With the family to Bedford and there to the library to study local history in the nearby three counties; discovering more about Moynes Manor and its division between the Reynolds and Heddings before home to encourage Daniel with his homework as I started to untangle the Little Paxton Manors. After the intervention of The Attorney General, Sir Robert Armstrong had to go to the Australian Courts to confess that previous answers were wrong and the Government had made a conscious decision not to prosecute which torpedoed the case there, attempts to salvage the Kowloon Bridge are abandoned and Iraq tightens its grip on Iranian oil export terminals. Chris Broad makes his maiden century for England and raiders with shot-guns steal £7,000 from Little Paxton sub-post office
Could not warn Di about my late night and so was woken up early anyway. Quickly drank my tea and then went down to start printing out my Little Paxton manuscript update. Did this continually through my shower, breakfast, and afterwards, returning to turn over and load up paper at regular intervals. Unfortunately it took until 9.30am to finish and, by this time, Diana was back with Daniella from taking Deborah from school and they were agitating to leave. Eventually finished and we set off, arriving in the coffee shop in Bedford by 10.00am, which was not too bad. Left the girls to do shopping and I went to Bedford Library. This is a good place of study – plenty of desks amongst a wealth of history books from surrounding counties, as well as Bedford. I went through the Herts and Hunts shelves and scanned the former for any intelligence on Watford family history, and the latter for new sources. Found some interesting inputs from Tebbutt. Soon it was time for lunch and so met Di at Debenhams.
They kept us waiting a very long time over the salad server, but we managed. Poor Della was a bit upset, but settled to her lunch eventually. Left them again for the library and, this time, got the full references on the Colney Butts road division from the Liberty of St Albans Session Calendar and so should now find Ann Broad when next in Hertford Record Office. Also went through the Hunts Calendar of Feet of Fines and wrote down each change of ownership for Little Paxton Manors. Found an entry under Moynes Manor involving Cromwell again and I think Inskip-Ladds must have missed this entirely. Also looked at a catalogue of records of the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon by Ladds and Noble and this may point to another new source. Had to leave to meet Di and, even then, was 20 minutes late. Home in time for Di to pick up Debbie and then time to ponder over my discoveries. Got Daniel going on his revision and then tried to work out the Manorial descents for Little Paxton – a fascinating puzzle which I will solve (if it kills me!). At least I have the time to do it properly. Used the very last of my duck food tonight and this means we have to go to Biggleswade tomorrow morning. News again today is of the MI5 affair. The Attorney General visited the Prime Minister today and, as a result, Sir Robert Armstrong went into the Australian Courts to admit that answers previously given were wrong. Sir Michael Havers did not agree with having approved the former leaks (Chapman Pincher) and so the Government did make a conscious decision not to prosecute. This torpedoes the legal case and is even more embarrassing. There are television pictures of yesterday’s IRA bomb attack, and the damage and injury is widespread. Attempts to salvage the Kowloon Bridge tanker off of Ireland have been abandoned, with the task becoming uneconomic on salvage terms. It is now up to the authorities to take the next move, but they will probably try to take off the oil and iron ore and leave it at that. Confirmation of the tightening grip that Iraq is taking on Iran’s oil export terminals. By striking ever further from Iran, insurance rates are being put up and the task of getting money for war supplies is becoming hopeless. England opener, Chris Broad, hit his maiden test century in the second test against Australia, as his team surged to a score of 258 for 2. He was undefeated at the close of play. Raiders with sawn-off shotguns forced Little Paxton sub-post office to part with £7,000 today, but we saw and heard nothing.