Next … a sneak preview

Mrs. Thatcher did not realise that so much innovative design goes on outside London—until she officially opened the £5 million headquarters at Enderby of the country's fastest-growing fashion retailer, Next.

There were two other surprises for the Prime Minister at Next. She unveiled a specially-commissioned statue by highly-regarded young sculptor Matthew Hilton.

And she had an exclusive preview of the company's children's range, to be launched in October.

She said of Next, which now employs 10,000 people, 600 of them at Enderby, that the company represents everything she considers important, “enterprise, initiative, design and value for money appeal.”

She inspected the mock shops which are models for the rest of the group's premises throughout the country.

And she seemed as delighted as eight Leicestershire children, from several schools, who modelled the range of clothes for her to see.

Mrs. Thatcher told them: “I think you look smashing,” as they took her on a guided tour of the mock shop interior.

She was clearly impressed by the layout of the building.