John Bartlett, who died peacefully in November 2021 at the age of 94, was passionate about boats and ships, an inveterate bibliophile and an author in his own right. He graduated from Cambridge with degrees in civil engineering and law, but the former was to be his chosen profession, culminating in his being awarded a cbe in 1976 and becoming the president of the Institution of Civil Engineers for 1982–3. The story was told of how he was attending one of the many dinners necessary to be called to the bar one evening, having worked during that day on a tunnel beneath the same building. John invented the Bentonite tunnelling shield, precursor of all the world’s tunnelling machines, revolutionizing the construction of tunnels in non-cohesive ground including soil, sand, silt and gravel. Perhaps the ultimate accolade was his appointment as the principal design consultant for the British section of the Channel Tunnel.
Wherever in the world engineering took him, John sought out books on local vessels and amassed a remarkably catholic library, which forms the basis of the Bartlett Maritime Research Centre and Library at the National Maritime Museum, Cornwall. Latterly, he used his library to excellent effect to answer shipping queries from members of the World Ship Society. During a busy professional life, John also found time to research deeply the maritime history of his beloved Cornwall. His Ships of North Cornwall is a minor classic, belying its title by ranging over every conceivable size and type of craft built, owned or based in Padstow and its out ports. Its appendix alone is a major achievement, detailing the careers of over 920 sailing vessels built or owned at these ports since 1800. The book’s writing was also informed by John’s experience as an adventurous yachtsman, and perhaps even by his experience of living on a houseboat off Putney soon after his marriage to Gill.
Condolences go to Gill, their three surviving sons, Rick, Nick and Mike, their children and grandchildren. Members of the Society for Nautical Research, the South West Maritime History Society and World Ship Society who counted John as a friend can only celebrate that his was a life well-lived.