The Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes at Zeebrugge, trapping countless passengers after water flooded in through open bows doors as Niel Kinnocj criticises the far-left influence in The Labour Party. I carry on schooling Debbie in preparation for her Kimbolton School entrance test tomorrow after more visits to Huntingdon archives and the St Neots Local History Society where I talk to others about Paxton Hall
A good night and awoke a little easier to my morning tea. Showered and shaved and dressed in good time to get down to breakfast and to supervise the children’s meal. I made Debbie have a few wheat flakes before her rice crispies, to ensure that she tolerates the choice. Took poor Daniel's seat again! Stuck this week’s Little Paxton newspaper cuttings into the scrap book and then it was time to take Di and Della out for our Friday trip. I had chosen Huntingdon and so we drove off along the Huntingdon road and were there quite early. I had left the money for the Hewletts - £34 cash for Joan and a cheque for £55 for Pete. Parked near the library and then took the girls to the Chelsea coffee house for a drink. I made off afterwards for the Record Office and there collected a photograph of the Dial and surrounding cottages. Also got photocopies of a Little Paxton school survey, pre-war, and the Queen Victoria Jubilee celebration programme, when the Jubilee tree was planted in Little Paxton. Time prevented further study, as I had to meet Di and Dells back at a hamburger restaurant for lunch.
A nice, efficient and quick (if smoky) lunch there and then home to Little Paxton. I took Di to show her the prospect of Paxton Hall. I had also visited the Planning Office in Huntingdon today and intend to object to the planning application to build 5 new houses in the grounds, blocking the view of the Hall. Then went into St Neots, dropping off Mr Feresault’s drawings and handbill and then getting the phone number from the door of Howard Photographic, which has now closed down. Home again in time to see Debbie and I set her and Amy a ‘Daddy’ test and also a harder one for her alone later on. I am preparing her mentally for the Kimbolton exam tomorrow and I think she will be OK. Also found time to check Daniel's schoolwork, before I went to this evening’s meeting of the St Neots Local History Society and heard the Bedford archivist talk on sources for family history research. An interesting talk, but not revealing much that is new. More interest talking to Madams Reed and Young about Paxton Hall and the proposed housing development. Home in time to hear the evening news broadcasts, featuring the horrific accident in the Channel. Townsend Thorensen ferry ‘The Herald of Free Enterprise’ has turned over, trapping hundreds of people, after hitting the harbour wall at Zeebrugge, on its way back to Dover. Apart from this (the latest details of which will be mentioned later) the main story is the East/West chances for an arms deal. Reagan, hoping to put his scandals behind him, is considering another Reagan/Gorbachev summit. The next serious news is of another teachers strike planned, as a series of ½ day stoppages in opposition to the imposition of pay & conditions by the Education Secretary of State. The Labour Party is undergoing further introspection after a private letter from leader, Neil Kinnock’s, office is published in The Sun and admits concern at the antics of his hard left wing. Nevertheless, the Labour Party retains their Euro parliament seat in election voting and counting that took place yesterday and today. The ferry seemed to have floundered because it hit the east pier and then the bow door burst open and the car deck flooded. In vessels of this type the cavernous interior, plus high passenger decks, mean an instability when flooded. It seems that the craft was carrying some 650 people, of which only about 300 are now ashore and 60 more on boats that have taken them up. 100s are still believed to be trapped inside the ship, hours after the accident. The weather conditions are calm, with good visibility, but the air and sea temperatures are barely above zero. Only 1 person is definitely reported dead, but this will be the first of many. At least the tide is going out, revealing more of the vessel. In the past, the Townsend Thorensen ferry, European Gateway, turned over and sank after a collision.