I brought up a laptop and colour inkjet printer. Since my mobile phone is data-enabled, we were able to connect the mobile to the laptop and send and receive emails and faxes. In fact, I received a call from the Daily Express while driving up the M1, so I stopped my car at the next services stop, turned on the laptop in the car and sent a status report e-mail to Brian in Brazil from the car!

Preparation

Nick had done a superb job preparing all the documentation for the press-packs and arranging for all the copying of the handouts. Nick had also prepared speeches which the UNHAV group would be giving, and had also helped with my speech.

We conducted a rehearsal that evening with Deirdre and Howard Turnage as well as Nick giving part of the presentation speeches.

However, after receiving phone calls, faxes and emails on up to the minute developments, we had to radically revise the UNHAV's speeches to counter information received from our intelligence network. So all our UNHAV speeches prepared on Word were redone and Nick agreed to give the UNHAV speeches to maintain continuity of the theme.

As a result of feedback from the group, I shortened my speech too which focused on the treatment of minorities and my specific dispute with the Halifax over the share allocation for my late father's account.

The Day - 27 April 1999 pre-AGM

Nick ready for the AGM

Early breakfast for us all at 7:00am to enable us to have a final rehearsal of all speeches at 7:45am which went well.

At 8:20, a taxi came to collect Nick and he was whisked away to the BBC Studios where he took part in a BBC 5 Live Transmission that went out at 8:45 that morning. I have an audio recording of the live interview which you can download from here.

The Daily Express photographer arrived a little late, though he took the group's photos but he missed Nick who had to go into the conference.

The person on the monitor is Jon Foulds, Halifax plc chairman, who announced his retirement during the AGM

Nick delivered three superb speeches outlining the UNHAV case, though I do not have a current electronic version of these.

I also delivered my speech and received an applause from the shareholders. I have a soft copy of the speech available on request only.

None of our questions were answered in the AGM, however, Jon Foulds, the Chairman offered to speak to us off-line after the meeting and we took him up on this offer.

There were many other speeches and questions mainly critical of the Halifax and specifically regarding the restructuring. There was debate on whether this constituted a buyback - the Halifax were adamant it was not, but some shareholders were equally adamant it was.

The Halifax Directors were all available after the meeting: I noted that Deirdre and Howard having an extended conversation with Mike Blackburn. Nick spoke to Lord Chadlington, Jon Foulds, Mike Blackburn and James Crosby. James Crosby has offered to have another look at the UNHAV case, but guys don't raise your hopes too high. I was not with Nick during his discussions, so no doubt he will provide a fuller report later.

Meanwhile, I had an extended conversation with Jon Foulds about my case, and he offered to investigate it. Then Simon Varley from Shareholder Services spoke to me; took more details; and promised to respond within a week.

Back Home

While driving the 280 miles home I received calls from the Daily Express, and I promised to email them pictures taken from my digital camera and provide an update (I have now done this). Also I received a call from Yorkshire TV and they required an update too.

Back home, the first job was to transfer the images from the digital camera onto the "camera laptop", and then via the network onto the main PC. Then a quick ISDN connection to pick up all 38 items of email (including all email sent/received via the laptop).

David Andrew's status report and pictures were then sent out (2MB of data), and then this homepage was prepared and uploaded to the server just after midnight after giving Brian a quick update.

What a day.......... what would we do without technology!

Summary

So, was the trip worth it? I believe a resounding YES. Principles are at stake here, not the absolute value of monetary compensation. Sometimes, you just have to stick up for what it right irrespective of the cost.

Update 29 April 1999

Thanks for all the comments guys sorry I can't reply to you all individually. Getting the feedback makes it all the more worthwhile going.

Update 7 May 1999

The Halifax have now confirmed to me that they will not compensate me for my financial loss resulting from the bad advice I received from their Bognor Regis Branch. I feel like David fighting the big bully Halifax Golliath, only even with right on my side, I have no magic golden shot to slay the beast.

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