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Leyland/BMC talks

14 January 1968

A Sunday evening meeting at Sir Donald Stokes flat in St James, London is planned between senior Leyland and BMH executives. In the event only Sir George Harriman of BMH turns up to meet the Leyland men who consist of Sir Donald Stokes, John Barber, Lewis Whyte and Sir Siegmund Warburg.

Also present are Sir Frank Kearton and John Pears.

Joe Edwards of BMH refuses to attend the meeting, preferring to dine with Lady Harriman at the Hyde Park Hotel, which BMH used as their London base.

The Leyland men eventually travel over to the Hyde Park Hotel and persuade Edwards to come with them back to Stokes' flat in St James.

Sir Frank Kearton tells Edwards that Leyland will make an all out take-over bid for BMH the next day if he (Edwards) does not agree to the merger.

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