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George Meadus Rainbird (22 May 1905 – 20 August 1986) was a British publisher, and the founder of the eponymous publishing house George Rainbird Ltd.

Early life

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. It acquired Zaehnsdorf Ltd and Wigmore Bindery Ltd in 1954 to 1956. It merged with the Thomson Organization in 1965.

Edmund Fisher left W. H. Allen & Co. and joined Rainbird. After he retired and sold his publishing house to Roy Thomson, Fisher took over as its head, until Thomson appointed him as managing director of Michael Joseph, which Thomson had also acquired.

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
• A Pocket Book of Wine, 1963, (with Ronald Searle); reprinted as The Subtle Alchemist, 1973
• Sherry and the Wines of Spain, 1966
• An Illustrated Guide to Wine (Octopus Books Ltd, London, 1983)
• The Rainbird Archive, 1985

Personal life

Rainbird's first marriage was in 1926, to Eva Warner, and they had a son and two daughters. His second marriage was in 1939, to Joyce "Joy" Trinder (died 1970), and they two sons and a daughter. In 1972, he married Lena Wickman (1917–1998), who survived him. Wickman was Swedish, and worked as a literary scout, and was best known for discovering John le Carré and his debut novel The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1963), and lived in Bramerton Street, Chelsea, London.

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. They were mainly based in London, and only visited at weekends and in the summer, although his "very old" father lived there year-round.

Later in life, he lived at The Old Parsonage, Church Street, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, and 45 Bramerton Street, Chelsea, London.

Rainbird died on 20 August 1986, aged 81.

References

1. ^ "Obituary". The Times. 23 August 1986. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
2. ^ "FamilySearch.org". Retrieved 20 November 2023.
3. ^ "Rainbird, George Meadus, (22 May 1905–20 Aug. 1986), Director, Thomson Publications Ltd, 1966–77 (Deputy Chairman, 1973–77); author and publisher". Rainbird, George Meadus. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U168341.
4. Powell, John (11 January 1979). "Bookwatch | Somewhere over the Rainbird". New Scientist Careers Guide: The Employer Contacts Book for Scientists. Reed Business Information: 106. ISSN 0262-4079. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
5. Rosenthal, Tom (4 March 1995). "OBITUARY: Edmund Fisher". The Independent. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
6. "An Illustrated Guide to Wine George Rainbird by George Rainbird - AbeBooks". www.abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
7. "George M Rainbird England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005". familysearch.org. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
8. ^ "About Us - Whichford House". www.whichfordhouse.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
9. "George M Rainbird England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005". familysearch.org. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
10. "Dödsfall: Lena Wickman Rainbird - DN.SE". dn.se. 10 October 1998. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
11. Adam Sisman (19 October 2015). John le Carré: The Biography. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 242–243. ISBN 978-1-4088-4944-6. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
12. Bill Fine (18 November 2011). Nothing, Except Everything, Is Enough. Xlibris Corporation. pp. 48–. ISBN 978-1-4653-9018-9. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
13. Hadfield, John (21 March 1986). "Obituary of George Rainbird, died 20 Aug. 1986, aged 81". OL 21181142M.

• British publishers (people)
• 1905 births
• 1986 deaths