POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS : 1967
Wednesday 10th May 1967
Afternoon - I visited Professor J.D. McGee, a member of my JSI Editorial Board, in the Physics Department at Imperial College to see an extremely high-speed electronically controlled camera he had told me about. It had been constructed by one of the members of Prof. McGee's department.
When I arrived, Prof. McGee told me that Patrick Blackett had been along an hour or so before expressing interest in the same device. P.M.S. Blackett (later Lord Blackett) was President of the Royal Society and probably still a junior Minister, along with Lord Nelson of Stafford and Lord (C.P.) Snow), in Harold Wilson's Government. I had encountered P.M.S. Blackett sufficiently often under unusual circumstances to be fairly certain that his sudden interest in the device was not coincidental. Senior civil servants probably have an expression for signalling by encounters of the one-removed kind.
Thursday 11th May 1967
I and other Institute of Physics Chairmen attended a meeting of Editors of Physics Journals in the UNESCO building in Paris. Other delegates were our opposite numbers from across Europe, some of whom were from behind Iron Curtain. The delegation from the U.K. did not meet other delegates outside the meeting - indeed I remember a convivial meal with Professor C.F. Franks of Bristol and another U.K. Professor, probably S.F. Edwards.
10th to 13th July 1967
IERE, IProdE, IEE Conference on The Integration of Design and Production in the Electronics Industry, University of Nottingham. There were some extraordinary incidents in the organising and proceedings of this Conference, which will be added later.
Thursday 31st August 1967
At the end of our meeting Robert Maxwell M.P. gave me a Labour Party press release of a speech he had made at Cranfield the previous day. (See CCL5)
September 1967
In September 1967 I had gone into print on politics. The incoming IoP President had referred in his Inaugural Address to the role of scientists and technologists in society and I wrote a Letter to the Editor of the IoP Bulletin commenting on his remarks. I called for scientists in politics to act in an open, direct way rather than as Machiavellian political animals. One member of the IoP Council said I should form a political party around my ideas!
Letter on Scientists & Technologists In Society
In retrospect this was my first publication about AOB but it was about two decades before I called it by that name.
THE PRISONER
Around this time I experienced an uncanny feeling when The Prisoner was shown on TV. Here was No.6 asking incessantly "Who is No.1?". And he, like me, was being asked incessantly “Why did you resign?” There were other thought-provoking references such as to the Palace of Westminster and Buckingham Gate.
Who indeed was the No.1 in my case. Was it Lord Nelson? For that matter who was No.2 or No.3 and which of them was influencing Robert Maxwell? Was Michael (then M. de J.R.) Richardson, recently of NM Rothschild, who had been introduced to me as Robert Maxwell's adviser, an intermediary between Robert Maxwell and No.1?
CAMPAIGN AGAINST DISINFORMATION
Also in September 1967, I started a campaign to let Marconi, English Electric and other executives know what had been happening. I contacted a number of senior managers. I persisted in my enquiries about what had been going on and my requests that action be taken.
Withdrawal from Instrument & Measurement activities in IEE & IoP
Sunday, 1st October 1967
I delivered a letter dated 30th September to Sir Gordon Radley's house in Radlett. The Radleys were out.
I said in the letter that since January 1967 my income had been only £500, that I very much hoped that some remedial action was in hand on the occasion of his next Board meeting but that if it was not, I would like a committee of enquiry set up to look into the circumstances leading to my departure from Marconi Instruments and subsequent events.
Wednesday, 18th October 1967
Sir Gordon Radley passed my letter of 30th September to G. Bosworth, Personnel Director of English Electric Company, from whom I received a reply to the effect that the matter was closed by the agreement signed between myself and the Company on the 17th January 1966 and that there were no suitable vacancies in English Electric but if one did arise in the future he would of course get in touch with me.
My wife and I had booked to go to an IEE Dinner. At the dinner, we were placed next to J. Young's party. J. Young was Managing Director of English Electric Valve Co. (EEV) of Chelmsford. G. Bosworth, Sir Gordon Radley and Prof. C. W. Oatley were directors of EEV. At the same table was P. Keller of Marconi Co., who had been in digs with me when we were students at KCL. He said, "You are still with us, aren't you?"
