Background
Born at Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire as Brian Caldwell Cook, he adopted his mother"s maiden name, Batsford, in 1946.
designer painter politician publisher
Born at Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire as Brian Caldwell Cook, he adopted his mother"s maiden name, Batsford, in 1946.
He was educated at Repton School, 1924-1928 where he started to paint.
As Brian Cook, he was well known as the illustrator/designer of the dust jackets of the highly-collectible Batsford books from the 1930s to the 1950s. His first dust jacket was for The Villages of England (1932) when he was 21 years of age. Following his uncle"s death, he was chairman of Batsford, from 1952 until 1974.
He held the seat until it was abolished for the February 1974 general election, and did not stand for Parliament again.
He was knighted in 1974. He was tenant of Lamb House, the National Trust property in Rye, East Sussex, 1980-1987.
41st United Kingdom Parliament. 42nd United Kingdom Parliament. 43rd United Kingdom Parliament.
44th United Kingdom Parliament.
45th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was elected as Member of Parliament for Ealing South at a by-election on 12 June 1958.