Mr. J. R. Barnett, O.B.E., M.I.N.A., was for many years Consulting Naval Architect to the Institution. He died at his home in Glasgow on 13th January, 1965, shortly after reaching his looth birthday. When the first experiments with motor life-boats were being made, in 1904, Mr. Barnett was appointed to his post as Consulting Naval Architect. He remained in that post until 1947, by which time he had been engaged in the work of designing life-boats for 60 years.

The 52-feet Barnett life-boat, costing about £45,000 to build, may be considered the culmination of the work of the man who was perhaps more responsible than any other single individual for developing the motor life-boat of the twentieth century. The most modern type of Barnett life-boat is a cabin boat with a covered steering position, is virtually unsinkable, and has a speed of 9 knots, at which speed she can travel 380 miles without refuelling.

Mr. Barnett was principal partner in G. L. Watson and Company, the famous Clydeside firm of naval architects and surveyors. He retired in 1957 n101'2 than 70 years' service with the company. In a letter paying tribute to his skill they say, "He was one of the foremost yacht designers and naval architects of his day." In 1933 Barnett published Modern Motor Life-boats and 17 years later a revised edition of this work was produced. Although there have been many new and important developments in life-boat design and construction since then, Mr. Barnett's book in its revised edition can still be considered a standard work on the subject..