A morning with family and friends and then off to the Dorchester in London for an evening dinner discussion hosted by Sir Kenneth Corfield in the Dorchester Penthouse/Pavilion Suite for Industry leaders at which I was asked to lead the discussion on ‘Government Policy and the Microcomputer Industry’
A better start to the day with the paper quickly read before breakfast of toast and honey. Out to the birds with the doves well trained by now and the ducks laying a further 5 eggs. To the office by 10.00am and, with virtually no post today, I take the chance to conduct some phone calls and change my appointments for a car service to a more convenient day for a day out to Cambridge with Diana, and my meeting with Roger Brittain, to the afternoon following Sussex stay. Calls from Martin Isherwood, which prompted me to try contacting the BMMG. Helen was out until later and Nigel has taken off for a week’s skiing in Austria, leaving a number of BMMG issues in the air. Coffee eventually at 11.30 so that I could meet John Tomblin. He dropped by on the way to a relatives funeral in Buckden. We agree dates for Daniel to go and stay with David Tomblin and in principal for David to come and stay with us during the summer school holiday. Then back to the office and a session of bill paying: Selwyn for the printed stationery, Buckden Marina and another £2000 towards the boat repairs, and my outstanding Datalex account, which is proving quite expensive for telex services. I checked via Prestel on the Bank of Scotland/VISA payment facility and noted a few setbacks on the stock exchange with the pound sterling falling sharply. I then wrapped things up, packed my briefcase and suitcase ready to leave and had lunch with Diana. Off to London by car, arriving in moderate traffic at the Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane. A little trouble getting the doorman’s agreement to let me park in the small forecourt car park and then to check in. A grand hotel, it is suffering from alterations at the moment with the workmen installing air conditioning, but it was otherwise all right. I order afternoon tea from the waiter whilst calling Helen Gibbons, back at last in Owles Hall. We agree some financial decisions in Nigel’s absence, which is fine. Then to enjoy a splendid snack with scones, jam and cream and a few light sandwiches before returning Martin Isherwood’s call, who had since spoken to Helen and agreed the administration for next Tuesday’s press conference. I am still worried, however, about the content. We have not advanced the DTI/LAN matter sufficiently, having failed to send the questionnaire out, and I am considering widening the topics. I check the office for messages and call to agree a meeting with the DTI Statistics Section when next at Millbank Tower on March 13th. Then to my bath and, soaking gently with the room radio turned up to hear, ignore a phone call which I wonder about. A hair wash, shave and slow preparation for tonight’s dinner party, listening to the news and current affairs. Sterling has touched $1.05c and over 3,600 miners have returned to work today, but still the strike continues with the majority of men still out. Being early, I strolled downstairs and bought an Evening Standard and then, eventually, dressed up and made my way up to the top floor Penthouse and Pavilion Suites for Sir Kenneth Corfield’s party.
Some cocktails first in order chatting to Chris Curry of Acorn, Robert Wilmott of ICL, Ninian Eadie of ICL, Dr Willder of STC Technology, Clive Sinclair, Kenneth Corfield of STC, Phil Hughes of Logica, Barry Gibbons of CAP, Len Brownlow of Rodime and a few others. After a couple of camparis, through to the other room set for dinner and a rather long table set up for 22 sitting places which was rather large. A nice five course meal. I chose oysters, then consommé, then medallions de chevreuil, then a plate of sorbet and cheese soufflé to finish. To drink, 1981 Chablis, then 1978 Burgundy, then 1975 Sauternes and 1963 Port Edward VII. Much conversation over dinner of ICL days with Ninian Eadie and OSI. Forestry with Ninian and Phil Hughes, who was not too keen on ordering ones affairs in too complicated a way for tax efficiency. Barry Gibbons, sitting opposite, told me of his style in running a 1300 man software company by his secretary (!) and a long discourse with Dr Willder on man-management and how to handle awkward dismissals. Chris Curry used to live in St Jame’s cottage, a thatched cottage next to Little Paxton church, and his mother has only recently left. Then at 11.30 (!) Sir Kenneth brought the table to order, welcomed everyone present, and asked me to start the discussion as planned.) I talked of events of the week, micro developments and posed some thoughts on “Whither the British Microcomputer Industry”. I emphasised the need to liaise and lobby with government, ending that “we get the industry, the instituters and the government that we deserve”. Rob Willmott could see little purpose in appealing to government and foresaw we would all be destined to being suppliers to IBM if no way was foreseen of escaping from their shadow. Fear of IBM was an inhibition on innovation. Len Brownlow (an ex-pat American) saw IBM also as a significant political force and monopoly. The fragmental of the European market had led Rodime into concentrating on the US for 70% of their business. He saw the falling pound as a compensation to British manufacturing industry and couldn’t understand Thatcher increasing interest rates. Sir Clive Sinclair also saw IBM as the threat, but counselled against them being seen as insuperable. We could outwit them by technology and also foresaw a growing reaction from the Fortune 100 companies against reliance upon IBM as a single supplier. Sir Kenneth Corfield saw the asymptotic climb of IBM market share and foresaw rising resistance to its growth through increased difficulty. Somebody else criticised the price competition in the home market amongst British companies and noted a complete lack of success in conquering the US market. Sir Kenneth drew comparison with similar experiences in the TV industry that were not emulated by Belgium. Phil Hughes, describing Logica as a small business, also saw users revolting against IBM domination with the Banks being aware of being screwed. As a nation, he said, we should do all in our power to foster an alternative software environment to IBM. Prompted by Barry Gibbons, he then launched into a bitter criticism of the government’s policies on inward investment and procurement policy and then Barry Gibbons waded in and said he had given up on government procurement and had lived through the last 5 years with a totally uncaring government. Another speaker said that government had little to contribute except business, that Alvey would not deliver and that we needed a European Initiative on procurement. He foresaw no IBM revolt. Allan Thomas of Data Logic criticised Rob Willmott’s creation of Datashell as the worst thing ICL could have done to turn off the UK software industry and now was the time to put it right. An animated tussle between Rob Wilmott and some others and it was easy for Sir Kenneth to spot a salient opportunity for reconciliation and for scope for further co-operation on the emergence of UNIX. Then Sir Kenneth got each guest to speak his final thoughts and thus ensured everyone had their say. Too many views to catalogue, but a majority for better industry policies and all saw government and IBM as the two power bases. My final comments were to acknowledge the scope for increased ICL relations with the rest of the computer industry ( hardware and software), to repeat that we should keep trying to educate government – at least to limit the negative moves if not to achieve the positives, to insist that we should co-operate together and articulate points of common interest. Finally, we must advocate the IBM alternative to the user community to counter the company’s propaganda and increase the credibility of the alternative to monopoly. Surprisingly Sir Clive Sinclair opted out of the final comments and I wondered whether he disagreed with the consensus as a free marketeer or was short of something constructive to say. The meeting ended at 1.00am and considered to be a success deserving of repetition. Rob Wilmot, Sir Kenneth and Peter Bonfield congratulated and thanked me and I was pleased and flattered with my contribution to the evening’s events. Down to the exit with Barry Gibbons and we agree to meet more often. Up to my room and to bed.