To London on a very rainy day for a NCC microcomputer advisory committee and then on to the Independent Television News Studios in Wells Street for me ‘News at Ten’ interview about the economy as Oxford University has decided overwhelmingly not to award Thatcher an honorary Doctorate in the greatest ever snub to an ex Oxford student. She does not deserve the honour, they say, because of her anti-education policies! Trident costs are up to £9bn from £5bn and still the NCB resists miners talks with pre-conditions
Woken early with a cup of tea and so made early use of the bathroom again. Then to a breakfast of toast and honey from our new toaster, which seems to work fine. I quickly get ready, fed the doves in the morning gloom, and then changed and took the car to the station. A quiet train journey reading The Financial Times and, on arrival at Kings Cross, scanned the book stalls and took the tube to Holborn. A smart walk along High Holborn to the NCC and up to the second floor Board Room to an advisory meeting of the National Computing Centre. I had left my card with the Microsystems Centre downstairs, expecting a call from ITN, and the message came through at 11.00am to attend their London studios in the afternoon. An interesting, but frustratingly unstructured, NCC microcomputer advisory committee meeting ranging across tele-software, software copy right and protection, and security export controls. More interesting conversation over a buffet lunch as I receive an update on an initiative to agree computer policy across political party boundaries. The company take great interest in my new business cards and coat of arms and we talk much also of boating as David Fairbairn used to have a riverside home on the Thames.
Off by foot to the underground (calling at the Nottingham Building Society on the way to pay in a Barclays cheque for £2,000) and thus to Oxford Circus from which I walked to the. They did not seem terribly well organised, but recorded a news interview with me on the need for more government investment in the computer industry. To see how they powdered my nose and combed my hair, as they could obviously see a few improvements are needed. By tube back to Kings Cross, noticing a black stockinged lady in a split skirt on the way, and to the Great Northern Hotel to seek a rest and to use their telephone. Messages at the office from Mike O’Regan, of Research Machine, changing my arrangements for Thursday, from Martin Isherwood and others. I call Martin to review BMMG affairs and also report my contact with ITN. Also Nigel Smith to brief him on developments, which are many. An evening paper reporting more stock exchange losses and then the train home to St Neots, reading the money magazines summary of pension opportunities on the way. Home tired, but Diana had tended the ducks. 6 eggs this morning of which she had managed to break two! Tea on my lap in front of the TV and a rather unsatisfactory review of Daniel’s maths and English homework – he has not been trying hard enough. News tonight of police finding gold bullion hidden in the Kent garden where a detective was murdered on Saturday. They were investigating Britain’s largest robbery. Three people appeared in court tonight charged with the murder. A censure motion has been tabled by Kinnock for Thursday after accusing Thatcher of ‘dodging and dithering’. Ministers had a rough day again today in a noisy House of Commons session. No news yet out of the OPEC meeting. Oxford University has decided overwhelmingly not to award Thatcher an honorary Doctorate in the greatest ever snub to an ex Oxford student. She does not deserve the honour, they say, because of her anti-education policies and the gesture is intended as a clear message of disapproval. The coal talks took several hours today, but without any progress where the Coal Board still insisted on a written assurance on the agreement to close ‘uneconomic’ pits. Trident is now estimated at £9 billion (against under £5 billion originally) but even that does not take account of recent estimate increases. Heavy rain falls tonight as dryer and brighter weather is forecast for tomorrow, with a mild outlook.