Flurry of press interviews and calls takes up most of this (sunny but cool) day with news of the campaign against the IBM/BT standards plan coming our way as Thatcher sets the judiciary on Arthur Scargill and the Johnson Matthey Bullion bankers goes bust and is rescued by the Bank of England
I struggle to get up, washed and ready for breakfast so as to be available in the office at soon after 9.00am. Then to conduct my normal tour and open the post for both Saturday and today. On the telephone answering machine was a message from Jane Bird to phone on Saturday morning and when I returned her call, I found that, as a Sunday Times Journalist, she works Saturdays and has Mondays off. I receive today copies of ‘Your Business’ magazine with my ‘success’ feature (all pictures of me with my feet up in the sun and boating on the proceeds) and also the last two months back copies of Electronics Weekly and the last three weeks of Computing. From these, I was able to get reasonably up-to-date on the press cuttings late in the day. Also share certificates for Barclays and Kode; although the children’s’ trust, Kode Shares are in the name of Richard rather than Roger Brittain; the first Trustee. A muddled start, trying to sort out all this reading and paperwork with so many matters needing written reply and filing. Then the phone calls started with Tom Farenski of Computing leading the pack asking about latest developments on the IBM/BT opposition. This goaded me into other calls. Sarah Underwood of Informatics told me of the imminent release of the NCC report of IBM/BT nationwide consultations. Calls to the NCC and an indication from Derek Scriven that I would be happy with its recommendations. Rumours that OFTEL might be willing to oppose the licence application outright… and things seem to be moving slightly our way. Other calls from Computing, Electronics Weekly, to make the morning hectic to say the least.
Soon lunch, quickly taken, and then an afternoon and evening slogging away to complete a fair number of letters, reports and copies of information for various parties. Briefings also with my accountants over Capital Gains Tax computations and moves to correct the share certificate details. Information to the DTI IT Division on Sinclair having to make computers offshore for duty reasons, and full instructions to the BMMG secretariat and covering circular letter to ensure that a good chance is created to encourage members to meet and discuss common exhibition policy. The desk cleared by 9.15pm at last, still leaving preparations to make for tomorrow’s meetings. During this session I had broken for tea after 5.00pm and then supervised the kids work, but became angry when they were not trying sufficiently hard enough. News tonight of a vote at the Labour Conference overwhelmingly supporting the miner’s strike. A resolution, also, deferring the one man/one vote democratic process of reselecting Labour MPs for one year in spite of Neil Kinnock’s wishes to the contrary. In civil proceedings, a notice of motion of contempt of court was served on Arthur Scargill requiring him to attend court on Thursday. He publicly refuses to go, calling the judicial action political in nature. In the City share prices fell and sentiment was shocked by the failure of Johnson Matthey Bankers, a firm active in fixing gold bullion prices, but the Bank of England stepped in instantly effecting a rescue. The problem was vastly under provided commercial loans and the details will soon emerge. The weather today remained fine and sunny with a cool airstream – splendid!