The mystery of Albert Barnett

Mr Barnett, who died in 1947, left a will in which the residual estate was further divided at the next generation, and apparently the Institute inherited a lump sum on his death. Investigations by the Institute's director of administration, Sir Patrick Cable-Alexander, have yielded few clues. 'We have established that Mr Barnett does not feature in the 1939 optician's blue book of registered ophthalmic opticians, so maybe he had retired,' Mr Cable-Alexander said. 'He is listed, though, in the Who's Who appendix as an instructor at the Samuel Druiff School of Optics 1908-1912, as lecturer for the Scottish Society of Ophthalmic Opticians 1919.' It appears Mr Barnett may have been originally a West Country man as Mr Cable-Alexander confirmed his address was in Torquay, but there were few other details. Any reader with information should call the Institute on 020 7407 4183.