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Morning in the office on take-over business and then to St Neots with the family lunch before showing them Grove House as the miners seek international solidarity
A relatively early start for a Saturday and a toast breakfast as normal. Off to the office to see the Peat investigators and John Lamb. John arrived about 8.45am but not before I had phoned Beth and learned of his impending arrival. To see how she replied and take four answers to tell me he was due – as always a grudging influence on his job and career if it takes him away from home. She may have to be a little more courteous and encouraging to his new boss. A long chat with John and explained why I did not want to worry Daniel Fear with the full story because of his marriage problems nor distract Ian Nickson from his intensive development effort. Then to let the auditors in and supply them with certain statutory papers that they require. The rest of the time until 11.00am studying the Pension and Share scheme deeds which will have to be changed in order to complete the takeover, and lastly the Articles of Association and text books to see what notice is necessary to complete the deal – 21 days maximum. Then home to collect Diana and Debbie and drive to St Neots Market Square.
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Implementing my re-organisation, hearing of great news of a £194.6K DTI grant and spending the evening with the family as two IRA bombings claim the lives of police and service personnel
Up on time and my normal breakfast of toast, fruit juice without coffee. To the office and prepared multiple copies of my reorganisation memo. Together with John Lamb to brief our Comart Computers Co-directors; Daniel Fear and Ian Nickson and then our other two senior managers Carlton Lowe and Derek Morgan. Carlton’s promotion to Works Manager and future responsibility for Derek came as a shock to them both and Derek took some offence in view of his receding chances of a Company Directorship for the future. Great news this morning from Tony Keston of the Department of Trade and Industry. With effect from the 14th May 1984, all expenditures towards our Research and Development Programme and Production Programme can be set against our grant applications for SFI and IDU moneys to the tune of up to £70.5K and £124.1K respectively. This £194.6K is the first such grant made against the INIS criteria and also the last – the scheme is being dropped for the future due to government cut backs.
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Agreeing the new organisational changes, dealing with Geoff Lynch, the investigating accountants and completing the Grove House purchase before home to pay Diana the housekeeping money
On time to the office and first to meet with June and hear how she has taken the news. A rather sleepless night for her but she is adjusting quickly and will be working out how to approach the new situation and help John. Initially, I discuss with her the arrangements for accommodating Peat Marwick Mitchel and the conference room bookings. A memo is circulated stating that we are appointing new auditors and they are undertaking their initial enquiries and we trust that this will suffice to curb rising curiosities. She can now assist on all confidential calls and correspondence. I agree with John Lamb to announce the new organisational changes on Friday, where I withdraw to the role of Group Chairman and John Lamb, Peter King and Geoff Lynch take on more responsibility as Managing Directors of Comart Computers, The Byte Shop and Xitan respectively. This concludes with the announcement of Grove House which should be well received in view of the fact that the Eaton Socon buildings will be turned over to Comart Company use completely.
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Day Managing Comart, leading our delegation to a regional Barclays Bank lunch and then briefing June before home to find Diana’s pregnancy a problematical breach birth
Up on time and a hair wash, shave and shower to remove the London grime of yesterday and prepare myself for today’s meetings. An early meeting with Derek Weatherby to review a few actions that he should be doing, a discussion with Derek Morgan over Kardex Storage equipment, with David Fear on Terms and Conditions of Sale, Carlton Lowe on production quantities and tour of the factory. A fairly light mail and shortage of purchase orders so far this month. Indeed a general call for the month to be extended to the 1st June to provide more opportunity to meet sales and profit targets. I then called together John Lamb and Derek Weatherby to brief them on the approach I wanted for the Bank – laid back, relaxed with impressions of quiet confidence in relation to our 3 year business plans and computer industry knowledge. Allowing us to be 10/15 minutes late to reinforce the point, the Barclays Bank Chauffeur and car arrived to collect us and we were driven off at 12.00 to the Cambridge Regional Office to meet the Regional Directors for a splendid lunch.