J. Young referred to "your Company" and when I asked what he meant he said "Marconi Instruments". He expressed great surprise when I told him I had left M.I. nearly two years before. I said I was a consultant. He was extremely friendly, offered us a lift in his chauffer-driven car which was waiting outside.
SECURITY ENQUIRY
Thursday 19th October 1967
A Ministry of Technology security man, Mr. B.H. Brinton telephoned and said he would like to visit me about a former assistant at M.I. (John Fulford) who had joined a Min. Tech. establishment, SRDE and was being considered for secret work. He had phoned M.I. and had learned I had "retired". I checked on his bone fides with Keating of Marconi Co. before he arrived at my home.
When he arrived, he said he had just lunched in the M.D.'s dining room at M.I. In his questions he brought out several matters concerning the company and adopted an attitude which gave me grounds for believing that he was acting as an intermediary for the company and that the security rating of the SRDE man was the excuse for rather than the true purpose of the visit. For example, he brought up several matters concerning M.I. quite unrelated to his enquiry.
[I learnt later from a Special Branch Inspector of Herts Constabulary that B.H. Brinton lived in St. Albans. I was given his address so I wrote asking for a meeting. He phoned and, in very deferential manner, fixed a time to come and see me. When he arrived, however, his manner was very different. I told him I thought he had been used as a message carrier at our previous meeting - he rejected the idea. I told him something of what had been happening and asked if the security service could do anything. I found it very difficult going for over two hours and the end result was that my experiences were not the concern of the security services. I wrote summarising our discussions and got a cheerful reply saying how much he had enjoyed them].
Friday, 20th October 1967
I Chaired a Colloquium on R.F. (Radio Frequency) Connectors at the IEE. Prof. H.E.M. Barlow, still a Director of M.I., had insisted that I took the Chair. The meeting brought me into contact with old R.F. measurement associates. From the attendance list I see most were from Government Establishments.
At tea, I met members attending another meeting (microelectronics). Stuart-Monteith said something about a meeting he was running being in "your Company's" area. I asked him which Company he had in mind and he said "Marconi Instruments". I said I had left that Company some two years before.
Major Mason of SRDE said he had thought it worthwhile coming up from Christchurch although R.F. Connectors was not in his field. He said the Marconi MATE feasibility study had been very well received and that they were thinking about the next stage. He had spoken to the superintendent - probably (needs checking) Brigadier-General Sir Leonard Atkinson - who said that the measurement side had to come before the microelectronics. Major Mason said he personally would have it the other way round. Clearly, Major Mason was signalling his support. Most of the encouraging messages (e.g. of the "your company" kind) seemed to be coming from civil servants or Government scientists.
Saturday 28th October 1967
I enquire of others (e.g. A.D.I. Nicol, P. Dunsheath & Storer of WG Pye) about what had been happening. I got nowhere.
Wednesday 1st November 1967
Received from M.I. readdressed letters - after a gap of many months.
Wednesday 8th/12th November 1967
Met Mr. R.E. Burnett and contacted S. Arms.
TOTAL TRAINING
Friday 10th November 1967
I received a boost in my understanding of what had been taking place. At a job interview at Talent Brokers, a recruitment agency, which came about in a most unusual way and had many thought-provoking features within it, I was asked if I had seen an article about a training scheme in which not only the person's colleagues were involved but also neighbours, friends and professional associates. They assisted the trainer in staging tests and reporting back his views and reactions. At the end the results were presented and explained to the trainee. I had seen the article but did not recognise its relevance so threw it away. I never managed to track down another copy of the article but I did start writing papers on what I called a Total Training Scheme.
