Sunday March 15, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

2nd Sunday in Lent

Temple Newsam.

We phoned Susan early on and told her we would take the Nasons out for the afternoon. She didn't enthuse but we insisted. Over to see Mum's grave and then to Sue's for 12 with every intention of taking them to the Royalty for a few drinks and a roll in the mud but she was snappy and insisted we stay for a stew and Yorkshire puddings. At one point I looked at my watch and she screamed: "For God's sake, go to the bloody pub. I don't care." Is this the Sue we know and love? However, after our lunch we all did go to the Royalty for a drink and then on in the direction of Temple Newsam, where we looked at the farm and strolled around the park. The children loved it but Sue just wasn't herself at all. Stress must be the thing. She is so irritable with everyone. Surely, Peter cannot be all that bad? On to John's for 10 minutes at 5 o'clock. We arranged to meet at the Penny Fun, at Sainsbury's at Moortown tomorrow at 8. Just Ally and I worked this evening.

The former SDP leader Roy Jenkins received the consolation prize of a lifetime yesterday when he was elected  the new Chancellor of Oxford University, succeeding the late Lord Stockton. An unprecedented turnout of 8,309 Oxford graduates gave Mr Jenkins victory, with historian Lord Blake, Provost of Queen's College in second place and Mr Edward Heath third. The Midlands GP Dr Mark Payne received just 38 votes.

One of the finest collection of clocks in private hands goes on permanent show at Lyme Park, in Cheshire, early next month when the National Trust opens the house for the summer season. It was formed by Sir Francis Legh, who died in 1984. A private secretary to the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, he shared a passion for clocks with his elder brother the present Lord Newton. Among the treasures in the collection are three by Tompion and one by Fromanteel. Francis was the last Legh to be christened in the chapel at Lyme, his family home for six centuries. Like so many other second sons he conceived a particular love for a property that could never be his. The collection will be handed over to Lyme on April 3, by Legh's two children Nicholas, a banker, and Laura, married to Lord Weinstock's son, Simon.

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