Good day being greeted as quite the personality at the COMPEC Olympia computer exhibition with plenty of interviews, Tessa Curtis being the highlight, but I decline an invitation to co-author a history of the industry
Up to my normal breakfast and just time to review my mail before getting ready to leave for London. Too late to catch the 10.15am from Huntingdon, I catch it at 10.40 from Stevenage after a rather exhausting trot from the car park. The train was packed full of trippers from London taking advantage of the reduced rates for that time of day. I just managed to get a seat vacated by someone who left the train at Stevenage. I just relaxed for the half hour trip to Kings Cross and then took the tube across town to arrive at Olympia Exhibition Centre. On the way I met the former CRA Chairman, Paul Rayner, who kindly gave me an admission ticket. In fifteen years, I had always been a COMPEC exhibitor and it was the first time I had to gain admission by other means. I arrive at Olympia station and enter the show. The Comart Stand in its usual place immediately to the left, exhibiting the new Comart Workstation, now launched for their first public viewing after all the trials and tribulations of the design.
I walk on to the Modus Stand at the back and find out from Nigel Smith that he has not finalised the press releases. Still, I walk around the show meeting many people of my acquaintance from times past. Compec is always a reunion and meeting place for the industry and I must have spoken to a dozen old contacts apart from a long interview with Tessa Curtis on the Computer Weekly Stand and Sarah Underwood the Information Editor that I met in the Aisles. Lunch of a salt beef sandwich and pint of shandy talking to Newbury Data’s Rod Soar and an afternoon rest in the courtesy suite of Epson. As 5.00pm approached I met Dr Bill Unsworth at the U-Micro Stand and we set off to the Kensington Close Hotel and met Rodime executives to talk about the BMMG and potential membership. Then off to the Royal Kensington Hotel and suite of Xitan. Drinks for all and chance to make peace with Practical Computing, exchange views with many and hear a speech to the Xitan Dealers by Martin Banks, the experienced computer journalist. After this, he suggests we get together to write a book on the history and future of the business and it may happen. Off afterwards by taxi with John Lamb to Kings Cross and home by car from Stevenage in time at 10.00pm for a bedtime drink and straight to bed.