COMMITTEE CONTROL
Monday 20th November 1967
I telephoned the Managing Director of M.I., Ray Burnett, asking if we could meet again. He asked me to come into M.I. in St. Albans late that afternoon. I couldn’t because I was due to chair a committee on Electronics Design at the IEE in London. When, however, I got to the IEE all the committee members except one had cancelled at the last moment. The exception was an M.I. engineer! It was an extraordinary demonstration of power and totalitarian control. I was probably expected to go back to M.I. with the man but instead I delivered to English Electric House a strong letter to George Bosworth, the Group Personnel Director, which I had ready with me. In it I said that no ends justified the means employed, gave a brief review of our relationships up to the time of my leaving M.I. and asked for an enquiry.
CONTRITE MAXWELL
Wednesday 22nd November 1967
Robert Maxwell wrote the somewhat contrite letter, apologising for the delay in replying to my letter of 11th September, thanking me for what I had said to him at our meeting on 31st August and saying he had never met Lord Nelson.
I met J. Young of EEV at an IEE meeting. I asked him whether he had much contact with R. E. Burnett. He said he had hardly any.
On the way home I met Sir Gordon Radley on the train (he lived in Radlett). He said he was sorry he had been out when I called on the 1st October. I said something disapproving about certain methods of training for high office. He said if I thought he could help me, let him know.
Wednesday 29th November 1967
I telephoned G. Bosworth following up my letter. He said the matter had been closed two years before, an enquiry would be most. unusual, advised me to take sound legal advice before acting.
Friday, 1st December 1967
I visited Aldridge, Personnel Consultants of Luton and suggested we collaborate. Aldridge knew C. W. Lane of M.I.
ENGLISH ELECTRIC VALVE CO.
For full diary entry of EEV content click eye button.
September -
November 1967
Monday 4th December 1967
10.30 a.m. J.L. Scott, Personnel and Training Manager of EEV telephoned. He said EEV wished to engage me as a. consultant indefinitely. He asked if he could come over. He would put a proposition to me. J. Young had suggested my name following our meeting at the IEE.
11 a.m. Mrs. Ann Cook of IEE telephoned. She was preparing an announcement. Would I look after the technical side. Send a draft of what I wanted to the Editor of IEE News within two days. She would put in things that she was sure would meet with the approval of IEE
He arrived at about 2 p.m. and I asked him if he knew R. E. Burnett. J. Scott said he did know him, had worked for him and got on very well but that had been some years ago. He had met him the previous Friday and had enjoyed a long and pleasant conversation with him but this had no relationship whatsoever with the purpose of his visit.
Scott said that EEV had some Quality Assurance problems and wanted someone to help set up a better system. He said something about being responsible for training very senior supervisors.
He asked about my fees and I calculated £400 per month. I was asked to come across to EEV at Waterhouse Lane, Chelmsford on the 6th December.
Wednesday 6th December 1967
Letter received from Stuart Monteith of the Ministry of Technology, again referring to M.I. as "your Company''.
Arrived at Waterhouse Lane at 9 a.m. Made very welcome. Saw J. Scott first then went to the office of F.C. Thompson, the manager who needed the Quality Assurance scheme. It was agreed that the arrangement would be for £400/month for six months duration at least, on a month's notice basis. The "indefinite" had been dropped.
I was then told that I hardly ever need come over to Chelmsford. They would not provide me with an office or secretarial facilities - I was to say what I needed and "what Beck says goes"!
J. Scott hinted that I might soon be travelling to another part of Chelmsford. He mentioned Chairs. Also told me about Professors Oatley and McGee being their consultants. Scott referred to Lord Jackson, Sir Gordon Radley and G. Bosworth.
Thursday 7th December 1967
Arrived at Waterhouse Lane at 9.30 a.m. J. Scott and W.G. Leslie (Company Secretary) had drawn up an agreement overnight. I signed it and Leslie signed it. F.C. Thompson was asked to initial a copy to show that he had seen it as thereafter it would not be seen. That was the only other copy. I was told that I should say nothing about it - not even to tax man. It was then hinted that if I went back to M.I., the EEV fees would be paid in addition to the M.I. salary.
My request for fees payable in advance (I was desperate!) was unusual, Scott and Leslie said, but they accepted it. They could not give me a cheque that day - these things took a little time to arrange.
