Kimberley Carlile in 1984
Kimberley Carlile in 1984

Fulfilling the role of resident engineer as Diana takes Della to Bedford whilst Larkin, the river engineer carries on securing the steel piling and then researching the Norfolk Broads tourist attractions to satisfy ourselves the children would enjoy the summer there. The election news is overshadowed by the life imprisonment of the step-father killer Nigel Hall, in the tragic case of the death of Kimberley Carlile for whom no part of her body had escaped punishment, with cuts, bruises and cigarette burns, inflicted over several months The other news is that the actress, Rita Hayworth, aged 68 has died and that NATO leaders of Europe, meeting today, have endorsed the medium & short range nuclear arms deal

Gradually getting back to my normal bedtime as the days go by. Awoken at 7.00am, with Di and Della for company, and then sat a while as I drank my tea and then made a move to be down by 7.35am. A simple wheat flakes breakfast and apple juice and then went out to feed the doves by hand. A cool, showery and blustery spring day and I was pleased to get back inside and start a day in the office. Di was taking Della to Bedford for the morning and I worked quickly to prepare the financial transactions and post for her to do for me. Before long, she was in wanting help, finding the Range Rover difficult to start. Later in the morning Pete had trouble with the reserve lawnmower and I had to help him adjust the fuel mixture! Quite the resident mechanic today. Mr Larkin was here again, having missed yesterday, and completed most of the piling and welded the ties to give support.

Di was late back and so at 1.00pm I made my own salad lunch and listened to the Radio Four news. Soon they were back, crashing in with the shopping, and I finished and took refuge in my office. Di has started to have doubts about the girls in Norfolk and so we phoned the Great Yarmouth and Broadlands tourist offices and they promised to send information on riverside amenities. Later I got Daniel to do his homework and read a Country Companion to Debbie and went out to see the men’s work. More paperwork for me this evening, but I had ploughed through all my financial work and was well pleased. The news is well balanced between the battle cries of the party leaders. Thatcher was addressing the Scottish Conservatives, Kinnock the Welsh Socialists, and the Alliance David’s were doing a tour of Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, and with the West Country next on the agenda. Inflation figures are up at 4.2% and the Tories are the highest yet in the opinion polls, according to the Evening Standard. At the Old Bailey, Nigel Hall, stepfather of the mistreated girl Kimberley Carlile, has been found guilty of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Not one part of her body had escaped punishment, with cuts, bruises and cigarette burns, inflicted over several months. Pauline Carlile, the mother, was also jailed for 12 years for her mistreatment of Kimberley. The Rover Group lost £892 million last year, in a frightful performance set against the uncertainty of the group. Boss Graham Day expects the next year to be ‘significantly better’. Let’s hope so. The actress, Rita Hayworth, now 68 has died. She was a red-haired screen and dance beauty of the 1940s & 50s, married many Hollywood stars, but had fought a long battle against an incurable brain disorder, Alzheimer’s Disease. The weather forecast is a little better, drier and sunnier for tomorrow, but Sunday and Monday are expected unsettled, cool and wet again. NATO leaders of Europe, meeting today, have endorsed the medium & short range nuclear arms deal, but German leader, Kohl, is unhappy and the French doubtful. Britain speaks out in favour, but it is hinted that more US strategic nuclear weapons may be based in the UK (to the horror of the opposition parties).