Gina Campbell and Bluebird
Gina Campbell and Bluebird

Trip down memory lane to my childhood haunts in Essex to see Chris Towers of Selven as the Tory conference continues its divisive policies whilst industrial unrest ferments on but Gina Campbell survives a Bluebird crash very similar to that which killed her father

A struggle to get going again, but good chance to read today’s Financial Times. Up, dressed, after a shower and hair wash, and off at 9.15 by car in search of Witham Essex. A 10.30am appointment with Selven co-founder Chris Towers and I was only about 10 mins late in the end. A two hour discussion for me to hear of the establishment and growth of this software company and them to hear of the BMMG’s expansion into the software field and of our present initiatives and efforts. Selven Systems first made a payroll product but have extended into general accounting systems as well as stock control packages. Their staff of 17 support some customisation from what are essentially standard packages. Chris is concerned at the market-led hardware approach to industry innovation and looks for less hype and more strategic development in the future. By 12.30pm, away and onward for a drive through the familiar countryside of my youth. The market town of Chelmsford, now bisected by congested ring roads, but still retaining its livestock and retail markets. The weir of Battlesbridge. My former Sweyne secondary school at Rayleigh – visually unchanged these last twenty years.

The Crown Hill of Rayleigh that I had to walk up after school, but now they have restored the tower windmill and made a local history museum of the inside. The No’s 7 and 8 buses still ply their trade to Hockley and Hawkwell is still much as it was. Lots of magpies on the playing fields and many back roads (including the one to Clements Hall) still unmade. Hawkwell Holt/Golden Cross area is more build up with new housing developments, but Southend is much as I knew it – they had already de-gutted the central Victoria Circus area with shopping precinct and bull ring car network when I used to go bait digging. The sea front quiet but dignified on this mild autumn day and I took a cockle tea (cockles, tea and bread/butter) for 80p to compensate for a missed lunch. Old Leigh is still fascinating and I will return next summer to see more. Then to drive home, arriving by 5.30pm and in time to put the ducks away at dusk. News tonight of the Tory Party Conference and, like the Labour Conference before it, dominated by the miner’s strike. Ritual acclamation for clarion speeches by the Home Secretary, Leon Brittain, and the Energy Secretary, Peter Walker. All speakers peering from a blue façade backcloth, in the typically stage-managed effort. Roy Otley , an NUM executive member, resigned to avid support for ‘flouting the law.’ Britain’s car unions reject the employers wage offers even though, for Jaguar, it represented 21% over two years. DHSS Reading computer staff are striking from Monday in support of their Newcastle colleagues out since May in a shift work dispute. The Belgrano leak civil servant, Clive Ponting, was committed to jury trial at the Old Bailey in a hearing today. Gina Campbell, the daughter of Donald Campbell, broke the woman’s water speed record today and then crashed on her boat Bluebird II in a similar accident to that which killed her father. Saved also were her two teddy-bear lucky mascots that previously belonged to her father. The weather today was a bit chilly with some sun, but I felt my sore throat and temperature during the day’s activities.