Tim Waterstone facts for kids

Sir Timothy John Stuart Waterstone, born on May 30, 1939, is a famous British bookseller, businessman, and author. He is best known for starting Waterstones, which is a very popular chain of bookstores in the United Kingdom. Waterstones grew to become the largest bookseller in Europe.

Early Life and Education

Timothy John Stuart Waterstone was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Malcolm Stuart Waterstone, worked for a tea company. Tim grew up in Crowborough, a town in East Sussex, England.

He went to Tonbridge School for his education. Later, he studied English at St Catharine's College, Cambridge University.

Building a Book Empire

Before starting his own business, Tim Waterstone worked in different roles. He worked for a broking firm in Calcutta, India. After returning to England, he worked as a marketing manager for Allied Breweries and then for W.H. Smith, another well-known retail company.

In 1982, Tim Waterstone decided to create his own bookstore chain. He used money he received from W.H. Smith to open his first store. This first Waterstone's shop was located on Old Brompton Road in Kensington, West London.

His idea was to create large bookstores filled with many books. He also wanted to hire staff who loved reading and knew a lot about books. Many of these staff members were university graduates. This plan worked very well. By 1992, just ten years later, Waterstone's had become the biggest bookseller group in Europe.

Tim Waterstone also became the first chairman of HMV Media Group in 1998. This group brought together Waterstone's and HMV, a music and film retailer. He left the group in 2001. He also helped start Bookberry, a bookstore chain in Moscow, Russia, that was inspired by Waterstone's. In 2013, he became the chairman of Read Petite, a company that sells e-books.

Author and Public Speaker

Besides being a successful businessman, Tim Waterstone is also an author. He has written several novels, including Lilley & Chase and An Imperfect Marriage. He also wrote a business book called Swimming Against The Stream.

In 2019, he published his memoir, The Face Pressed Against A Window. A memoir is a book where someone tells their own life story. He even narrated the audiobook version himself. He also appeared on the BBC Radio program Desert Island Discs, where guests choose songs, a book, and a luxury item they would take if stranded on a desert island.

Helping Others and Public Service

Tim Waterstone has been involved with many different organizations. He has served on the boards of several groups related to arts and education. These include the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the British Library. He also helped the Booker Prize Management Committee, which is a famous award for novels.

He was the Chairman of Judges for the Prince's Youth Business Trust Awards. He also served as the Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University from 2007 to 2015. A chancellor is usually the head of a university.

Tim Waterstone supports the Labour Party in the United Kingdom. He has also spoken out on political issues. For example, he was against the Iraq War and took part in demonstrations. He believes that the main left-leaning political parties in the UK should work together more closely. He also supports making the House of Lords (part of the UK Parliament) more democratic.

Personal Life

Tim Waterstone is married to Rosie Alison, who is a TV and film producer and a novelist. They have eight children together, including actress Daisy Waterstone. He lives in Holland Park, London.

He is an Honorary Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, which means the college has recognized his achievements. In 2018, he was made a Knight by the Queen. This honor was given to him for his important contributions to bookselling and to charity.