LAST Friday, I visited Sherfield School, the new independent day school on the former site of North Foreland Lodge.

This exciting development could have far-reaching implications for schooling in the area.

The enormous interest already shown in the school is revealing. There is clearly considerable local demand for an independent day school.

THE Health and Safety Executive has invited local farmers to a seminar.

I have never before seen such a threatening letter from a government department.

In it, the chairman writes: "If you do attend, this will illustrate to us that you are interested in taking positive steps to manage health and safety at your workplace.

"We will also take your attendance into consideration when deciding which premises to inspect over the next 12 months.

"If you do not attend, we will keep a record which will show that you did not take up this invitation."

This letter says to me: "We are watching you. We can make life hellish for you. You had better comply with our wishes."

George Orwell comes to mind.

I WALLOWED in nostalgia last Sunday, watching the TV replay of the October 1974 Election Night programme.

I was then a young, idealistic branch chairman in the Harrow Central constituency.

Our man, Anthony Grant, just scraped home.

What a contrast it was with the coverage of the last few general elections.

Robin Day and Alastair Burnett were heavyweights compared with their counterparts today.

Interviews were more penetrative and politicians could not hide behind sound bites.

My favourite moment was Harold Wilson's assertion that his election victory ended the debate about Britain's relations with Europe.