Leading a successful BMMG Local Area Network seminar for the microcomputer industry at the famous St Ermin’s Hotel before home with John Lamb hearing of his concerns about Kode and then to witness the first ever televised House of Lords debate where Thatcher was savaged for forsaking unity and industrial recovery
An excellent night’s sleep and glad that I arranged for a 7 o’clock call – I was fast asleep. Up, showered and shaved to the radio news with echoes of yesterday’s miners’ strike controversy, supplemented by the now regular NCB propaganda and PR. Dressed by 8.00am, and 15 minutes before Nigel Smith arrived, preparing some thoughts for today’s member’s meeting. A further 15 mins before Martin Isherwood, agreeing the agenda and then down all to breakfast and to discuss BMMG public relations. A full breakfast and I have more than made up for my latterly deprived diet. Strange to see how Martin does not want to address our meeting through nerves, though good in copy and conversation. We agree to let him off, but we shall see for the future. Anyway, he does offer free services to the group (an offer difficult to refuse in the absence of any other similar one) and will draft and send recommitment letters and help with our Press Conference in late February. Along to the meeting at 10.00am and by 10.30am the best turnout ever for a BMMG members meeting, with the room packed. A good meeting with much agreed and action load spread. Then to a buffet lunch in welcome for our afternoon’s LAN seminar, where an even better attendance (38 company representatives) and even higher participation. Two from the DTI, ICL, Acorn, Nine Tiles as well as all active BMMG members. Unfortunately not a great deal of acceptance of the LAN proposals and many spoke against, but all interested and scope for further work. This story will run and run.
After, many stay, debate and discuss and then I give a lift to John Lamb, dropping him off at Stevenage. A long conversation and I worry more about Kode 1984 results, but we shall see. Home by 8.15pm and a quick check at the office. Roy Fuscone of NEDO has been phoning and Graham Clifton of Transam failed to make the NEDO meeting on my behalf, which is a pity. Back to the house for a few slices of toast and honey, a cup of tea and the TV. Another Dallas soap opera episode and then the news. Great coverage of the historic and first House of Lords TV coverage. The event was interrupted by four striking miners in the balcony, which act led to yet another Labour Party row as left-wing MPs had gained them preferential entry. Lord Wilson, Lord Home and the Earl of Stockton were attendees with Lord Shinwell, but the tradition of prayers as a private occasion was respected. Lord Beswick, in TV debut, rises to plead unity and industrial recovery. Lord Gowrie, for the government, decries the three previous government policies, but then the Earl of Stockton (Harold McMillan) rises majestically and, in a teasing speech, devastates Thatcherism and monetarism. He sees the economy, “sinking like a great ship” and calls for, “a new determined united effort” even mentioning government of national unity. News also today of the pound sterling falling by 1 ½ cents to $1.1105, its lowest level ever and down too against the basket of other trade-weighted currencies. The opposition continues to find its voice and accuses the government of deliberately prolonging the strike, but more miners back to work, including the Deputies at Kiverton for the first time. Altogether, though, a day that The Lords rose to the occasion and Thatcher looked like getting her dues.