Margaret Thatcher made a major speech on European co-operation in the USA and being tempted during questions to voice her hostility to the concept of a Federal Europe
Margaret Thatcher made a major speech on European co-operation in the USA and being tempted during questions to voice her hostility to the concept of a Federal Europe

A cool and showery day for the Range Rover Service and Reliant planning but also for meetings of the Computer Development Working Party and evening planning meeting, tussling with Tory Leader Derek Holley for much of the time.

This evening Margaret Thatcher made a major speech on European co-operation in the USA and being tempted during questions to voice her hostility to the concept of a Federal Europe

It was up early as usual this morning and then the normal routine before taking the Range Rover to Marshalls of Bedford for servicing. Apart from a 6,000 mile service, they were also attending to a range of small but irritating problems as this 1986 vehicle began to show its age. They loaned me a new Land Rover to get back with, but I found this a poor and slow substitute for my own car as I drove up the A1 at only 45/50mph. Once home I did a variety of desk jobs and then went out after lunch to sort out the garages. Intending to work on the Rolls Royce and Reliant, the task ended up as a general garage clear out which was particularly good in its effect but was not really what I had planned. At 2.30pm, a local motor-cycle enthusiast, Eric Mathews, came round by arrangement and had a look at the Reliant and undertook to help in finding me a friendly MOT tester who could facilitate me getting the Reliant back on the road.

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He also had ideas for getting me a trailer and for getting the wheels renovated and new tyres fitted. Once he had gone, I had to quickly get ready to rush back over to Bedford, collect the Range Rover and then race on to Huntingdon for the Computer Development Working Party meeting that was due to start at 5.00pm. This was quite interesting in attempting to formulate a strategy for the years to come and I had quite a tussle with the chairman (the Tory leader Derek Holley) who was resisting further computer upgrading against the officer’s advice. In the end, we agreed to consider detailed budgets and costs in September, but he was still very cautious. There not being enough time to come home and back, I took another councillor over the The Bridge Hotel for an Avocado, Chicken and Prawn salad and half a bottle of wine which fortified us nicely for the following Planning Committee which started at 7.00pm and continued until 9.30pm. I left most of the talking on this committee to Percy and the Vice-Chairman, Stuart Simon.

Home late and to bed with my normal Bournvita to drink and banana to eat. The news is of Thatcher making a major speech on European co-operation in the USA and being tempted during questions to voice her hostility to the concept of a Federal Europe which pleased her American audience but could cause further trouble in the ranks of the Tory party. The weather continuing cool and showery.