Saturday February 21, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Margaret Rushton, our absentee barmaid, graced our abode with her presence at luncheon. Her mother is flat out in Killingbeck Hospital weighing in at 4st 7lb. Curtains it seems. Grey-faced Margaret's days are also numbered. We cannot cope with unreliability. Here's a little vignette from Bill Gilmore, a former Scots Guardsman with a large red nose. Someone said to him that perhaps Leeds Utd might win the coming FA Cup. "If Queen Anne had bollocks, she'd be t'King", he quipped. Quite excellent. Ally  and Samuel cleaned the car. I cleaned the beer lines. Ate mounds of liver and onions. Just Ally and I tonight. It was good to see Bernadette McCarron back on form. Ally is delicious. We enjoy the intimate 'staffless' weekends. Poor President Reagan is heading for another Watergate. Poor old sod.

This is piquant. The Princess of Wales has asked for a souvenir of her childhood - a grubby window with 500 telephone numbers written on the frame- to be sent to her at Kensington Palace. The old sash window, with four panes of frosted glass, was found at her birthplace, Park House, Sandringham. Mr Frank Chapman, the site agent, said the Princess told him that she had written some of the numbers and would like to have the window as a keepsake because it brought back happy memories. The window was removed from the telephone room at the rambling Victorian house when it was being converted into a hotel for the disabled  at a cost of £1,500,000. The numbers scrawled in pencil, include the chimney sweep, the hairdresser, the laundry, the fishmonger, the Princess's old school, and Sandringham House. Mr Chapman said: "I've also shown the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles round. The Queen likes it very much. She felt it was ideal for the disabled. The Queen, who gave the house to the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, will open on July 31. Dennis Maiden, chairman of the management committee said: "It's the only hotel of its kind in Britain. Obviously, because it's Princess Diana's birthplace, it will be a big attraction." The room in which the princess was born has been turned into a double bedroom. Her nursery has been converted into two single rooms. ....

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Friday February 20, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Fuming today. Leslie Gledhill sent us a letter, from which I'll quote later. Winnie, Dad's neighbour at Horton-in-Ribblesdale, phoned and gave me momentary panic, by saying that at 2:30pm today Dad's curtains were closed, his blind in the kitchen was down and his garage door ajar. I tried phoning but had no joy, but eventually traced him to John's, where he was unconcerned. I thought he had 'topped himself'. Poor Sue is abed with gastric 'flu.

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was represented by by Lt-Col Sir Martin Gilliat at the memorial service for Dame Ann Parker Bowles held yesterday at the Guards Chapel ...

Sir Hugh Carleton Greene, former director-general of the BBC, died last night in the King Edward VII's Hospital for Officers. He was 76.

Princess Anne arrived in Agaba yesterday on a three-day private visit to Jordan as guests of King Hussein and Queen Noor. She was met by her husband Capt Mark Phillips, who arrived in Jordan on Tuesday.

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Thursday February 19, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

The Duke of York is 27 today and celebrating in Klosters with the Waleses. Only a year ago Fergie was seen on the piste with Charles and Diana. What water has passed under the bridge since then?

Pool Knock-Out at home. Ghastly. John the landlord of the Station at Hunslet came. Obviously a worried man and constantly looking over his shoulder. He's terrified about being found out about his various fiddles. He kept mumbling about the five managers who were sacked last week, "all on one day" he kept muttering. He is hoping to move to the Crown at Wetherby. We had no staff.

Sir William Coldstream, the artist and arts administrator, has died aged 78. The Daily Telegraph says he was: "one of the few men to exert a wholly benign influence upon art in Britain.  Seldom have high competence, which amounted in his portraits to something more, and sanity been so finely balanced."

More than five million packs of butter have been distributed in Britain as part of the Common Market's surplus food hand-out and supplies of cheese, milk, and beef are now getting through, Mr Gummer, junior Agriculture Minister said yesterday.

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Wednesday February 18, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

I took Bev to Roundhay winding through the morning traffic. She is such a lovely girl. But a mystery. Uncle Peter says she baffles him. But my uncle is easily baffled. Ally was shattered all day but she never sleeps. Clemmie is such a "wide-awake" thing at 3 or 4 am. I got up in the middle of the night and switched on my video and watched "Blazing Saddles", the Mel Brooks epic.

Strong rumours are ripping through Westminster that Lord Whitelaw, the Deputy Prime Minister, may decide to stand down at the next election. The Leader of the House of Lords, who will be 69 in June, is coming under increasing pressure from his family to quit.

