Kenneth Ballinger Rawlings, chairman and managing director of Ballinger Rawlings, died aged 88 on 14 October.

Rawlings, or KBR as he was known in the industry, started his printing career at EA Braddick, one of Londons first printers engineers.

He founded his family firm more than 40 years ago in Hatton Garden, London, on becoming UK agent for Kolbus, before moving to nearby Saffron Hill.

It then moved to Watford in 1966 and became UK agent for Beck Packautomaten packaging machinery, the first overseas agent the firm had appointed.

In 1986 it moved again, this time to Hemel Hempstead, where his two sons, a grandson and a granddaughter still work.

He started his first firm, KB Rawlings, before the Second World War and during the war he diversified into making gun parts for the war effort. He was also an acting station officer in the London Fire Brigade throughout the Blitz.

KBR also spent time in technical sales at PPS during the 1950s.

His funeral was held yesterday (25 October) at the Chilterns Crematorium, Amersham. At his familys request there were no flowers.

Donations should be sent in his memory to the Hospice of St Francis, c/o Cooks Funeral Services, 72 Broad Street, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 3DX.