Brit-Speak: Vernon Dursley is a /Director/.

[davewitley]

Steve wrote:
> I'm sure this has been discussed before, but my memory on the 
details
> fails me at the moment.
> 
> Vernon Dursley is a director of Grunnings Drill Company.

I haven't a copy of HP to hand, so I can't check the fine details, 
but I have alwaysd read it that he is the Managing Director, that is, 
the member of the Board of Directors who actually runs the company, 
often called the Chief Executive these days.  Does the US have a 
designation Senior Vice-President or some such?

OTOH, I have also felt that the limited evidence we have points to 
Grunnings being a fairly small company.  This includes the Dursleys' 
relatively modest home (the high price of property is only relative, 
and they already had the house when the story starts, at a time when 
prices were significantly lower, though it's hard to be sure relative 
to income), as well as the fact that they entertain that couple at 
home for an important sale.  I don't think it's unusual for the MD to 
be involved in selling, no matter what the size of the company.

It is odd that the Dursleys make *no* effort to get a bigger, or 
better-located house (in terms of their own values, Privet Drive is 
not a particularly good type of location).  For example, they would 
rather get a holiday home in Majorca (again, to my mind a rather 
unambitious and unimaginative choice, even by their values) than 
consider putting money towards a new home.  Unless it's part of the 
story in some way (protection of Harry?), the best explanation IMO is 
simply their deep conservatism.  They like where they are and that 
overrides even their desire to flaunt their wealth.

David