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Tuesday February 17, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

You should see the bags under my eyes, folks. My face looks like two kilos of King Edward's. 

Evening: Ally and I to Rawdon Rd, Horsforth, the Matthews stately pile. Such talkers they are. A sumptuous dinner awash with wine. Marita had creeping lobelia all over her chest. They are set on this hotel in Harrogate, but are wary and nervous. The shop is sold and their house goes on the market next week. Such a loving couple through. That is obvious. Chatter, chatter, chatter. A very pleasant night. Home at 2. Bev stayed, and looked shattered.

A group of Conservative MPs launched a campaign yesterday to replace the May Day bank holiday with a bank holiday commemorating the life of Sir Winston Churchill. An early day motion signed by 19 backbenchers calls for May 10 to be set aside as a national holiday to allow "British people to commemorate properly the life and achievements of Britain's greatest statesman within living memory". May 10 was th date in 1940on which Sir Winston first became premier.

Lord Crowther-Hunt, the political theorist and constitutional expert, who has died aged 66, had been Rector of Exeter College, Oxford since 1982 and was a Junior Minister at the Department of Education and Science and Privy Council Office in Harold Wilson's last administration.

From the Daily Telegraph: "People who eat African green monkey appear to be more vulnerable to Aids, a leading African researcher said yesterday. Prof. Olufemi Williams, executive secretary of the Organisation of African Unity's Scientific and Technical Commission, said research had found traces of the Aids virus in people who ate green monkeys in Zaire and the Central African Republic. No traces had been found in the Casamance region of Senegal where the animal abounded but people did not eat it.
Obviously, I have now removed green monkey from the pub menu.

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Monday February 16, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Washington's Birthday Observance

Clemmie woke at 7:30 and we had tea in bed. Samuel could be heard rambling away to his treasured grandad. Dad went down to 'bottle up' after breakfast and put the Christmas tree lights away - because I find such chores impossible. I went out t the bank and to Morrison's, &c, and returned for 10. Lynn and Dave came 'en familie' including Audrey Baker walking with a stick and looking more ill than on previous occasions. Lynn is thin as a lath. They took Dad to Horton at 12. The poor man is pulled from pillar to post. His business is in tatters. He has only had one guest for B & B since September. God only knows what will become of him. He is deeply upset at the loss of his brother 'Dear Bill' and is so drawn towards his brothers and sisters. Dorothy has recently had gallstones removed.

From the Darlington and Stockton Times: "The Rev Chris Shreeve's Bible study was on fasting. The Hawes meeting heard that several religions practiced fasting as a means of growing nearer to God. Refreshments were served."

Luis Robledo, who has died at Bogota, aged 65, was a Colombian diplomat who secretly married the society beauty Lady Bridgett Paulett in 1948. The marriage at Tunbridge Wells register office was kept a closely guarded secret with the couple maintaining their separate flats, and was only publicly revealed 15 months later when they were in Germany where he was negotiating a trade pact.

From the Telegraph: Weddings: The marriage took place on Saturday at the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy of Mr Mark Thatcher, son of Mr & Mrs Denis Thatcher, of 10 Downing Street, London, SW1, and Miss Diane Burgdorf, only daughter of Mr & Mrs T.C. Burgdorf, of Dallas, Texas. The service was conducted by the Rev John Williams, Chaplain of the Queen's Chapel, and the marriage ceremony by the Bishop of Ely. The bride, who was given away by her father, was attended by Miss Debra Grisham, Miss Theresa Flores, Miss Sharon Wood, and Miss Gloria Zapffe. Mr Stephen Tipping was best man. A reception was held at the Savoy.

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Sunday February 15, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Septuagesima

Andrew 23. John and Janette came this afternoon with JPH, Catherine, and Charlotte. Then, Lynn, Dave came at 8, bringing Dad, and stayed until 10:30. They went to sleep at Pool-in-Wharfedale, leaving Dad here. A jolly evening. Lynn chatters aimlessly and is so larger than life. Clemmie woke when we came upstairs.

The Marquess of Hertford last week paid a stiff penalty for ploughing up the remains of a Roman settlement on his estate: £10,000 with £4,914 costs. His forbear the first Earl of Hertford was imprisoned in the Tower by Queen Elizabeth I and brought before the Star Chamber in 1561 for seducing a virgin of the blood royal, and had to pay only £86 more: a fine of £15,000.

