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SIR JAMES TIDMARSH

It is a peculiar fact that Americans continue to love our Royal family with incomprehensible devotion. They crave any link, however tenuous. they positively dribble with excitement if you hint that you once met Prince Thing or the Duchess of Thong. It is an irrational instinct, unless you happen to be IBM and you are seeking an "Independent Chairman" of a very dodgy joint venture company.

I do not know Sir James (Jay) Tidmarsh personally. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Bristol and has gone down on one knee before many a member of the Buck House brigade in his time. His credentials obviously impressed the IBM dominated mob who pull the strings at SouthWest One. He looked like the "respectable" face of local capitalism. I reproduce part of his CV here:

"He will work with the board and will be responsible for implementing the overall strategy of the project and for the integrity of the private/public partnership. Sir James joins a team set on delivering value and improved services to the people and communities of the local area.

Educated at Taunton School, Sir James has enjoyed a variety of roles, including a career in manufacturing, which led him to receive an MBE in 1989 for Services to Export. He has also served in the Somerset Light Infantry and became Lord Lieutenant of Bristol in April 1996. Sir James was a founding director of GWR Radio plc, one of the UK's leading southwest radio stations.

Sir James is very involved in community work, acting at one time as Chairman of the Avon Federation of Boys' Clubs and more recently, as President of Avon Clubs for Young People. He is also Patron of the Avon Youth Association and is the Trustee and Patron for several charitable trusts, covering a wide range of interests, including anti-drug and anti-cancer organisations.

In 2007, Sir James became the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Bristol and in 2008 became Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

Sir James was an honorary Colonel of the Royal Marines in the southwest of England and has received honorary degrees from the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England in recognition of his public work. He enjoys cricket, rugby and photography."
   
Sir James has many links with Avon and Somerset Police. There's no crime in that. Except that Avon and Somerset Police now hugely outnumber all other participants in their representation on the SouthWest One Board. The Chief Constable - Colin Port; the chair of the Police Authority - Dr Moira Hamlin; and the constabulary's HR lady - Linda Pope already occupy key seats at the top table.

Sir Ian Blair's best mateThe Paid Piper, Dr HamlinColin Port's Human Resources supremo

It is also well worth remembering that the original deals with IBM were brokered by Sue Barnes - who happens to be Mrs Colin Port.

Sir James may turn out to be the only good thing to emerge from SouthWest One. Or he may be just another semi-retired local hero who comes complete with a knighthood and has been appointed because his track record looks respectable (which might impress potential new clients).

But he was also hired to be independent, to think independently and to act in the best interests of all those who do not have a voice in this muddle.

Sir James therefore has to prove his independence. And prove it fast. He should meet the unions. He should insist that his company recognises and negotiates with the unions. He should not allow his company to shelter behind a constant cloak of secrecy.

Good on him if he does.

But I will be have his guts for garters if he fails.

   
  ©2003,2004 Ian Liddell-Grainger. All rights reserved. www.somersetwest.org.uk