The club has been informed that Mr.J.N. Walton has passed away. He lived in the Isle of Man.

He is best known for his work on "Light Steam Power" and the Doble Book "Doble Steam Cars, Buses, Lorries (Trucks) and Railcars". This latter book is the only comprehensive description of Abner Doble's work and provides much useful information regarding Doble Steam Cars.

From an early age he was keenly interested in steam, commencing with the locomotives, steam lorries and traction engines of his childhood. As an apprentice, the almost ageless reliability of the steam engine was impressed upon him, when brought into close contact with well-kept centenarian colliery winding engines, veteran colliery locomotives, fan engines, etc., many providing power from unsaleable coal and "slurry".

Experience with internal combustion engines in the R.A.F went far towards crystallising the opinion that steam power, in the form of efficient, compact, automated units to suit modern conditions, had considerable advantages.

One cannot under-estimate the contribution he has made to the world of steam and steam cars. He will be missed by many steam enthusiasts.