Roy Jenkins stands down as SDP leader in deference to Dr David Owen today
Roy Jenkins stands down as SDP leader in deference to Dr David Owen today

Long day of Xitan and Byte Shop meetings and then home with John Lamb by car

A long day of meetings with John, Geoff and Derek Weatherby to agree Budgets and plans for the new Xitan Systems and Southampton Byte Shop. First a visit to Cumberland Place and established the need for a better meeting room which I quickly organised at the Park Hotel. Firm decisions on the roles of existing personnel, creation of 15 jobs, leasing of new premises for Xitan,

Sales targets for both activities and the resulting profit targets to make it all worthwhile. A long action list and heavy potential workload of arrangements that I am sure will return the investment in years to come. Home by car with John Lamb and then the remainder of the evening watching the television news and catching up on two days’ journal. Then to bed quite tired after the late night yesterday and thinking of a television programme marking one year since the Falklands victory – the loss of life and limb being particularly poignant in retrospect. Today Roy Jenkins has stood down as leader of the SDP in deference to David Owen. Altogether a fine sunny day with a cool wind.