Born 10 April 1901, fifth child and fourth son of Alderman Thomas Willets Adshead, manufacturer, who was twice mayor of Dudley, and his wife Adeline Hand. He assumed the extra surname Barnie by deed poll. He was educated at Dudley Grammar School and Birmingham University, where he graduated in science in 1920, and took the Conjoint qualification in 1923; At the university he excelled at all ball games, and took the lead in reviving social and athletic activities which had lapsed during the first world war. He was president of the University Medical Students' Society, and captain of cricket, association football, and lawn tennis. Subsequently he played cricket for Worcestershire and football for Aston Villa, the Corinthians, and England. With increasing age and business he took up golf and became an excellent player. After holding resident posts at the Queen's, the General, and the Women's Hospitals at Birmingham, he made postgraduate studies at the London Hospital, and took both the Edinburgh and English surgical Fellowships in 1926. Barnie-Adshead intended to specialize as a gynaecological surgeon, and in 1926 was appointed assistant at the Queen's Hospital and in 1929 at the Birmingham and Midland Hospital for Women, becoming surgeon to the latter in 1934 in succession to S Lewis Graham, FRCS. He was a foundation member of the British (now Royal) College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1929, a Fellow in 1938 and served on the council from 1950 till his death early in 1951. At the Queen's Hospital he was obstetric surgeon, and became gynaecological surgeon when the Queen's and General Hospitals were united in 1938 as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. At Birmingham University he was assistant to the professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, Dr Hilda Lloyd, PRCOG, and he examined for the Central Midwives Board. He was president of the Midland Obstetrical Society in 1938-39, and revived it after the war of 1939-45. He was joint honorary secretary of the British Medical Association's Birmingham branch in 1930-31, and served for some years on the medical students and newly qualified practitioners sub-committee of the Association's organization committee. Barnie-Adshead married in 1926 Eileen Cathrine Trimble, MB ChB Birmingham, who survived him with two sons. He practised at 89 Cornwall Street, Birmingham, and lived at 20 Church Road, Edgbaston. He died in the General Hospital, Birmingham, on 26 January 1951, aged 49. Barnie-Adshead was a very popular and charming man, of debonair manners with a slight lisp. His comparatively early death cut short a career of much achievement and promise of even more.