Autobiography

cheated us out of our rightful share holding in
the business. We would need to make
contingency plans. It would certainly mean
that we would split up from Godfrey and start
up on our own, as we couldn’t work with a man
who could steal from his own sons.
It was a daunting prospect, especially having
to start again without the foundation of the
companies that we had helped to build.
Malcolm Harris was the person who dealt with
our account, but he was not able to see us on
this occasion. Our appointment was with his
partner, Eric Kafton, the more forthright of the
two, who normally dealt with Godfrey.
Eric invited us into his plush office in
Albermarle Street London and arranged for
coffee. After the normal courtesies we settled
down and I told him the whole story. I noticed
that Eric had a wry smile on his face.
When I had finished he said, ‘I personally
arranged for those transfers to be drawn
up. Strictly on your father’s instructions, mind
you, I believed that I was acting with your full
knowledge and approval. I told your father at
the time that he would also need to call an
extraordinary meeting, and that you would
each need to sign the minutes. The meeting
was never called and the transfers are not
valid until it is.
‘Do you mean the transfers are valueless?’ I
asked.
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