Preparations are still underway this morning (Wednesday) for the funeral of Margaret Thatcher, both in London where the service will take place at 11am, and here in Grantham.
The ceremonial funeral is being screened live on a big screen at Grantham Museum this morning. Helen Goral, chairman of the Grantham Community Heritage Association which runs the museum, told the Journal that it is not know how many people will turn up to watch the proceedings.
However, if the number of visitors walking through the doors of the museum in the past week is anything to go by, there could be quite a few.
Helen said: “We’ve had 200 to 250 people a day through the door. It’s been really quite busy.”
Visitors have come from across the country, as far as Devon, London and Manchester, to see the exhibits, which include Baroness Thatcher’s shoes and handbag.
Leader of Lincolnshire County Council Martin Hill is expected to attend the museum to watch the funeral on the big screen.
Viewers will see the coffin carrying Margaret Thatcher travel by hearse from the Palace of Westminster, where it has lain overnight, to the Church of St Clement Danes on the Strand.
The coffin will be transferred to a gun carriage drawn by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
A procession through cental London, lined by more than 700 armed services personnel, will end at St Paul’s Cathedral, where the funeral service will take place. A gun salute will be fired from the Tower of London every minute while the procession is taking place.
More than 2,300 people will be attending the service, including leader of South Kesteven District Council Linda Neal who is attending as a representative of Grantham, Baroness Thatcher’s home town. Also attending the service will be the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, world leaders, politicans and celebrities.
Protests are expected to take place during the procession and service by groups against policies made by Baroness Thatcher while in power.
Yesterday (Tuesday), a private service for family, friends and senior parliamentarians was held in the Palace of Westminster’s Chapel of St Mary Undercroft.
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