Decisive meeting in London with Brian Willott, the head of the DTI IT Division and most pessimistic civil servant about the prospects of the British Computer industry that influenced their policy about the IBM/BT Jove license application where I won the argument but now awaited the decision as the Miners Strike drags on and a father drugs and drowns his 6 year old daughter because he cannot bear the thought of her growing up in ‘a terrible world.’
An early awakening at 7.00am, as Diana was determined to start the day well. Breakfast of toast and fruit juice before a delayed arrival of The Financial Times to read. I catch up on several days of my journal whilst Diana races around and has to race into town to rescue the old house keys from Daniel who had taken them by accident. A thorough body and hair wash in preparation for my meetings today before arriving at the office whilst Diana collects the dry cleaning from town. Time to make a number of phone calls and accept a call from Informatics Daily Bulletin on my views on the IBM/BT venture. It is now widely known that I am meeting the DTI this afternoon and the first conclusions of the NCC report are being released today. Eventually Diana returns from the cleaners with my suit and I leave for London. By car to Wembley Park and then onwards by tube to Baker Street and then to Covent Garden. A short walk to the end of Longacre and to meet Margaret Park, the Associate Editor of Venture UK Magazine, who took me off to a lunch and an interview on the history of the UK microcomputer retail industry. Then off by taxi to Bressenden Place by appointment to meet Brian Willott, the appointed Head of the DTI Information Technology Division. He was joined by Andrew Dogood, the principal officer interested in the BT/IBM license application and, despite an agenda that covered the range of BMMG interests, it was this one issue that they were preoccupied with. Interesting and rewarding to note the relevance that the DTI attach to my views and an energetic debate developed, which lasted well past the time anticipated for Brian Willott and I to meet. Brian had been billed as being the most resistant person in the DTI to the support of British Computer Manufacturing Interests.
In the event I felt that I achieved a good rapport and that he was in sympathy with the points that I was making. The debate turned to ways in which British Companies could succeed internationally and he seemed to favour restricting support to the companies with most chance. I finish the day feeling the debate is won – but will we win the decision? News tonight of a £600M order from America for British Aerospace Hawk Jet trainer aircraft. Neil Kinnock condemns all violence in his speech to the Labour Conference and it is well received. NACODS negotiators get NCB officials to consider the use of independent arbitration on pit closures and put it to a full meeting of the National Coal Board. Also, sadly, a father drugs and drowns his 6 year old daughter because he cannot bear the thought of her growing up in ‘a terrible world.’ So ends today.