Off to London to retire after being the founding Chairman of the BMMG and then back to Comart to gauge reactions and meet a team of six investigating accountants from Peat Marwick Mitchell
An early start and swift breakfast of toast, marmalade and fruit juice before arriving at the office by 7.45 to produce 20 copies of my BMMG Chairman’s Report. Then to Stevenage railway station and by train to Kings Cross, reading up on my BMMG papers ahead of my meeting. By tube to St James Park where outside the St Ermine’s Hotel there were minibuses full of police constables and it seems that the country is full of side streets taken up with ‘subtle’ reserves of PCs at the moment. A good BMMG Annual General Meeting turnout with about thirteen members presented and a full complement of 10 nominated and consenting to serve on council. I reiterate my decision to retire under the articles of association and after conducting the elections for the positions of Chairman (Nigel Smith – Modus), Vice-Chairman (Bill Unsworth – U Micro) and Treasurer (Digital Microsystems) I hand over the Chair to Nigel.
The meeting ranges over matters including changes to the Articles of Association to allow Software and Peripheral Manufacturers to join, non-chief executives to serve on council, and the membership fee to be raised from Jan 1st 1985. At the section on other business I help Nigel to get support for Local Area Network Standards. After a good meeting Chris Shelton proposes a vote of thanks to me, which is seconded and carried, for my efforts as Chairman for the last two years and for founding the BMMG. I felt humble with the applause that followed, and presenting my ‘Union Jack’ tie pin to Nigel as a ‘badge of office,’ felt that its future was in good hands. Back to the office by tube and train and car and touched base with Derek, John and Peter in person to see how they had taken yesterday’s events – which was fine. Also in the evening to talk to Geoff who is similarly reconciled to events. Then to meet Geoff Cordle, the main partner leading a team of 6 from Peat Marwick Mitchell, and to discuss their requirements. Home rather tired reading trade journals for most of the remaining evening, and then a half hour of watching sheep dog trials before bed to a sound sleep. The weather actually rained today and the sunniest of the weather has now broken.