Most of the files concern the first four years that Richard Burke spent in the European Commission in Brussels from 6 January 1977 to 6 January 1981. Furthermore, for the most part the fonds is comprised of speeches that Burke made while carrying out his official duties. Burke was known in the Jenkins Cabinet as an avid speech writer with a very full calendar of speaking engagements. The news potential of these engagements was also thanks to the work of Burke's able assistants, Alan Dukes, Noel ...