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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.
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Announcing the take-over plans to key Comart Group executives and introducing them to Kode whilst their mood changes and they realise that I am really going as 20,000 miners march through Mansfield
On time to the office for a start to a very significant day. Early nervousness from John Lamb and Derek Weatherby and I bide my time as June Hamilton briefs the entire Comart Computers Management Team on Disciplinary Procedures. After to decide with John and Derek on the purchase of Grove House, and my offer of £225K to Turret is accepted by David Barford and we have surveyors and legal counsel to brief. For me, the rest of the working day preparing information for the forthcoming examinations and conducting the latest edit of the business plans to incorporate Xitan as well. Then to start my meeting with Geoff Lynch and Peter King joining Derek and John. I announce the buying out of UEH from The Byte Shop Group, John Lamb’s promotion to Comart Managing Director, the purchase of Grove House and then finally my retirement from the business and the succession to Peter Smith and Kode International PLC. Geoff takes it well at first sight, Peter is more concerned but soon Peter Smith and Stephen Day join the meeting, are introduced, and all manner of questions and issues are discussed. The overall reactions are good with acceptance initially of the synergy with Kode, the advantages of association, and realisation that Peter Smith has a great deal to offer in experience and skills which I have yet to learn. Nevertheless initial shock and surprise from my executives is replaced by sadness as they understand that my departure plans are for real. After dinner, late back to the Buckden Lion Hotel, to complete arrangements for tomorrow’s arrival of Peat Marwick Mitchell with Derek. They all meet at 8.30am tomorrow at The Rocket and will then start the auditor. To bed at 1.30am and to rest for my next ordeal tomorrow – the BMMG AGM where I stand down as Chairman. Today 20,000 miners marched through Mansfield to demonstrate against the non-striking miners in Nottingham who are holding back the success of the strike.
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More relaxing day of alternating time between calls to Peter Smith and Kode about the takeover, making preparations for the BMMG AGM, visiting Nigel and spending time with the family
A more relaxed day, laying in bed both before and after driving Daniel to Kimbolton for his school trip. Time enough to read The Sunday Times from cover to cover and write up my journal. Breakfast of fried egg, bacon, mushrooms and bread, which was excellent, and then washed and dressed and out to let the ducks out. Only 10 eggs today. The remainder of the morning reading the opening chapters of Jill Hills’ book and I think I am going to find the material an interesting background to my IT affairs. Lunch with just the three of us and then off alone to the office to do some work. First I reviewed the BMMG file and summarised the council nominations, establishing that we might well achieve a full complement of 10 council members for the first time. Then I started to consider the task of appraising Kode and its advisers on the senior executive talent of The Comart Group. In the end I telephoned Peter Smith and had a longish conversation briefing him on the individuals attending tomorrow’s meeting.
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A morning call to Derek Weatherby to brief him on developments reveals the poorer side to colleagues reactions and confirms my wise decision to sell Comart before a better day with the family and evening walk for reflection
Another day of intermittent bright sunshine and cold wind which has been a feature of this spring and gives credence to the old folk saying “ne’er cast a clout ‘til May be out.” A different routine to normal as I planned to speak to Derek Weatherby at 11.00 and so a slow start, breakfast and session in bed reading the papers. Both The Times and Economist featured details of the miner’s dispute, Thatcher’s policies and the problems of policing the present situation as strikes and pickets become more and more militant. Eventually up and to let out the ducks at 10.40am – 12 eggs and one of them warm which proves that we can lose eggs by earlier release, and our normal time of 10.00am is certainly not too early.