The Prime Minister's son, Mark Thatcher, was married to Diane Burgdorf, of Texas, in a St Valentine's Day ceremony at London's Savoy Chapel. 

Here are the heraldic arms of Harold Macmillan, first Earl of Stockton. They were publicly displayed only for the first time on Tuesday, adorning each copy of the order of service for his memorial in Westminster Abbey. Although he delayed applying for a grant of arms until his 91st year, the new peer took a characteristic delight in their preparation by Sir Colin Cole, Garter King of Arms. The two-handed sword of the crest is borrowed from the badge of the Macmillan Clan, with one of the fists clad in mail armour to mark his service in World War 1. Surmounted by an earl's coronet, the arms are taken from those of both Macmillan of Knapp and of the University of Oxford. Three books, reflecting Macmillan's life as a publisher, bear the motto Miseres Discere Succo [I help the disadvantaged to learn]. It is an elegant corruption of the Macmillan Clan motto Miseris Succere Disco [I learn to help the disadvantaged]. The gold background of the upper part of the shield indicates that the family fortune comes from trade, as opposed to green for land or red for military service. For supporters, the new Earl chose a Scottish lion and an American bald eagle, reflecting the ancestry of his parents. The eagle embraces a Scottish thistle, the lion an American juniper. The castellated arch joining two sheets of water comes from the arms of Stockton-on-Tees, but also symbolises the Atlantic Ocean joining Scotland and the United States.

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Saturday February 14, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

St Valentine's Day

Samuel and I were up at dawn writing a card for mummy. He was using real ink and dipping his pen into my Quink ink bottle. We went in to see Mummy with tea and biscuits, and for a cuddle. Ally gave me a card with a particularly sloshy verse. What a fun day this is. Good old St Valentine. Who was he anyway? Back to it. With Samuel to Linfood. I did lunch alone. Quite busy. Martin Mullen came behind the bar at one point to pull his own pint of beer which I frowned upon. He pleased innocence and said he wasn't intending stealing beer, but only helping. Just the two of us tonight too. Cosy. 

I am told a story about a woman who asked whether there were any books on euthanasia at an Ipswich library. The assistant then paused for a moment and replied: "No, but I believe we have a book called 'Young Man in India'".

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Friday February 13, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Three years ago this day my standard was hoist for the first time above this prosperous ale-house. May God keep and preserve me for further labours. I am very tired with a headache. At 2 I slept for an hour which helped revive me. Clemmie has a cold and is hot and snotty.  Samuel and I had our usual excursion to see Mr Myers at the NatWest bank, and to Morrison's. Tonight Margaret worked. She too is now complaining, good humouredly, of stress. She and Maureen are the only staff until Margaret R returns on Tuesday. Ally came down at 9 looking superb in a Laura Ashley creation. Bed late. the video has a grip on us these days. 

The Duchess of York was presented with her "wings" in a ceremony at Kidlington Airport, near Oxford, yesterday, and commented: "We'll certainly qualify as a two-plane family." The duchess piloted a Piper Warrior  aircraft to Kidlington  from RAF Benson for the ceremony with her husband, a Naval helicopter pilot, as a back-seat passenger. She is the first woman member of the Royal Family to gain a private pilot's licence and has now expressed a wish to fly helicopters. The Duchess, nicknamed Chatterbox One by air traffic controllers qualified after passing her final test last month. To pass she had to complete a minimum of 40 hours at the control and sit written tests in aviation law, meteorology, principles of flying and navigation. The Duke smiled as his wife was presented  with her licence by Mr Christopher Tugendhat, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority. The duchess also received a helicopter-shaped bouquet of flowers and she said: "I just wonder what Andrew wants me to do - flying or flower arranging?"

A village cricket club has thrown away its supply of "boxes", used to protect the testicles of batsmen, because of the fear of Aids. The players must in the future bring their own. "Putting on a protective box that someone else has worn is the equivalent of sexual contact," said Mr Roy Scaife, chairman of the Newlyn East club in Cornwall. He urged other clubs, and the MCC, to follow Newlyn's lead.

The parish magazine of Meopham, Kent, carries a notice in its February addition which says: "Churchyard maintenance is becoming increasingly difficult and it will be appreciated if parishioners will cut the grass around their own graves."

