The Copper Kettle still survives in Cambridge
The Copper Kettle still survives in Cambridge

Progressing my Dad’s funeral arrangements, meeting up with Di’s parents in Cambridge and buying a smart black outfit For mum to wear and then having lunch at The Copper Kettle.

After tea, a Governors Meeting of Buckden School and then the Annual Parent Governors Meeting where I supported their concern about the withdrawal of school meals and the plans for introducing the national curriculum.

The Czech Premier agrees to end the dominating role of the state Communist Party and West German Chancellor Kohl calls for a Federation and German unification

This was a duller day with the temperature improving to around the freezing point. I telephoned the Registrar this morning and rearranged my meeting from Friday with a view to rectifying the details of Dad’s Death Registration. Now, I will go along to the Huntingdon Registry office tomorrow first thing in the morning so that Di and I can attend the funeral of Doris on Friday as well. Then I decided to join Diana for a trip to Cambridge; the first time for a long while. We met Di’s parents, Charles and Norma, in Eden Lilley’s for coffee and had a long chat. Then Di and I selected a black jacket, jumper and skirt for Mum to wear for the funeral and were quite pleased with our purchase. Then I let Di get on with other Christmas shopping and met up for a lunch of roast beef at The Copper Kettle.

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Home via Croxton, where we saw Mum who was very pleased with the clothes that we have got for her. We also completed a number of other arrangements for Dad’s funeral and both Mum and the Rev Lewis seem happy with the service sheet that I had produced. After tea, I attended a Governors Meeting of Buckden School and then the Annual Parent Governors Meeting that expressed their concern about the withdrawal of school meals and then the plans for introducing the national curriculum. An unlucky supporter in the fight to save school meals was the Tory County Councillor for Buxton Bill Wyatt-Millington, who is leading a Tory revolt on the County Council. I strengthened the governor’s objection and recommendation about the matter despite the efforts of Buckden District Councillor Terry Hayward to water them down.

The latest remarkable news from Eastern Europe is of the Czech Premier agreeing to remove article 4 the constitution (which gives the Communist Party as centrally-dominating role) and the formation of a coalition government in December. Chancellor Kohl, of West Germany, has called for a Federation with East Germany and outlined a 10 point programme for German unity involving joint meetings and committees. Thatcher and the Americans will not be keen.