Off by train to London for an interview with the Guardian at The Grosvenor Hotel and then meetings with the DTI and NEDO at Millbank who were very welcoming and gave me lunch and listened to my advice on tariff statistics and then home in the drizzle Hail Weston House to brief Nigel as the world focuses on Moscow where exploratory arms talks proceed between ceremonies to bury the Soviet 1st Secretary but at home, civil rights are protected for Molesworth protesters
Awake a bit late at 6.45am and straight up to wash and dress before down to a slice of toast with the family. Quickly out to the car and off to St Neots Station to catch the 7.39am train to Kings Cross, travelling first class as the only chance to get a seat so as to be able to work. A nice journey, just managing to read The Financial Times and see the news of Sir Clive Sinclair’s/Rob Wilmott wafer-scale-semiconductor venture, which is interesting and deserves support. By tube to Victoria and across to the Grosvenor Hotel coffee room to await my first appointment. Eventually Collin Barker, a freelance journalist writing for The Guardian, arrives late and we spend an hour talking about standards, free competition, and the threat of IBM. Off by taxi to Millbank just in time for the NEDO Consumer Hobby Micro Group Meeting. A fascinating, if rather confusing, session where the DTI were pushing the BMMG LAN exercise with embarrassing enthusiasm, and where I get the chance to talk to Chris Curry of Acorn about BMMG co-operation. After lunch and drinks, courtesy of NEDO, downstairs to the DTI Statistics section to talk to Messrs Gouldstone and Gillott about the clarification and tariff headings for computer statistics and put across my views for their revision. The present descriptions and classes are 20 years out of date.
Before the meeting, I used their phone to check for messages and called back the BMMG and ACT. Then to walk to Pimlico Station in a driving drizzle and catch the tube to Kings Cross and the 4.25pm train home. I change trains at Hitchin and arrive in St Neots around 5.30pm. Home before dark and first to feed the ducks and put them away before changing and playing a game of draughts with Debbie whilst eating a few sandwiches and hot dogs. After, off by car to Nigel Smith’s house to talk BMMG business. I brief him on my progress with ACT, ICL and Acorn and we agree that Nigel will consider his views on BMMG chairmanship and draft the LAN submission; and I will try to canvas more support for next Wednesday’s LAN venture meeting. Home by 9.45pm, a bedtime drink of Bournvita and then the 10 o’clock TV news. In Moscow today, Mrs Thatcher suggested that the 1972 treaty would require negotiations over the deployment of missiles in space. US Vice President Bush passes a message to Gorbachev suggesting a meeting with President Reagan. The normal business of burying the dead 1st Secretary was also undertaken between the diplomatic contacts. In his Red Square address Gorbachev said “Will we not threaten but we will not be threatened.” Back in Britain, the government is abolishing the BNOC and, with it, any efforts to support world prices. Already its oil production capability had been divested and the opposition accuse the government of “a final act of vandalism.” In Huntingdon, magistrates ruled out police applications to fingerprint Molesworth demonstrators and this follows yesterday’s acquittal where police accused of exceeding their powers. Broom Mill in Biggleswade has a fire but not as serious as some in its history.