But his calm, diplomatic streak was ideal for running a workshop, while his respect for the values and demands of the outside world inspired confidence amongst his clients.
His work as a letterer began in 1934 when at the age of 19 he landed on the doorstep of Eric Gill at Pigotts in Buckinghamshire. The son of a stockbroker and on his mother’s side the grandson of the Arts and Crafts potter Sir Edmund Elton, Kindersley often joked about the clash in approaches to life that his inheritance threw up. He pursued this aim with charm and single-minded vigour for 60 years. When David Kindersley launched on his self-employed career as a letter-cutter and alphabet designer in the 1930s he was determined to make things that people actually needed – be it memorials, typefaces, tombstones, or inscriptions to decorate the home. In recognition of this, NW has decided that prices to customers for 1995/96 should increase by less than the amount permitted.”Charges will rise by 4.62 per cent rather than the allowable increase under the price formula of 5.12 per cent.. “Itis anticipated that there will be an acceleration of investment in 1996/97. However, investment in 1996 is likely to accelerate.
Analysts said the effect of rescheduling capital spending would be broadly neutral and the underlying performance of Northumbrian would not be affected.In July, Ofwat, the water industry watchdog, announced an investment programme for Northumbrian of £658m for the five years to the year 2000.But a Northumbrian spokesman said spending plans had changed after talks with the National Rivers Authority about meeting environmental objectives for sewage disposal.The company said: “These processes have meant that NW’s investment programme for 1995/96 will be lower than intended and lower than that assumed by Ofwat in the price review, with consequent short- term improvement in cash flow and reduced borrowing.

The short-term effect will be improved cash flow and reduced borrowings and interest charges. In Germany, discounting is a fact of retail life and the large operators such as Aldi, Rewe and Lidl are often prepared to run at a loss for several years.. A planned rise in charges for customers of Northumbrian Water is being delayed after the company said its capital investment this year would be lower than forecast. British and German retailers adopt starkly different attitudes towards profits. The management had done well to keep the company going through four years of attrition on the high street. He added that the director had not voted against maintaining the dividend.Budgens said yesterday that most of its shareholders were quite happy with the company’s performance.

The company said it was surprised and disappointed by Rewe’s comments.A spokesman for Budgens said a Rewe director on the board was involved in all decisions relating to the Penny Market move. The director had voted against the decision “but had not exactly made a fuss about it”. Rewe, which owns 29 per cent of Budgens, accused the company of making a “crassly mistaken decision”, and sacrificing long-term strategy for short-term gains.; Budgens said on Tuesday that it was selling some of its 12 Penny Market branches and converting the rest to the Budgens format.
The German outburst caught Budgens off-guard yesterday. The skirmish came after a stinging attack by Rewe over Budgens’ decision earlier this week to abando n its Penny Market discounting formula in Britain after heavy losses. Budgens, the supermarket operator, was in disarray last night after a row broke out between the company and its main shareholder, Rewe of Germany.

However, analysts were not overly perturbed, believing the company’s strong balance sheet and detailed stock control would see it through.. It said it would invest some of its £13m cash in revamping stores.Yesterday’s statement confirmed fears first voiced by the company in October that demand for the new merchandise was proving patchy. The company’s determination to sell stock at full prices had hit sales and, therefore, profits.The situation was exacerbated by the disruption caused by the renovation of 60 of the 226 stores and by the warm autumnal weather. The company predicted sales in 1995 would recover strongly.The market received the news badly, with shares falling yesterday from 201p to 183p. Last year the company signalled its intention to abandon its “Romford Girl” image and move from the commodity high street market characterised by Dorothy Perkins to a more prestigious, niche position, rivalling Next and Marks and Spencer. The company warned yesterday that profits for the year to 28 January would fall to £11m-£12m, down from £14m in 1993 and short of the £16m expected by the market.
Following a strong first half and an increased interim dividend in October, the company would recommend a final dividend of 5.75p, said Keith Miles, finance director.The set-back comes after the 226-store chain attempted to reposition itself in the market. C&W owns 57.5 per cent of Hong Kong’s biggest communications company, Hongkong Telecommunications..