David A Broad
A personal story
More than 40 years, told day by day
Celebrating Debbie's 15th birthday with her old favourites friends Jo, Zoe and Tabby but, as it was raining, we could not go to Wickstead Park. Diana took them to lunch and then left them at the cinema for the afternoon.
They were then at home, eating and swimming and watching videos in the evening and out late in the garden by floodlight swimming in the pool again but then we had the worry of Daniel's friends being in the house with four nubile and overactive 15-year-olds!
The news is of terrible ructions in the Conservative Party about the chance of a leadership election to replace John Major and all this in the run up to the Euro Elections in June.
I was very tired when woken this morning but got showered and then dressed in my dressing gown in time to join the family late for breakfast. It was the day we were celebrating for Debbie's 15th birthday, and she started it by opening all of her cards and presents and she had got some good ones too!
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The election aftermath catching up with walking and training Sam and noting that the farmer opposite has chopped down and grubbed out a number of the mature willows in Mill Meadow which was a shame.
Then some time writing up our election results as a news release and then eventually along to Sally's to agree the copy, get my things together, copy across data files and dismantle my computer for carrying home.
Then counselling Terry Clough on the wisdom of not standing against Terry Hayward on the parish council but instead making his peace and getting assurances that they will restart with a new and better relationship.
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A very successful District Council Polling Day, organising our helpers at the polling stations and committee rooms and thankfully moving away "Cambridge Cable", who had decided to set up shop right outside Sally's house and were about to dig up the road!
I had to clear the computer room to get some room but there sat Louise and later Ross McKay which surprised me. and, when Louise stormed off and burst into tears as a result! As the feedback came in, I was reviewing the figures from Priory (which was getting our supporters out quite well) and from Buckden where Derek and Terry's team were really cooking and gelling with a willing band of helpers.
By late afternoon a good system was in place everywhere else and I realised that Louise had not been around her own three polling stations so, feeling bad about leaving her to it earlier, I made a point of taking her to all three in turn so that she could go in and thank the polling officers.
The results soon came and we had retained Sally's Priory Park by a mile, Percy's Offords comfortably and beaten Tory Terry Hayward out of sight. Poor Louise did well in a non-target seat but, as expected, did not come very close to winning.
LibDem Jane Brine beating Tory Council Chairman, Joyce Day in Sawtry and this was added-to later when I found out that dissident St Ives activists Ron Heinrich and Stuart Littlewood had got Charles Looker in for us in Godmanchester. Our seats were therefore up from 8 to 11, the Tories down from 39 to 36 and Labour the same at 4
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Working through a near breakdown on Eve of Poll, entering the remainder of the canvas results and start preparing the EARS computer data for polling day.
I had severe problems when trying to get the Offords data into walks and so worked on through lunchtime until, in early afternoon, I ground to a halt having lost the brain power and concentration to cope with the difficult technical problems.
However, I went back in the evening to get the Priory computer ready for the next day and left in time to get back for a good night's sleep.
Regrettably, the fine weather was breaking with cloudy skies and some showers but, on this eve of poll, the main task before us was the preparations for Polling Day itself. I took Sam for a long walk first thing as I knew I could afford him little or no time later.
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On another nice and warm day, making a Cambridge visit with Diana and met her parents for coffee and a chat whilst buying a new wallet and some computer supplies.
I upset Louise Busby, our young 23-year-old Eynesbury newcomer, by trying to push her too far. I have the suspicion as well that I had made an impression on her, and I was not returning her interest.
The weather was nice again with warm sun and a slight south-westerly breeze that we hoped would stay unchanged for polling day. Having not done so for some time, I opted to drive into Cambridge with Diana and met her parents for coffee and a chat.
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Bank Holiday electioneering in Buckden continuing in fine weather with Derek Giles helping candidate Terry Clough and I with the canvassing as the "undecideds" seemed to be coming heavily our way and we looked set to do well. Diana was bored with staying at home but Sam got a couple of quick runs and some more work in the water.
The fine weather continued but I was not able to enjoy the bank holiday scene and was occupied chivvying along my election workers instead. We had decided that, whilst Sunday was taboo, Bank Holiday Monday was acceptable for canvassing, and I entered the fray in earnest; checking round to see who was joining in the canvassing and then leading the canvas effort into Buckden with Derek Giles.
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