This was a significant month for Redgrave Spar Stores as we were re-organising the shop and its suppliers but I was also an interesting time to talk to parties involved with my forest at Broubster about harvesting Christmas Trees and possibly selling up.
During my scarce leisure time, I was also following sports and was watching Daimon Hill clinch the Drivers' Formula 1 World Championship and there was still international cricket and much US sports.
Back home lawyer and politician John Taylor became the first black Conservative peer, but the Conservative government's majority dwindled to a single seat following the defection of Peter Thurnham to the Liberal Democrats.
Reacting to public pressure, handguns were to be banned in the UK after several shooting tragedies. The Thiepval barracks bombing in Lisburn (Northern Ireland) crippled many people, including a soldier who later died from his injuries.
More happily Apple Records released 'Anthology 3', the final instalment in a three-part series of rare Beatles recordings and outtakes.
Elsewhere, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Bill Clinton as potential diplomatic progress was signalled.
Arafat then made a ground-breaking first public visit to Israel, meeting with Israeli President Ezer Weizman at his private residence.
The first televised US presidential debate of the 1996 election took place after which Democratic incumbent Bill Clinton successfully defeated his Republican opponent.
Then the Dow Jones Industrial Average achieved a historic financial milestone by closing above 6,000 points for the first time to reach a closing value of 6,010.00.
Following the tragic Port Arthur Massacre, John Howard's Australian government started a gun buyback scheme. The Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban, also known as the Lautenberg Amendment, was enacted in the United States.
Air passenger safety was still a live issue. Aeroperú Flight 603, a Boeing 757, crashed into the Pacific Ocean shortly after takeoff from Lima Airport, with the loss of all 70 people on board. Also, Transportes Aéreos Regionais (TAM) Flight 402, a Fokker F100, crashes into several houses in São Paulo, Brazil killing 98 including two on the ground.
Yao Wenyuan, a prominent figure in the Chinese Cultural Revolution, was released from prison after serving 20 years, marking a significant moment in reconciliation.
New Zealand held its first general election under the new mixed-member proportional representation system.
On his 5,144th day in office, Helmut Kohl surpasses Konrad Adenauer's record as the longest-serving post-war chancellor of Germany,
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This was a significant month for Redgrave Spar Stores as we were re-organising the shop and its suppliers. I had also booked places on the Spar Retail Conference in Blackpool to learn more. Back home, we were still trying to commission Toby Locke's new EPOS update and were also working out the true value and success of the ‘Circular Distributors’ Spar leaflet distribution locally. I was also approaching Frances Thomson of PARCEL*FORCE, to become a DataPost outlet Redgrave outlet for their services. I continued to bargain with local bakers Richard Haydon and Alan Gilbert in Diss to improve bread supplies and discounts. I was also negotiating with Video Box Office regarding their terms and with Keith Oliver of Fenlite Supplies regarding Duracell prices and frequency of delivery. More fundamentally, I was talking to Mr Rodney Self of the Mid Suffolk District Council Planning Department about the plans and changes I wanted to make to the shop, given that our building had a restrictive grade II listing. My planned improvements involved a new Spar Fascia installation and internal modifications. I was reviewing our finances and Vat liabilities with my accountants and also planning for a wider leaflet distribution to Redgrave and surrounding villages. As part of our extended opening hours, the hugely revised Redgrave Stores Staffing Plan was implemented with new assistant Shelly Norton starting work at Redgrave Spar P.O & Stores as a Trainee.
Regarding my other major investment of my forest at Broubster, this was an interesting time to talk to parties involved. Firstly to Mr Karl Baxter - Wholesalers - about harvesting Christmas Trees at Broubster and possibly selling am ajacent compartment that he actually owned. Then to Mr Mike Butler of Fountain Forestry about management issues generally at Thormaid. I was also planning to simplify my other investments by authorising Robert Smith of Manorial Auctioneers to include my Manor of Chilford, Cambridgeshire in their forthcoming auction.
