PM sees different faces of Finchley

The different faces of Finchley were on view to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher when she visited her constituency on Saturday.

There was the crowded hall of supporters thronging round her. There was a bomb scare. There was the hostility of chanting, jeering Labour protesters. There was an official champagne reception and then the calm, friendly atmosphere of a local flower show, here some officials could barely refrain from addressing her in first name terms.

Mrs. Thatcher's day started when she arrived at St Mary's Hall, Hendon Lane—complete with large basket and shopping bag—for the annual Finchley and Friern Barnet Conservative Association fair. The constituency chairman, Ron Thurlow, greeted her at the door and four-year-old Mark Ellis, grandson of the association's treasurer, Tam Hartley, made a floral presentation.

“Always one comes home to Finchley,” she said, “for inspiration, friendship and the courage to go on in the future in the way we have come” .

She told the packed hall of well-wishers and supporters that although opponents tried to distort figures, more money was being spent on the National Health Service “in real terms” and waiting lists were shorter.

Unemployment fell last month and the Government was managing to hold inflation. “But it's a battle,” she said, “to do things soundly and wisely.”

There was to be no relaxation of control. “We take the view that if we haven't got the money, we can't do it.” she said, stressing the importance of helping business so they could create the wealth that was needed.

Of relations between the West and the Soviet Union. Mrs Thatcher said this country wishes to have genuine disarmament. “All we are waiting for is some response from the Soviet Union that they want to do likewise,” she said.

Referring to the “grave difficulties” in the Middle East, she viewed reconciliation in Lebanon as the most important thing.

Of recent differences with the USA. she said: “Every good family and their friends have minor differences from time to time.” But she said we stand firm with the United States as part of the Nato Alliance.

In Europe she expected the usual battles at the summit in Athens. “But you can rely on this Government to fight them very efficiently,” she said.

Then Mrs Thatcher began her round of the stalls, greeting old friends and signing autographs. She stopped at every stall and chose her purchases with care, from pedal bin liners to Christmas crackers. A stainless-steel pendant went into her basket with the words. “Carol will like it” .

Four-year-old Lucy Ullman wanted a sheet of Christmas wrapping paper. “When wants are as small as that, we're jolly lucky,” said the Prime Minister, buying the paper for her.

She spent some time at the bookstall— “It looks like an absolute gold-mine” —and made a point of buying a Remembrance Day poppy from Miss Eiden McAllister, Everywhere people pressed forward to meet her, completely ignoring the free wine that was being offered on the hall stage.

She was even given a haggis by Totteridge public relations company director Janet Girsman.

Then it was lunch, a chat with 14-year-old Sharon Sinclair for her school magazine, and Mrs Thatcher left for her constituency office in Ballards Lane. There she dealt with local matters and recorded a message for the borough's Talking Newspaper for the blind.

In the afternoon, the atmosphere changed. Amid Finchley Labour Party's cries of “Thatcher but” , loud boos, and the singing of the Red Flag. she arrived to open the film, luxury Spencet Court development in Regent's Park Road.

Minutes before, the area had been closed when a stolen car was discovered outside the flats and bomb disposal experts were called to check that no explosives had been planted in it.

Finchley Labour Party has always expressed its opposition to the luxury development, saying the land should have public housing.

“The people viewing Spencer Court are not the 6,000 on the housing waiting list who cannot afford £200,000,” shouted East Finchley ward councillor Laurence Spigel.

Mrs Thatcher unveiled a plaque, signed the visitors' book, and was shown round a three-bedroom £80,000 show flat and a £175,000 penthouse suite. With her were the Mayor and Mayoress of Barnet, Councillor and Mrs John Tiplady.

Escorted by Neville Tullah, managing director of Bovis Homes, she and a host of journalists and photographers were led into the kitchen of the flat, where the Prime Minister obligingly added the egg mixture to some quiches. They were being cooked by interior designer Caroline Cardozo.

The whole tour was videod live to an audience of councillors, council employees, bankers, building society employees and purchasers. Bovis Homes, who built the flats on partnership with Londonderry Estates—their chairman. Mr I. S. Klug, used to live in Chessington Avenue, Finchley—have already sold 30 of the 109 flats and six penthouses.

Mrs Thatcher proclaimed the flats to be “absolutely lovely” and not at all like the attic flat at No. 10 where she lives. “No. 10 is an office,” she said. “One hundred people work there every day.”

Outside Finchley Labour Party continued its protest. “This is a prime site in the heart of Finchley and it wanted architecture worthy of the site,” said Mrs Thatcher. “It will provide for us a lot more rateable value and a lot more income without putting up the rates on business.”

A £1,000 cheque for the NSPCC was handed to her, together with a framed picture of Spencer Court.

A brief champagne reception followed and then Mrs Thatcher drove to nearby Victoria Hall for the Finchley Chrysanthemum Society show. A guard of honour awaited her from the 4th Finchley Scouts pumas and tigers patrols and a warm welcome from Amanda Peel and Kellyann Ryder, both aged five. With President Fred Baker, she wandered round the hall admiring the blooms.

Chairman Bernard Radley told the Prime Minister at the trophy presentation: “No politics please.” He commented: “She's a very keen gardener and knows her varieties.”

The visit was an oasis of calm and informality in an otherwise fraught and hectic day but then Mrs Thatcher has been a member of the society since she came to Finchley and has attended the past 23 shows. “The standard is right up this year. It is absolutely marvellous,” she said.

She presented the winning trophies, signed a few autographs and bought some stamps for the scouts local Christmas delivery service. Then it was off to the Royal Albert Hall.