Company administration, BMMG press interviews and group 1983/4 budgetting as BP sale of 7% raises£500m
A late start and lay in after the exertions of the weekend. Another warm and humid day though often dull without sunshine. A day without June while she attends her Father’s funeral and still with three Directors on holiday, David Fear having joined John Lamb and Derek Weatherby.
A morning catching up on the large Monday mail, answering questions in the absence of my colleagues, and talking to the press on BMMG affairs. The sub-4inch disk standards plus security regulations affecting the export of micros are both topical subjects. Also interest is being encouraged in the tariff issue, with a BMMG press release imminent. I touch base with Nigel Smith and Helen Gibbons of the BMMG and my two Managing Directors, Geoff and Peter, with the telephone an ever-useful medium.
At lunch time, after my sandwiches, I walk down to River Mill boatyard by the lock at Eaton Socon and, collecting a choc ice at the Garden Centre, I hurry back for the afternoon start. This afternoon taken with sorting my Group 1983/4 Budget information, which task is heavy, and completing the Company Secretarial work on the Byte Shops Southampton and London. This leaves Nottingham alone to do following the re-purchase of David Clarke’s shares. Another resignation at Nottingham today and Peter will have to be busy there soon. Sales are holding up reasonably for the summer.
This evening, a walk across the common by the river to the Priory centre and back. The evening is dull and humid and still. With some tools I can soon resume working on The Lady; but rest a while now.
News tonight of a speech by Roy Hattersley promising licensing of City Institutions if he is successful in the Labour Leadership contest. A humiliation also for The Chancellor and The Energy Secretary in the House of Commons where they were forced to modify their position of informing The House of plans to dispose of 7per cent in BP by written answer during a day of energy debate. Chancellor, Nigel Lawson, was eventually forced to the dispatch box after a long wait for briefing papers. The sale would raise £500 million.