The Piper Alpha Memorial at Hazlehead Park
The Piper Alpha Memorial at Hazlehead Park

Some lobbying of Parish Councillors over the forthcoming anti-dog-fouling byelaw vote after hosting two school-girls keen on researching our village history and then more time with Michael Pope on our FOCUS newsletter copy. The government is taking new measures over IRA bomb attacks, Post Office unions are threatening industrial action over unfair bonus rules and extra safety valves are being considered for oil platforms after the Piper Alpha tragedy

Did not sleep too badly after my concerns about the Parish Council. Showered, dressed and to a breakfast of French toast. Unfortunately, I have put on a few pounds and our new batteries in the bathroom scales are showing me up. After this meal, I cleared up my office desk and started to work on my accounts, but I had a visit at 10am from two GCSE geography schoolgirls, wanting Little Paxton information for their projects. Then I worked on my bank and building society accounts, resisting the temptation to return to my dog fouling crusade. This came after lunch, when I cycled round the village. Met the Vicar and secured most of his support, then Martin Mawer again and, via him, another Councillor he had introduced. This evening, I went to see Paul and got his support too and so the numbers are close for the vote next week. Was out quite late tonight and it was nearly midnight before I had written up my diary and retired to bed. Helen Young had written a good letter, which I copied for circulation. The Clerk had got her agenda out quick this morning, thus preventing my item being included, but there are other means of raising the matter.

Had Mike Pope round for a couple of hours this evening as well, us both composing the content of the early September FOCUS newsletter. The news tonight is all about Ulster, to the background of more car bomb attacks. The Northern Ireland Minister and Thatcher have agreed some new security measures, but will give no details, so as to keep the IRA guessing. They express themselves determined to meet this ‘serious, vicious, terrorist challenge’. Labour has urged no internment, as it will be counterproductive, but I don’t consider this to be one of the items, though the government is getting desperate. The Post Office unions are threatening industrial action within days, on the matter of selective bonuses for new recruits. The government is asking oil companies to draw up plans for the fitting of extra safety valves to oil and gas platforms. All this, as the talks go on between lawyers representing the Piper Alpha victims’ relatives and operating company.