By train and taxi for a full day of London Stockbroker, industry and DTI meetings and press lunch interview with Jane Bird of the Sunday Times with the DTI/LAN proposals gains momentum as the IBM/BT proposal falters as cracks begin to show among the Tories on unemployment
Awake fairly early and time enough to read the F.T. before washing and dressing for breakfast. Melon, apple juice and toast, and the family in reasonable order for once. I rush off for the 8.02 train from St Neots to London and the chance to catch up on some reading and prepare my thoughts for the day. At Kings Cross, I stop for a coffee at the Bistro and study my genealogy notes to realise what indexing and analysis they now need. A quick phone call to Nicholas de Zoete to warn him of my impending arrival and also a call to Modus to try to ascertain the meeting arrangements for DTI/LAN. Then, after a look through the book stall, off by tube to Moorgate, and No 25 Finsbury Circus to meet Nicholas. He accepts a simple £4,500 cheque for the T & S Stores placing despite the more onerous payment requests; then gives me my portfolio valuations which are most interesting. A brief chance to push around some suggested buys before we party. By taxi to Great Portland Street and the offices of Omicron to meet Ron Sandford, a co-founder of the software company. A rather cold start (he is also in the CAS and a committee member) but, after explaining the BMMG’s plans, he warms to the idea of membership and I think will support it and eventually join. On by taxi again to a restaurant called ‘VATS’ at Lamb’s Conduit Street by appointment at 12.30 to meet Sunday Times Computer Correspondent, Jane Bird, for lunch. An interesting and lively interview and I have to part hurriedly for my next appointments.
It seems the feeling at The Brighton Conservative Conference was very questioning about the BT/IBM venture and the matter really seems in the melting pot. Off by taxi to 1 Victoria Street, the DTI Export Branch, to meet the British trade counsellor at the Stockholm Embassy, Monica Kcelland. A brief, but useful meeting, updating her on personal and BMMG progress and developing the contacts. Then having received some confusing messages, off to the other end of Victoria Street at 29 Bressenden Place for the DTI/BMMG Local Area Network Steering Committee Meeting, which went ahead after all. A good meeting – I think we may have some conclusions and recommendations to put to the industry after all, and very shortly at that. I unfortunately end up with the minutes to do and will have to contact Nigel Smith tonight to put him in the picture. By tube to Kings Cross too late for the fast trains and so I take a large tea and Evening Standard onto the train for relaxation. They report a rift in the Tory party over unemployment and I awaited this evenings news with interest. Today I managed to find a compatible leather folder and refills to my genealogical note book and I will now make it a current exercise and try to progress the research. National news today was dominated by a rail crash at Wembley Central Station – 6 people die and many injured. At the Tory Conference there has been a number of voices against the unconcern of the Government with unemployment. The pits talks continue today under ACAS and they resume tomorrow.