THREE years after his death, a book has been published by a former president of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Red Cross Guy Rendel.

A fascinating account of 250 years' history as seen through the eyes of two Midland families, it was completed only 18 days before he died in December 2001.

Titled An English Tapestry - Two Families in Peace and War, it tells the story of his own ancestors, the Rendels, and also the Rylands, who founded and ran a leading firm of wire-drawers and for whom Mr Rendel worked for 20 years.

A well known Worcestershire figure, he was a deputy lieutenant of the county, president of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Red Cross from 1985 until 1995 and a parish councillor for Stock and Bradley, the area near Hanbury, where he lived.

The book is based on a previous history Mr Rendel wrote about his own family and includes detailed diary extracts from ancestors, which cover world events from a fresh perspective.

Many leading figures from history feature, from Florence Nightingale to Herman Goering, Lady Hamilton to Marconi.

"After my husband retired in 1983, he devoted much of his time to writing and cabinet making," said his widow Mrs Bridget Rendel.

"Quite a few of his friends around and about possess pieces of furniture made by him.

"Guy conceived the idea for An English Tapestry in early 2000 and took material for it from an earlier work.

"He finished it one afternoon in November, 2001 and the next day was taken to hospital. Eighteen days later he died," Mrs Rendel added.

The fully illustrated book is available from Worcester bookshops priced £13.