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Documents relating to the dispute between the Al Fayed brothers and The Observer over the paper's calls for a Department of Trade and Industry inquiry into the purchase of Harrods.

File 1 includes press cuttings from various newspapers reporting the dispute, including those published by the Observer; notes by Derek Mitchell on the case; correspondence between the Independent Directors; copies of legal documents from the High Court of Justice for the case between the Al Fayeds and The Observer; publications; booklet entitled 'A fool and his money..' accounting the life of Mohamed Fayed; booklet regarding the case between Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and The Observer Limited & Lonrho PLC in the High Court of Justice; booklet entitled 'Sinking in corruption', and copies of letters sent by Francesca Pollard to Tiny Rowland.
Also includes list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of employees, Independent Directors and representative lawyers.

File 2 includes an account of Derek Mitchell on his experience of the publication of the special mid-week edition of The Observer (Thursday 30th March 1989); press cuttings from various newspapers covering the publication of the special issue and political fall-out afterwards; copy of the Special Edition and copies of Donald Trelford's affidavits to the Court of Appeal regarding the injunction against The Observer.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Sir Derek Mitchell

Records relating to the appointment of two Independent Directors. Includes correspondence discussing possible candidates between Derek Mitchell, Donald Trelford, Lonrho representatives and the other Independent Directors; memoranda of meetings where potential candidates were discussed and candidate biographies.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Sir Derek Mitchell

Records regarding the appointment of Sir Derek Mitchell as one of the five Independent Directors. Includes a copy of a 'Notice of change of directors or secretaries or in their particulars' signed by Mitchell; copy of the Observer Limited accounts from 31st December 1979; correspondence with David Stein, Robert Low (Father of the National Union of Journalists Chapel), Barbara Willie, Secretary's Office The Observer Ltd, P Spooner, JC Jenkinson, Yolande Bird, D Rees, Donald Trelford, John Steel and Paul Bridges; press cuttings from the Observer; list of telephone numbers and addresss for the independent directors; and a printed document from the Observer entitled 'Read All About it', which gives a timeline account of The Observer Newspaper 1791-1979.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Sir Derek Mitchell

Various documents, many legal, regarding the appointment of the five Independent Directors. The file is separated into three sections maintaining original order.

Part 1 consists of two copies of part five of the Fair Trading Act 1973 regarding mergers, section 57-62; three copies of the Articles of Association of The Observer Ltd adopted by special resolution passed on 26 August 1981; two copies of a press notice given by John Biffen, Secretary of State for Trade, regarding the transfer of The Observer to George Outram and Company Ltd (Atlantic Richfield), includes section 58 of Fair Trading Act 1973 - Consent to transfer of newspaper and schedule of requirements; copy of article from 'Business of the House'; copy of memorandum of agreement dated 9 July 1981; list of business and home addresses of outside Observer directors; copy of chapter 10 from 'Publishing Houses, Number 15, entitled 'The Monopolies Commission and the Press' and a copy of Memorandum of Agreement involving RW Rowland, Donald Trelfold , Terry Robinson and RN Low.

Part 2 consists of correspondence from Andrew Phillips, solicitor of Bates, Wells & Braithware Solicitors regarding the position of the Independent Directors of The Observer if Lonrho were to be taken over or Lonrho dispose of their interest in The Observer Limited; two copies of merger and exchange agreement made 9 March 1981; press cuttings from 'The Times', article entitled 'Biffen: I acted with total propriety'; two copies of a report on the proposed transfer of The Observer to George Outram & Company Ltd; correspondence with Desmond Balmer, in which Balmer enclosed advice from their solicitor and counsel and three copies of a Memorandum of Agreement dated 9 July 1981 in which certain sections have been highlighted.

