Awoke after yesterday’s tiredness to see the river subsiding and the Games Lawn clear and muddy but off to Cambridge with Di for coffee in Eaden Lilly’s and lunch at The Copper Kettle after researching Reliant information which was one of only fifty made before the war and was used for delivery of pots and pans until 1948! The government are opposing pay rises for nurses, with Thatcher hitting out at their strikes, a TUC delegation was disappointed to get no response from the Health Secretary at a meeting today whilst the Republic of Ireland are protesting at the lack of prosecutions due to a cover up in the RUC ‘shoot to kill’ investigation. Now the Seamen’s strike goes ahead today against the threat of ‘secondary picketing’ fines for the NUM, The Lords, banned the promotion of homosexuality despite ‘lesbians abseiling from the balcony’, Reagan is trying to get military aid for the Contras again
Awoke fairly early today, still tired after yesterday’s exertions and a series of late nights. Got up slowly, but steadily, and made breakfast at 7.35am, but the whole family had gone by then. Decided to join Diana on a trip to Cambridge this morning and just wrote up some of yesterday’s journal before it was time to go. No sign of the R-REC Advertiser in the post today and we wonder how much longer it will now be. I drove the Range Rover to Cambridge and parked in the Round Church car park and we arrived at Eaden Lilley’s coffee shop just at the same time as Di’s parents. Charles and Norma are all in a muddle over their new house – things everywhere. Di’s brother and sister are even worse off and Chris is not happy with their new house and facilities in Sandy - but then they have all brought these things upon themselves by moving in the first place. We treated them to coffee and then Di and I looked round a few shops, as Norma looked after Daniella. I went to the library and checked on vehicle and driver registration and licensing. It seems that the Reliant still classifies as a tricycle with tax at £40, rather than £100 a year, but Daniel can only drive at age 17 years – the same as for a car or motorbicycle. Also looked in bookshops for anything on Reliants, but failed miserably.
Rendezvoused with the others for lunch at the Copper Kettle and treated all of them to a nice meal. Charles read Della a story into the bargain. Tried the CUL, but no titles have ever been published on the Reliant 8cwt tricycle van and so drew a blank there. Home via Huntingdon, but the motor accessory shop had not managed to get the heavy-duty axle stands yet. Late this afternoon and early this evening, I tried a number of specialists for information on the Reliant, but could not find much to add to what I have. I also phoned the last two owners and am just about getting an impression of the vehicle’s history. It seems that it may have been only one of fifty or so made before the war and was then used during the war for delivery of pots and pans until 1948. A Mr Thomas Tanks of Willenhall, Staffs then had it from 1920 until 1955, had a ‘C’ license, but may have just licensed it for the petrol rations during the Suez crisis. It was abandoned until bought by Mr & Mrs Walker, who brought it down from Staffordshire to Ringwood, Dorset/Hants but, though they repaired the front of the bodywork, the rear doors etc and then completely overhauled the original engine, they never got it on the road. They drove it round the garden and were appalled by the lights and handling etc! They had it from about 1977 to November 1987 and then Collectors Autos Ltd bought it, primarily for the number plate. They then resprayed it, taxed and transferred the number, then used it for a while and sold it to me. This evening, just wrote up my journal and read some more local papers. Tomorrow I will get back to my history in earnest for a couple of days, then the Reliant is due on Friday. Actually sat and watched the news later tonight. The government has come down against any across-the-board rises for nurses in their evidence to the pay council. They have also said that no increase of resources can be assumed to cover any pay award. This confidential submission was leaked and nurses unions have reacted with anger and hostility. Leaders of the Health Unions, in a TUC delegation, were disappointed in their meeting with Health Secretary today, due to the lack of any response to their pleading. Meanwhile, Thatcher hits out at strikes by nurses. British and Irish Ministers have had an emergency meeting at the Republic’s request, to discuss the UK governments decision to forgo prosecution of RUC officers after evidence of a cover-up was found. They will meet again in a fortnight, but the Republic are not happy. The seamen’s strike went ahead today, with many freight sailings affected, but cross-channel ferries still sailed. P&O and Sealink are moving to get the NUS assets sequestrated, as they have injunctions against what is regarded as ‘secondary picketing’. The House of Lords passed the clause on the banning of the promotion of homosexuality today and three lesbian women ‘abseiled’ down from the public balcony in protest. US President Reagan is trying to get Congress to vote military aid for ‘the Contras’ again and this time the TV networks do not want to carry his appeal, as there is nothing new in it. The Bicentennial Test in Sydney was drawn and now all eyes are on the one-day test in a couple of day’s time. At last the river has subsided today, but the ground is very muddy. At least the games lawn is well drained and has survived perfectly. Today has been very windy again, with wind speeds almost reaching 100mph in Cornwall. The forecast is for showers overnight and the wind dying down slowly.