ENGLISH ELECTRIC VALVE CO.

September 1967

I start 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.

Sunday, 01 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 18 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 car (chauffer-driven, was outside door, similar to Burnett's).

Wednesday 08 November 1967

I met Mr. R.E. Burnett.

Thursday 09 November 1967

Contacted and wrote to S. Arms.

Sunday 12 November 1967

Telephoned S. Arms.

Monday 20 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.

Wednesday 22 November 1967

Robert Maxwell wrote the somewhat contrite letter, apologising for the delay, thanking me for what I had said to him at our meeting in July 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 29 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.

Monday 04 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, arriving at 2.15 p.m.?  He would put a proposition to me.  J. Young had suggested my name following our meeting at the IEE.  I agreed to his visit.

On the telephone, J.L. Scott had mentioned Hatfield where Burnett was a Governor.  I wondered if he was acting on behalf of R.E. Burnett.  I was determined to clear this one up.

J.L. Scott 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 at a Marconi prizegiving and had enjoyed a long and pleasant conversation with him but this had no relationship whatsoever with the purpose of his visit.  I noted that at this point he got up from his seat in the middle of the room and went and sat on the front radiator and sill so that he was clearly visible from the road.

After resuming his seat Scott said that EEV had some Quality Assurance problems and wanted  someone to help set up a better system.  It was thought I would be an ideal person for this.  He said something about being responsible for training very senior supervisors. I would find EEV a very friendly place.

He asked about my fees and I calculated £400 per month.  He said he was authorised to offer £350 to £375 per month.  I asked. him to refer my proposal back.

I was asked to come across to EEV at Waterhouse Lane, Chelmsford, at 9 a.m. or earlier on the 6th December (Wednesday).  He said something about wanting my signature on petty cash slips and that payments for pension, etc. had been taken into account when suggesting a fee.  Also that the man they were putting in to head up a team was about his age - he was not a very good chap and. they wanted someone like me to supervise him.

Wednesday 06 December 1967

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.  F.C. Thompson showed me his draft proposals of 27th October 1967 for Quality Assurance and said something to the effect that  must learn to speak the language.  He also referred to four months followed by two months review (this had been the feature of a. consulting proposal I had made informally to M.I.)  The "indefinite" had been dropped.  I said I was anxious that the scheme wouldn't fall through after only a month or two and it was then suggested that I could perhaps quote a fixed price.  In the end it was agreed that the arrangement would be for £400/month for six months duration at least, on a month's notice basis and that the important thing was the integrity of both parties to the agreement.  J. Scott and W. G. Leslie, EEV Company Secretary, were present during these discussions.  F.C. Thompson went out of the room on two occasions during the meeting.

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"!  The Quality Assurance appointment was from January 1st.  I was to produce a plan and write a drill book, starting with final product inspection proceedures.  The Q.A. man had auditing function.  There was some reference to being concerned with D.C. and L.F. but not microwave. I was asked to come back at 9.30 a.m. the following morning.

I lunched with F.C. Thompson, J. Scott and others.  Scott said. something about a joint SIMA/VASCA (i.e. M.I./EEV?) training committee being set up.  Afterwards in J. Scott's office he hinted that I might soon be travelling to another part of Chelmsford.  He asked me to fill in a form (quite a simple one).  He mentioned Chairs.  Also told me about Professors Oatley and McGee being their consultants (McGee was a member of my JSI Editorial Board.  I hadn't realised he was a consultant of EEV - nor apparently had F.C. Thompson when I mentioned it to him).  Scott referred to Lord Jackson, Sir Gordon Radley and G. Bosworth (he had picked out R. E. Burnett as an outstanding man, Scott said).  He also referred to someone who had received the MBE in last New Year honours.

Thursday 07 December 1967

Arrived at Waterhouse Lane at 9.30 a.m. and went to J. Scott's office where I was given a copy of the Financial Times.  Later went to F.C. Thompson's office.  J. Scott and W.G. Leslie had drawn up an agreement overnight.  I checked it.  It was again agreed that nothing was watertight and everything depended on the integrity of both parties.  It was agreed that it would date from that day.  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.

F.C. Thompson asked when I could produce a plan and I said in about two weeks.  We discussed the history and present organisation of Quality Assurance in EEV and the qualifications and experience of those involved, including Thomsett, the manager designate.

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, would probably be combined with microelectronics to form a large Devices Company.  There would be direct access to the English Electric Board, etc.

J. Scott after lunch told me about Board membership, how often it met, who on the Board was a visitor to Chelmsford, etc.

Afterwards I had a. session with Evans the Chief Inspector who had been instructed to answer any questions I cared to put.  I took away various documents.

Monday 11 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 W.A.G. Brian, 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.

Tuesday 12 December 1967

Visited EEV again to obtain more information from Evans.  Had lunch there.  Also saw Scott who was helpful although I did notice he didn't get results.  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.  I had only to ask Mrs. Swinburne.  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?).

I asked Scott what he meant by the joint SIMA/VASCA training committee he had mentioned on the 6th.  He said he meant E.E.M.J.E.B., SIMA and VASCA were two of the members.  He gave me a list of members and outlined the aims.  He said they needed a powerful independent Chairman, not committed to any Company.  He also said that E.E. used to have an arrangement with A.E.I. which prevented transfer of staff.  At one stage I mentioned I had never met R. Telford.

Friday 15 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.

Wednesday 20 December 1967

Arranged to see J. Scott and J. Young.  Also further contact with Evans.  I asked Scott about Talent Brokers.  He rang E.E. House and enquired but obtained no information.  I asked if he knew J.J. Bliss of Marconi Instruments well - hardly any contact.  His wife knew Bliss's wife fairly well.  I enquired about Stuart Monteith of Min. of Tech. who had written to me at Marconi Instruments referring to M.I. as "your Company" although I had told him I was no longer connected.  No information again.  Scott also started talking about G. Bosworth's Department and gave me a rundown on its organisation and staffing.  He said E.R.L. Lewis had contacts all over the place.  The personnel side got on well together though.  Bob Lewis was missing out on his (Scott's) party this Christmas for some reason.  Then he said there was a need at EEV for an assistant sales manager (he also implied that there was a need for me at M.I.) - did I know of anyone who would be interested.  Adverts would appear after Christmas.

Introduced to Jessop (ex security man, now doing rounds for EEV as Consultant).  I had lunch with him, Scott and Williams (contracts).  Jessop also referred to "your company", talking about exports of instruments.  He also said he had a Christmas card from Ray Burnett whom he knew very well along with F.E. Jones and others.  He asked if anyone had been at the Jones lecture the previous evening!  Jessop mentioned charity cards, honours, R.A.F. people who were involved in the Battle of Britain, how was Ray Burnett's family, etc.  He also said that someone who was intelligent enough to discover a fault in accountancy ought to be in industry earning tens of thousands of pounds.

J. Young and W.G. Leslie greeted me very warmly.  J. Young said if he had known I was coming he would have seated me at his table.  I saw him after lunch and asked him how the consultancy had come about.  He said it was quite straightforward.  F.C. Thompson had said he wanted a consultant for the Quality Assurance function.  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.  He could put me onto a lot of other jobs if I wished.  I told him I was involved in something of a struggle with R.E. Burnett, that some hints of other jobs in the E.E. Group were being made and that I did not regard consultancy as my ultimate destiny.  He was most pleasant and wished me a very happy Christmas.

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