Tuesday 17th April 1984

Better review meeting in Southampton at Xitan but then disappointment at Buckden Marine as the Rev Shepherd Dimbleby lecture highlights social divisions and the woman PC is shot outside the Libyan embassy

Up very early at 6.00am after a cup of tea brought to bed. Then a quick shower and shave, toast and tea and then off to St Neots Station in time for the 6.57am train. A good opportunity until Kings Cross to update the Comart Business Plan, comment upon and circulate the March telephone logging report and a few other things. A quick underground journey to Waterloo and then by fast train at 8.35am to Southampton where, arriving early, I stop to buy a mug of coffee and visit the toilet. Then by taxi to Xitan at Totten and to circulate and talk to the staff before a 10.30 Board Meeting. A good meeting with well-prepared reports from Geoff Lynch on the past months operational performance, constructive inputs to the discussion on the analysis of our present problems, and positive compromise on the business plan for the future. Welcome also is the acceptance of Geoff of the training, advice and counselling plans put to him.

We finish in time for my taxi to catch the fast London train and by the best of good fortune linking tube trains just enabled me to jump on the last St Neots train as it moved out of Kings Cross Station at 5.41pm. Home in time to take Daniel and David Tomblin out by car to Buckden Marina to see the boats and question the Marina Manager and the engineers about The Lady’s repairs. They have still not made a start and will not until after Easter but I feel a little more reconciled at their assurance to begin work soon after. Back home to an evening’s television and particularly the Dimbleby Lecture by the Rev. Sheppard on the divisiveness caused by the free market government policies in ignorance of the problems of ‘The Other Britain’ where real poverty is the result. News today of a horrific incident at the Libyan Embassy in London where a young woman police constable was shot dead by machine gun fire directed from the diplomatic immunity of the premises at a peaceful but vocal demonstration outside. Above seven others were injured and diplomatic relations with Libya will inevitably be broken off but the culprit under the international law of diplomatic immunity must go free. To bed a little late after this morning’s early start and with Diana relegated to the lounge settee because of her coughing.