A rather slow start to the day and then soon time to leave my London meeting at Queen Anne Street for which the journey went well until I ran into the Muslim feast day at the Regents Park Temple. Much talk of the new budget changes that will affect forestry in the flow country and then quite hot driving home as the Rolls-Royce Corniche air-conditioning was not working. Collecting Mike Pope, I then drove to Glisson Road in Cambridge for a meeting with John Matthewman for my election return information before back to St Neots for a district meeting and then home to my journal and to hear news of Chancellor Lawson’s interest rate cut and of Legionnaires’ disease striking BBC broadcasting House.
Rather tired when I was called at the normal time this morning and thus a bit slow to get going as a result. I came down to breakfast in my dressing gown and then went up to wash, shave and dress after. This was a pity, as I had intended to get down to work as soon as possible in my office this morning and to complete a full budget for my District Council Election Return. In the end I managed to do this, but I left a little late for my London meeting and was always going to be later still, as I met traffic congestion. My meeting was at Fountain Forestry at Queen Anne Street. I took the Rolls Royce Corniche, as Diana needed the Range Rover to go to Bedford today. A pleasant trip, until I approached London itself. The problem then was an important Muslim fundamental feast/prayer date and the Great London Temple (at Regents Park) was so congested it made me ½ hour late.
I got there in the end, ate their sandwiches (prawn, smoked salmon etc) and drank their white wine and spoke to them about the effects of the new budget changes on forestry in North East Scotland. We concurred that FF should redouble their public relations efforts to counter the Nature Conservation lobby; should bring a wider client base into the investment area and further develop the ‘amenity’ and ‘pride of ownership’ angles. I expressed interest in the broadwood scene closer at home, with pheasant shoots, agriculture and woodland closely integrated for sharing the tax relief and planting grants. I excused myself and left in mid-afternoon and left for home. A good journey back and the day had become quite hot by now. It was pleasant enough driving with the Corniche hood down in the strong sun, but once on the A1 motorway, hood down and windows closed, I realised that the air-conditioning is definitely not working. Home an hour before tea and I used this time to update my diary with all of my known appointments. An early tea and then, picking up Mike Pope from St Neots, I drove to Glisson Road in Cambridge and had a short meeting with John Matthewman, to obtain all necessary information for my Election Expense Return. Back in time for our SLD St Neots District meeting at Mike’s place. A very good turnout for the meeting, with morale high in the wake of my victory. We agreed a plan of action for all the local wards, including focus organisers and regular leaflet deliveries between now and next year, to bolster support. I took them all to the nearest pub afterwards for a drink and it was all quite convivial. Home with a rather wet Corniche, as it had started raining quite heavily. I changed out of my best suit and leathered the car dry in the garage, as Diana was staying up to watch TV. Then my journal until 11.00pm and the TV news. Chancellor Lawson won his interest rate cut today, as Thatcher daren’t oppose it for fear of highlighting a difference of policy. The pound dropped 2 ½ cents. There had evidently been a late night row between the two and Thatcher only knew of the interest rate cut a few minutes before it happened. There is a widening outbreak of the Legionnaires disease that seems to be centred on BBC Broadcasting House and a second man has died.