrow Aerobatic Team pilots after an incident at sea. This was one of Shelleys most exciting periods where she met the cream of the RAF.
As for 'Shelley' she spent 13 happy years with her master before she departed over the 'Rainbow Bridge' and is no doubt telling her many friends about her adventures as written in this book with her fond doggy memories!
You might need a large box of tissues at times.
IT IS A BOOK FOR ALL DOG LOVERS - ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN THE SEA AND THE WORKINGS OF AN R.N.L.I (COASTGUARD) LIFEBOAT STATION IN THE LATE 70'S EARLY 80'S. READERS WHO WANT TO KNOW WHAT A REAL BOND BETWEEN ONE MAN AND HIS DOG IS ALL ABOUT WILL ENJOY THIS BOOK !!!
The 'Lifeboat' connection is that the writer became a crew member of the Shoreham Harbour R.N.L.I Lifeboat Station (Coastguard Rescue in the USA) and there are many related chapters to this. Shelley became established down the boathouse with other crew members. There are the stories of rescues at sea, fund raising events, and situations associated with life around an active Lifeboat station with Offshore and Inshore Lifeboats.
The Preface to the book is written by Peter Huxtable MBE who was Shoreham Harbour Lifeboat Coxswain and often took his dog Gilbert to sea with him when he was a fisherman. This is a 'Real Salty Dog Story.' It was an era when the crews were steeped in family tradition and maroons were fired to launch the lifeboat! In the late 70's and early 80's technology was very different and the crews did enjoy an active social life which is mentioned with humour!
Shelley was always at the boathouse waiting for the lifeboat to return from rescues at sea ready to greet the crew with a wet paw at the bottom of the slipway. She helped the crew on many fund rasing activities wearing her collecting boxes with real pride!
Both Shelley and the writer who was involved in Healthcare sales travelled around the UK ,meeting many characters and visiting other Lifeboat stations sometimes staying away for days with Shelley always in the back seat of the car. It is a story tinged with laughter,sadness and adventures.
There were personal problems to overcome after a broken marriage and loss of his parents. It was a case of 'one man and his dog' starting life again as a team in pastures new. The bond between man and dog shows true affection proving that dogs do understand humans more than one realises!
The book is written in an informal, friendly and personal style giving the reader the opportunity to feel what it was like to see into the lives of both Shelley and its writer. One is able to meet their many friends through the pages of this book!
A respected photojournalist with many published features in the Nautical - Equestrian and Aviation Press the writer is also an established photographer. Many of his images have been used by the R.N.L.I and one even made a Royal Mail Postage stamp showing a rescue at sea.
Links to the Royal Airforce are mentiond in the book following the rescue of one of the famous RAF Red Arrow Aerobatic Team pilots after an incident at sea. This was one of Shelleys most exciting periods where she met the cream of the RAF.
As for 'Shelley' she spent 13 happy years with her master before she departed over the 'Rainbow Bridge' and is no doubt telling her many friends about her adventures as written in this book with her fond doggy memories!
You might need a large box of tissues at times.
IT IS A BOOK FOR ALL DOG LOVERS - ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN THE SEA AND THE WORKINGS OF AN R.N.L.I (COASTGUARD) LIFEBOAT STATION IN THE LATE 70'S EARLY 80'S. READERS WHO WANT TO KNOW WHAT A REAL BOND BETWEEN ONE MAN AND HIS DOG IS ALL ABOUT WILL ENJOY THIS BOOK !!!