During my scarce leisure time, I was also following sports and was watching Daimon Hill clinch the Drivers' Formula 1 World Championship. The Queen herself was in Durham opening the new Riverside Ground. In International cricket, Wasim Akram (257) & Saqlain Mushtaq broke the cricket Test batting record of 313 for their 8th wicket for Pakistan vs Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura. A tragic stadium crush occurred during a football match at Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City, resulting in the deaths of 84 people and injuries to 180 others. Money was dominating American ‘football’ as Ford motor company buys rights to name the Detroit domed stadium for $40 million. The reputation of this sport continued to suffer during the civil trial of former player O.J. Simpson that began in Santa Monica. US baseball featured in the news as The Atlanta Braves defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in a thrilling National League Championship Series, winning 4 games to 3 and advanced towards the World Series. They then went on to defeat the New York Yankees by a record margin of 11 runs, winning the game 12-1 during the 1996 World Series itself. This game represented a significant moment in baseball history, showcasing the Braves' offensive prowess and ability to decisively outperform their opponents on the biggest stage. New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams still made baseball history by hitting his record-tying 7th postseason home run. Frank Torre, the brother of renowned baseball manager Joe Torre, underwent a successful heart transplant at a critical point in his medical journey.
Back home, Lawyer and politician John Taylor became the first black Conservative peer. The Conservative government's majority dwindled to a single seat following the defection of Peter Thurnham to the Liberal Democrats. Reacting to public pressure, handguns were to be banned in the UK after recent shooting tragedies. The Thiepval barracks bombing in Lisburn (Northern Ireland) crippled many people, including a soldier who later died from his injuries. Patrick McGeown, Irish IRA member and hunger striker, died at the age of 40. There were many other significant deaths: These included Denis Frank Owen, British ecologist and natural historian; Thomas Rees, the British botanist; Tony Parker, British oral historian, who died aged 73; Tony Parker (25 June 1923 – 3 October 1996) was also an oral historian. Apple Records released 'Anthology 3', the final instalment in a three-part series of rare Beatles recordings and outtakes. This double CD/triple LP compilation sold well and covered the band's creative period from 1968-1970.
Elsewhere, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Bill Clinton as Arafat returned triumphantly to Gaza to engage in Middle East peace negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signalling potential diplomatic progress. Arafat then made a ground-breaking first public visit to Israel, meeting with Israeli President Ezer Weizman at his private residence. With Middle East politics settling down, Exxon confirms that it was in talks with state-owned Qatar General Petroleum Corporation concerning the application of new technology to convert natural gas into petroleum products. A pivotal moment in commemorating Holocaust history occurred with the cornerstone dedication of the Holocaust Museum in New York City.
The first televised US presidential debate of the 1996 election took place and Democratic incumbent Bill Clinton successfully defeats his opponent. Also the Dow Jones Industrial Average achieved a historic financial milestone by closing above 6,000 points for the first time to reach a closing value of 6,010.00. Howard Stern's book "Miss America" was successfully released in paperback.
Following the tragic Port Arthur Massacre, John Howard's Australian government started a gun buyback scheme. The Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban, also known as the Lautenberg Amendment, was enacted in the United States.
Air passenger safety was still a live issue. Aeroperú Flight 603, a Boeing 757, crashed into the Pacific Ocean shortly after takeoff from Lima Airport, resulting in the tragic loss of all 70 people on board. Also, Transportes Aéreos Regionais (TAM) Flight 402, a Fokker F100, crashes into several houses in São Paulo, Brazil killing 98 including two on the ground.
Yao Wenyuan, a prominent figure in the Chinese Cultural Revolution, was released from prison after serving 20 years, marking a significant moment in reconciliation.
New Zealand held its first general election under the new mixed-member proportional representation system.
Significant labour strikes erupted across multiple industries in Belgium, triggered by the controversial dismissal of magistrate Jean-Marc Connerotte by the Supreme Court.
On his 5,144th day in office, Helmut Kohl surpasses Konrad Adenauer's record as the longest-serving post-war chancellor of Germany, marking a significant milestone in modern German political history.