Nostalgic visit to The Which Computer Show at the NEC but avoided too much industry contact and was not very impressed with the products and exhibits as Leon Brittan fights poorly for his reputation in the House of Commons, Gorbachev extends the nuclear test pause and there is no reprieve for the Gartcosh Steel processing mill
Another in a series of unsettled nights, but awake to my morning tea as usual and then down to breakfast with the family. After, to wash my hair and shower, when I changed into my Huntsman suit and decided to go to the Which Computer Show in Birmingham as planned. My cough and cold had not developed too much since yesterday. To my office a while to organise my papers and diary before leaving and a power cut to my electronic diary awared me of the presence of the electrician. I discussed with him the remaining work that we needed doing and then left for Birmingham.
A good 1 ½ hrs to get there, having missed the National Exhibition centre turnoff, and then took the courtesy coach from car park E5 to the exhibition hall. Waits at both the cloakroom and then the registration desk before admittance. Then to cover the show in my normal manner, walking to and fro to criss-cross both halls and take in the display of each exhibitor. In this way I am awared of the companies, the role that they play, and what product features they have to offer. I wondered what my reaction would be to the show; whether I would wonder at its magnificence and the recent position of eminence and influence I recently had, or whether I would feel at home or out of touch. In the event, the companies and products had not changed much, apart from even more IBM-PC lookalikes and product compatibility. The event was large, but a bit subdued and the salesmen seemed to be clutching at more than a few visiting straws. I met a few people – David Slater of the Byte Shop and new marketing manager of the new owner SCC; John Braga and others – but mostly avoided seeking people out and contented myself with the tour. Home then and a couple of hours not succeeding in wiring up my fire alarm circuits. Dinner and then fascination with the news. News tonight of Leon Brittan fighting for his political life, as the British Aerospace letter contradicts his account of the meeting with the company. There was a moving and effective speech from Father of the House and former Prime Minister, Jim Callaghan, and also Michael Heseltine and Brittan’s closing speech had to be of unprecedented authority if he were to survive as Trade & Industry Secretary. In the event, he blustered, failed to handle interventions well, and then ran out of time to answer his critics. There will now be an investigation by the Select Committee and the row will rumble on slowly, damaging the government’s credibility. What a shambles! Other news is fairly eclipsed by this issue, but schools are facing lunchtime closures, as a result of the continuing teachers dispute, Gorbachev extends the Soviet arms test pause and there will not be reprieve for the Gartcosh steel processing mill.