Amidst all the publicity around the passing of a Grantham girl, there are several aspects of her life that should not be overlooked.
Yes, she was a fine stateswoman who, during her tenure of No 10, rubbed shoulders with such stalwarts, as Reagan, Gorbachev and Mitterand, and resolutely defended the UK against all adversaries.
The lady, born in Grantham, was at an early age, a member of the Junior Knibbs, and along with my late wife, shared a desire to entertain in many pantomimes, as well as, in 1935, reciting poetry on the Methodist Church Hall stage, alongside my wife and her fine singing voice.
The lady will also be remembered, on becoming the Secretary for Education, as the politician who denied milk for the unfortunates - “Thatcher the milk snatcher”.
As Prime Minister standing on the steps of No 10 she quoted St Francis of Assisi - “Where there is discord may there be harmony”. Throughout her tenure those words would come back to haunt her for she sowed discord, setting the working man against his fellow, council house sales for those who could afford them.
Laying waste vast areas of the coal mining villages by sending a posse of police to break the miners’ strike, her actions caused the bloodied heads of the miners to tell their own story.
The Falklands campaign in which she rightly recouped our territory was tarnished by the sinking of the Belgrano.
The lady was a true Conservative, tenacious, ruthless and tyrannical, and her pedigree was formed by her father, Alderman Roberts, who was, during the Depression of the 1930s, responsible for doling our “largess” to the unemployed. My then future father-in-law was docked a shilling because his son sent home a shilling from his first naval pay!
As the grandees stand and shed their crocodile tears we cannot forget that Messrs Howe, Heseltine, Clarke and others ousted the grocer’s daughter from her high office, showing that ruthlessness that is now becoming apparent in the benefit welfare furore, setting workers against would-be workers, stirring up envy.
As a contemporary, and the last person to serve the public before North Parade Sub Post Office (located in Margaret Thatcher’s former home), was closed, and transferred to Brook Street, I say farewell Maggie, thanks for the memories.
Tom Lambley, 88
Brick Kiln Place,
Grantham