Part 3 consists of correspondence from Donald Trelford informing that the Independent Directors will be formally elected to the board on 31 July 1981, Lord David Windlesham regarding Mitchell's decision on the position as Independent Directors, Cameron Markby, solicitors for Lonrho Ltd.; memorandum for the proposed Independent Director indicating the background to their appointment and the formal structure in which they will operate, sent by Cameron Markby; post-it; Memo from Nicholas Morrell to the director regarding the proposed amendments to the Articles of Association.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Sir Derek Mitchell

Copies of minutes of Board meetings and Annual General Meetings held at Chelsea Bridge House.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Sir Derek Mitchell

Strategy proposal for The Observer with annotations; budget reports for year ending September 1990, 1991 and 1992 and report on The Observer's market position and future strategy.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Sir Derek Mitchell

Correspondence of Tristan Jones and Roger Harrison and various individuals and organisations.

Includes correspondence with or about: Media Expenditure Analysis Limited (MEAL), 1969-1973; Media Circle, media industry training, 1975; subscription to Media Reporter; Mediaworld magazine, 1978; Melpond Estate Agency, 1965; subscription to Men's Wear, 1982; the Mental Health Foundation, 1978-1981; John Menzies Holdings, 1966-1983; Mercury House Publications, 1974; Mermaid Theatre and restaurant, 1965-1981; Methuen London, independent publisher, 1987; London Metropole Hotel, 1986; Metropole Casino Group, 1985; MGM Records, 1969; Mexico, 1985; Miami Herald, 1983; Midland Bank, 1974-1985; Sir Bernard Miles, actor, 1979; Marion Miliband, activist, 1966-1968; Duncan Mill, 1985; Spike Milligan, 1965; Alasdair Milne, Director of Television Programmes, BBC, 1972; Ministry of Labour, 1963; Mirror Group Newspapers, 1975-1986; MFI Warehouses, 1970-1974.

Also contains correspondence relating to the following staff: Sheila Mechan; George Melly; Jennifer Mercer; Michael Miles; Susan Milligan; William Millinship; George Millward; Ainsley Miranda; Jonathan Mirsky; Sir Derek Mitchell; Sue Mitson.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Managing Director's Office; Roger Harrison

Press cuttings regarding the launch of The Sunday Correspondent and Independent on Sunday.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Sir Derek Mitchell

Press cuttings, correspondence and reports relating to The Observer editor, Donald Trelford's reporting of atrocities committed against civilians in Matabeleland by the Zimbabwe National Army and Tiny Rowland's objection and subsequent actions against Trelford.

File 1 includes cuttings from The Observer, Guardian, Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, Times and Sunday Telegraph regarding the article and subsequent dispute; Independent Directors statement of support for Trelford; reassessment of The Observers finances and Rowlands's dispute with the Independent Directors over the reduction the Directors fees and a copy of 'The Economist' with section entitled 'A Survey of Zimbabwe'. Also includes a memo from Kenneth Harris regarding leaks to the press of details of discussions at an Observer Board meeting held on 30 April 1984.

File 2 includes copies of correspondence and transcripts of conversations between Tiny Rowland and Donald Trelford; correspondence between Derek Mitchell and Desmond Balmer, Father of the NUJ Chapel regarding the NUJ position on the dispute, and correspondence between Derek Mitchell and Independent Directors regarding the outcome of the dispute.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Sir Derek Mitchell

Correspondence and press cuttings regarding a reduction in the Independent Directors fees in 1984, and a renegotiation of the fee in 1989. Includes two draft copies of a letter from the Independent Directors of The Observer to Tiny Rowland in response to Lonrho's decision to reduce the annual fee payable to them from £4,000 pa to £1,000; copy of page 23 of The Financial Times with heading 'Lonrho's attributable profit is up 103% in 1983', containing details of the entire Lonrho empire including printing and publishing sector; photocopies of press cuttings from various national newspapers relating to the financial success of the organisation and the reduction in independent directors fees; correspondence regarding the reduction of the independent director fee to £1,000 from 1 April 1984, informing the reduction is a matter for the Board of management, details of financial losses; correspondence with Lord David Windlesham regarding the reduction; correspondence informing disapproval of the reduction in fees and Mitchell's draft letter to Terry Robinson; loose sheet entitled 'remuneration of the Directors' numbered 25-26; points from meetings of the Observer on 29 March 1984 and correspondence with Tiny Rowland in 1989 regarding rethinking the reduction in fees.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Sir Derek Mitchell