At lunch with Scott and one or two engineers and secretarial staff (Assistant Secretary), mention was made of the English Electric Board meeting being held that day, EEV would become a very big company with direct access to the English Electric Board, etc. After lunch Scott told me about Board membership, how often it met, who on the Board was a visitor to Chelmsford, etc.
Monday 11th December 1967
I rang S. Arms At M.I.. I mentioned "your company" and asked if I could visit M.I. about Quality Assurance - I got a dusty answer. However, when I asked him about settling matters with WAG. Brian (M.I.'s Company Secretary), I got a pleasant response.
I then rang R.E. Burnett. He sounded highly emotional. He really didn't think we should meet. He said he always seemed to upset me, adding in an accusing manner that I had been talking to Bosworth. He very much hoped we could work together in the future but meanwhile I should negotiate through a third party. When I said who, he said G. Bosworth or Sir Gordon Radley.
Humphries of Cossor had asked me to go and see him. I cancelled when the EEV arrangement came through - he rang and said all he wanted to know was whether I was going back to M.I. - I said no.
Tuesday 12th December 1967
Visited EEV again. I was given a book of E.E. Directors and Officials. Scott said I could use J. Young's office in London Office when he wasn't there. Alternatively, the man in charge of London office, the successor to "Admiral er-um, Admiral er-um" would be able to help me (i.e. whoever succeeded Lord Nelson?).
Thursday, 14th December 1967
I had received a letter from Prof. Greig of King's College London asking me to lunch with him. He asked how I was getting on. He said he had visited M.I. month or two back and thought what a very good crowd they were.
I received a call from E. Cranston, a Marconi engineer who had been nominated by the EEA (Electronic Engineering Association) to represent them on my Committee on Electronics Design, about another job in the E.E. Group. He dropped various hints which I didn't understand. He said we could bring it up again at Committee on Electronics Design meeting.
Friday 15th December 1967
Rang D. Jones of E.E. House re Quality Assurance in E.E.Co. He put me in touch with E. Allard who gave me the background to some of the Quality Assurance problems of EEV.
Tuesday 19th December 1967
Committee on Electronics Design. Cranston came up to me afterwards but I did not wish to get involved. F.E. Jones lecture (I had arranged it). J. Regan asked me to sit in VIP place.
Wednesday 20th December 1967
To EEV to see J. Scott and J. Young. Scott started talking about G. Bosworth's Department and gave me a rundown on its organisation and staffing. Then he said there was a need at EEV for an assistant sales manager - did I know of anyone who would be interested. Adverts would appear after Christmas.
Introduced to Jessop (ex security man, doing rounds for EEV as Consultant). Jessop referred to "your company", saying he knew Ray Burnett very well and mentioning charity cards, honours, R.A.F. people who were involved in the Battle of Britain, how was Ray Burnett's family, etc.
J. Young and W.G. Leslie greeted me very warmly. I asked J. Young how the consultancy had come about. He said F.C. Thompson had said he wanted a consultant and he had thought of me. He had contacted Burnett - he had to do these things - Burnett was agreeable and so the arrangements were made. He had then informed G. Bosworth of what he had done.
Invited to Godwin's party on January 6th. (Godwin is Hawker Siddeley Dynamics man).
Aldridge 'phoned. He said that since I had seen him, his fortunes had. taken a distinct turn for the better. Was I interested in Texas Instruments? I know the people there, don't I? He was very pressing. I think he meant Marconi Instruments.
6.30 p.m. R. C. Winton of Mullard rang and. suggested Mr. J.A. Ratcliffe, Mr. B de Ferranti, Dr. J.R. Mortlock and Prof. J. Brown as members of my Conference committee as representatives of IEEE. though he wasn't sure they were all members. These were nominations at President/Chairman level. Somebody was implying I was going places!
Christmas 1967
Everybody was very friendly and wishing me the best of luck. Did they think I was getting a New Year honour? The festivities were brighter than for many a year.
The agreement with EEV provided for the payment of the equivalent of £4800 per annum, a good income in those days. There was only one snag - despite the provision for payment to be made in advance I had not received any money.
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