George Rainbird

He was born on 22 May 1905, the son of Leonard Rainbird and Sarah Rainbird nee Meadus. ==Career==

Rainbird had been an advertising executive, before starting a career in publishing in 1951. In 1951, he founded George Rainbird Ltd. Rainbird was a director of Thomson Publications Ltd from 1966 to 1977, and its deputy chairman from 1973 to 1977. He was the chairman of Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd, George Rainbird Ltd, Rainbird Reference Books Ltd, Sphere Books Ltd, and Michael Joseph Ltd, all from 1970 to 1975. He was the chairman of Westerham Press Ltd from 1972 to 1975; and Acanthus Press Ltd from 1979 until his death. ==Selected publications (as author)==

• Escape to Sunshine, 1952 • The Rainbird Archive, 1985 ==Personal life==

Rainbird's first marriage was in 1926, to Eva Warner, and they had a son and two daughters. In the 1950s, Rainbird bought Whichford House in the village of Whichford, Warwickshire, from the Church of England for £1,400, after it had ceased to be used as a rectory. His wife Joy planned and planted the garden with the assistance of plantsman and designer, James Russell, and it was featured in Country Life. Later in life, he lived at The Old Parsonage, Church Street, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, and 45 Bramerton Street, Chelsea, London. ==References==