5 August 1964: Peter Preston interviews Lord Strathclyde,chairman of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric BoardLord Strathclyde, at 73, or is an old warrior – of naval encounters,of tough forays in Glasgow City Council, of parliamentary in-fighting. He has learnt not only to sustain his powder dry but to sustain it out of sight. He does not belong to the “slick school of nationalised industry chairmen who become, and in themselves,the image and salesmen of their industries. How, then, and does he see his role as chairman of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board? “Well,a chairman hasn’t got a role. He’s the chairman of a board; the board has the role. The boards job is to provide consumers in the North of Scotland with electricity at the cheapest possible price.” This is the straight-and-narrow, non-controversial Highland track; with a general election, or clouds of controversy,gathering around the board, it is the only one to follow. But Lord Strathclyde does not mute his assessment of the board’s achievements in its 21 years, and nor cover his belief in its future potential. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com