‘They need some stimulation to go out and keep up appearances …

PM champions appeal for meeting place for elderly

The Prime Minister's planned visit on Friday to Avenue House, Finchley, for the launch of an appeal by the Finchley Old People's Welfare Committee had to be hurriedly re-scheduled after the disastrous blaze which gutted the building.

But following the news of the fire Barclays Bank stepped into the breach and offered the committee the use of a room at ECT House in Whetstone where they provided a buffet lunch.

Mrs Thatcher is patron of the £250,000 appeal which has already raised half that amount for a new old people's centre to be built at the corner of Tarling Road and Oak Lane in East Finchley.

The centre will be a meeting place where the elderly can pop in for a hot meal or drop in at the tea lounge for a chat. In addition there will be facilities for chiropody, recreation, crafts, hairdressing, cultural and educational activities.

Mrs. Thatcher was welcomed by welfare committee organiser Ann Owens and appeal chairman Frank Wilshire.

Launching the appeal Mrs Thatcher said: “Having been a member for Finchley for 30 years I have noticed over the years an increasing number of elderly people in the population of the borough. This means there will be a great demand for the kind of services like this we can provide.”

Praising the important work of the committee, Mrs Thatcher added: “If elderly people are to continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible they will need a certain amount of help. They also need something to stimulate them to go out and keep up appearances. We find these centres are absolutely ideal for this.”

During her visit Mrs Thatcher was shown the plans of the new centre and spoke to representatives of local businesses supporting the appeal. Among the guests present was Finchley pensioner Derek Johnson who has attended the committee's other centres for three years. Mr. Johnson said the centres were “wonderful” , not only providing “exceedingly good lunches” but somewhere to socialise as well.

Bob Casey, of Trafford Bricks, who have donated £15,000 worth of bricks to build the centre, presented one symbolically to Mrs Thatcher. Before she left the Prime Minister gave a personal donation to the building appeal.

Thanking them for their generosity Mr Wilshire said: “At the beginning of the week we were half way there now all the bricks and sanitary ware have been donated. This time next year we will be holding the opening ceremony at the centre.”

Mrs. Thatcher's last event of the day was at the Finchley Conservative Association where she met the London North Conservative European parliamentary candidate Bob Lacey for a special briefing meeting of local party workers. [end p1]

PM DOWN ON THE FARM

… the one she saved from the developers 18 long years ago

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher took full advantage of the heatwave baking the district on Friday Friday to visit one of Finchley's most popular attractions—College Farm in Fitzalan Road.

An oasis of green among the acres of brick and tarmac, the farm which Mrs. Thatcher helped save from developers 18 years ago provided a refreshing break in the hectic schedule of the Finchley constituency visit.

She was welcomed by Chris and Jane Ower who have run the farm for 11 years since taking it over from Express Dairies in 1978.

Mrs Thatcher began her conducted tour with a ride on a beautifully restored horse-drawn bus, pulled by the farm's two shires. Nick Nack and Paddy Wack. She was joined on the bus by the Ower's two children Kathryn (10) and Robert (9) and some of the farm's regular visitors.

Mrs Romy Duschinski, of Barnet, who brings her sons, 3-year-old Robert and baby David to visit the animals every day said: “We were very surprised and pleased to meet Mrs Thatcher here.”

The first stop was the farm shop which stocks everything for the pet, from horse blankets and saddles to cat food, bird sced and cod liver oil.

Next Mrs Thatcher saw the animals, many of them rare breeds, in their spotless stables and pens. Chris pointed out the different breeds which include Highland cattle and some eight rare types of sheep and pigs.

Among these was Betty the Berkshire pig a “super sow” with her latest litter of ten piglets. Visiting the stables Mrs. Thatcher gave her namesake, a donkey called Maggie, a pat.

“Animals are a hobby of mine which I've turned into a business.” Chris, a former BBC set builder, told Mrs Thatcher.

At the farm's art gallery the Prime Minister admired the work of local artists Timothy Johnson, Leslie Hill and Betty Hiteshi. She showed particular interest in pictures of historic Avenue House in Finchley which was gutted by fire four days earlier. “It's just as well someone painted the house,” she told Mr. Johnson.

Although she admitted she was no painter Mrs. Thatcher said: “It must be a very satisfing thing to be able do.”

She also popped in to the farm's toy and craft shop run by the Friends of College Farm where secretary Barbara Warren presented her with a fluffy lamb. At the shop she also renewed her acquaintance with Raolo Giusti, of Allandale Avenue, Church End Finchley, who led residents in their fight to stop Express Dairies building an office block on the 10-acre farm in 1961.

Mrs Thatcher's part in saving the site was documented in The Finchley Press and a cutting from the paper was on display at the farm's beautifully-restored tea rooms where she rounded off her visit with a delicious cream tea.

Before she left she was presented with a College Farm horse brass and picture