CHILDREN MEET PM AT PLAY

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher met some of her youngest Finchley constituents on Friday—but her trip to a local playgroup was just one item on a gruelling itinery.

Her constituency tour began with a visit to hospital—Finchley Memorial in Granville Road, which this year celebrates its 80th birthday.

On behalf of the Friends of the hospital she presented staff with a special cake to mark the anniversary.

The cake was baked at Hillside Bakeries, in High Road, Whetstone, who are themselves celebrating 100 years in business.

The chairman of Barnet Health Authority, Dr John Carter, welcomed Mrs Thatcher to the hospital, which he described as “one of the happiest I have ever known” .

It was a sentiment echoed by Mrs Thatcher, who said Finchley Memorial had kept the feel of a cottage hospital “and the feeling of warmth, kindness and efficiency” .

It was the type of hospital where people could go and not be fearful, she said.

Kindliness

“Whatever happens to us we know we can come here and get the very best attention and kindliness that goes with it.” she said.

She then asked staff not to tuck into the cake that day, but wait for two weeks until the hospital dance.

Mrs Thatcher's next visit was to Essex Park Playgroup in Finchley Methodist Church, where she met some three and four-year-olds.

The pre-school youngsters were on their best behaviour and seemed to take the Prime Minister's visit in their stride.

The community playgroup is run by an elected committee of parents and provides facilities such as sand, water, paint, glue and woodwork which enable children to learn through play.

Mrs Thatcher was clearly impressed by the facilities and sat down with the youngsters to ask them about their activities.

She even admitted to one little girl that she had loved dressing up as a child, and after a rather sticky session with some glue, advised the youngster to don an apron herself.

Patiently

Leaving the quiet of the main hall aside, Mrs Thatcher then smiled through a rather noisy session in the woodwork room where Anthony Miller and Samuel Dyson were hard at work.

Mrs Thatcher watched patiently as the boys hammered home some nails, and little Anthony Miller proudly announced he had made a windmill.

The youngsters said goodbye by singing Mrs Thatcher several songs. She even requested an encore of one about a Teddy bear with a cold in his head.

The official opening of the Fairacres Home for the Jewish Blind and Physically Handicapped in East End Road was Mrs Thatcher's next stop.

She was welcomed by Cecil Rosen, the founder and chairman of the Jewish Blind and Physically Handicapped Society, who introduced her to residents and showed her around the new flats.

Mr. Rosen told the PM: “I like to feel that Fairacres is not a typical housing scheme, but a community within itself.”

He explained the society he represented aimed to provide a better quality of life and dignity for the residents.

He urged the Prime Minister to use her influence with the Borough of Barnet to get them to sell or even give some land on which the society could build more sheltered housing.

“There is an old saying ‘give us the tools and we will do the job’,” he said.

“We have the tools, Prime Minister, and we can proficiently build more sheltered flats if you are able to use your magic influence in helping us to find land in this borough to build more sheltered housing.

“We really need some of your magic to help us expand our services to the community.”

After a quick cup of tea, Mrs Thatcher got in her Daimler and sped off for a long-promised visit to Finchley Jobcentre.

She was shown around by manageress Evelyn Neale and Andrew Gardiner, the area manager for London.

Finchley is taking part in a pilot scheme which enables those signing on for the first time to do so at the Jobcentre. They have a 45-minute interview and then a look at the jobs on offer. As part of the same scheme, “re-start” interviews are now held at the benefit office.

Mrs Thatcher asked how the new scheme was working, and was shown the jobs on offer at the centre. She heard many of those looking for a job were aged betwen 18 and 35.

She stressed a job was important, not just because it meant carning a living but because people often formed friendships through work.

Depressing

During an informal chat over tea. Mrs. Thatcher asked about the receptionists and said: “A good receptionist is so important. We have two excellent ones now. I am sure it makes a tremendous difference when people ring Number 10.”

She complimented the centre on being so light and airy, and said: “Sometimes they can be quite depressing places. But this is a nice office. If you do go in feeling a bit depressed I am sure you will leave feeling better.”

After a surgery in her constituency office in Ballards Lane, Mrs Thatcher spent the evening at the Finchley Conservatives' annual cocktail party, which was held at Woodhouse College, North Finchley, and attended by more than 300 people.