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Thursday February 12, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Lincoln's Birthday

Samuel called Maureen a 'stupid bastard' today  in my ear-shot ______________. He was deposited in his bed until lunch when he emerged chastened. LG came at 2. Very jovial. He took a list of the usual things we want doing, but seeing is believing. He told us that Graham & Carol were sacked for the misappropriation of company money. Some managers fail to bank money on a Monday. He checked our bank book and I held my breath because we owe the safe at least £100. I suppose it's all down to fate. When you gotta go, you gotta go. Ally went to town later and I prepared a quiz for next week, using Brewer's, Whitaker's Almanack, and the Dictionary of Insults. This evening Andrew Cromack told me that Richard Clarke stole my cig machine and that Cheetham is innocent. Oh poor Cheesy, doing hard labour for nothing. Don't make me laugh. Tracey [Edna's daughter] told Ally that Cheesy is doing 6 months , but we've heard nothing official. Bed at 12.

The Prince and Princess of Wales began a four day visit to Portugal yesterday designed to  commemorate the ancient Anglo-Portuguese alliance and to boost flagging British exports. They were met at Lisbon airport by President soares.

Question of Precedence? Arranging the order of precedence for the Sovereign's parade  at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, on April 10, is turning into a protocol nightmare for the academy's authorities. The salute is to be taken for the first time by the Princess of Wales, but at least two and perhaps as many as four other Royal Families will be attending the commissioning ceremony. King Hussein of Jordan, himself a Sandhurst graduate, will be there to watch his daughter, Princess Ayesha pass out from the Women's Royal Army Corps course and ex-King Constantine of Greece will see his son Prince Pavlos commissioned into the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. Queen Sofia of Spain - Constantine's sister - may also attend the ceremony and it is thought that Sultan Qaboos of Oman, another old Sandhurst hand, may go down to watch Omani candidates receive their commissions. As representative of the Sovereign, the Princess of Wales will take precedence over other royalty. But how the rest are to be seated as spectators at the parade and as guests at the commissioning lunch is a problem more complex than with which the academy has ever had to deal.

A packed House of Lords heard the Duke of York take his oath of allegiance to his mother, the Queen, yesterday when he was introduced. He took his seat not only as duke but as Baron Killyleagh, and Earl of Inverness. With the Dukes of Gloucester and Kent  as his supporters he was watched  from the equally crowded galleries by his wife, the Duchess, his younger brother, Prince Edward, and other family members.  The Earl Marshal [Duke of Norfolk] and the Lord Great Chamberlain [the Marquess of Cholmondeley] joined him and his supporters in procession with Black Rod [Air Chief Marshal Sir John Gingell] and the Garter King of Arms [Sir Colin Cole]. Lord Hailsham, the Lord Chancellor, seated on the woolsack, received the Duke and accepted his writ of summons.  Then his patent of creation was read by the Lords' reading clerk before the oath was taken and the Lords roll was signed.  With his supporters, the Duke climbed the steps to the royal dias to take a seat next to the throne from which he rose three times in an exchange of bows and salutes with the Lord Chancellor. For his part of the ceremony Lord Hailsham stood in the place next to the woolsack from which he normally addresses the House while taking part in debates. After leaving the chamber to disrobe, the three Royal Dukes returned to seats on the cross benches to hear Question Time.

Mr Robin Janvrin, 40, deputy head of personnel operations at the Foreign Office, has been appointed assistant Press secretary to the Queen. He succeeds Mr Victor Chapman, 54, a Canadian, who will leave the post this summer after five years.

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Wednesday February 11, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

I am growing old. Receding hair, flab, constant lethargy, &c. So awful. I am increasingly antagonised by my fellow man and dependent on the Daily Telegraph. I am almost 32 and look it. I also now listen to Radio 2. Derek Jameson and all that. 

Watched the Duke of York today take his seat in the Lords and sit on the Crossbenches listening to Baroness Seear going on and on about growing cabbages. Poor boy.

Graham came at 6 for a few hours and we sat upstairs. He is a breath of fresh air. They are going to Spain in July with Peter and Dee. We nattered about education. He has not ever considered sending Matthew or Simon to a public school, but he does of course live in a leafy village. He is buying a house near Rugby, at West Haddon, or somewhere. His office is a garden shed. We had a inter-house quiz night extravaganza. Ally worked with Mags. The incumbent came from the Old Red Lion. He and five managers inc. the Raynville, the Hansom Cab [York], were all sacked on the same day. Poor overworked LG.

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