Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Remarks visiting Finchley

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: Finchley
Source: (1) Finchley Press, 24 September 1987 (2) Finchley Times, 24 September 1987
Journalist: (1) Rhian Beynon, Finchley Press, reporting
Editorial comments: 1510-1610 MT visited the Metropolitan Police Traffic Division headquarters in Finchley High Road where she watched emergency services respond to a mock-up accident 1715-1820 she visited the Murco Oil Company where she received a cheque for the NSPCC and spoke briefly.
Importance ranking: Trivial
Word count: 582
Themes: Family, Foreign policy (USA), Voluntary sector & charity
(1) Finchley Press, 24 September 1987

MRS T IS GREETED BY BLOOD!

… but it's all in a good cause

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher witnessed an horrific car accident scene when she visited her Finchley constituency on Friday afternoon.

But neither the casualties nor their wrecked cars were for real.

The life-and-death situation was simulated by Finchley traffic police headquarters to show how quickly the emergency services could respond to a real crash.

Mrs Thatcher was visiting Finchley traffic police the day before they opened their headquarters to the public to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

She congratulated the victims supplied by the Casualties Union on their realistic performances. They explained to her how they regularly act as casualties for first aiders to practice on and get made-up by Bert Cantor, of Bulwer Road, New Barnet, for medical films.

Mrs Thatcher chatted to a parade of firemen and St. John's Ambulancemen. “We've been lucky with the weather today” , she told them.

After complimenting them on their kit, she went to watch children from St John's Junior School, Whetstone, being put through their paces for a cycling proficiency test.

The Prime Minister was impressed. “They are very good,” she said.

More bikes of a noisier, faster variety followed with a display by a police motorcycle team, before Mrs Thatcher was taken to see some vintage cars loaned by the police motor museum in Catford.

She looked extremely at case behind the wheel of a 1936 Austin model which she was informed has been used as a VIP car to ferry around royalty and former Prime Ministers.

Marco Petroleum, in Dollis Park, played host to Mrs Thatcher later that afternoon when she presented a £5,000 cheque on their behalf to NSPCC president Stella Ross-Collins.

She said that as long as there are children who are not fortunate in their family life, the charity must continue its work. [end p1]

(2) Finchley Times, 24 September 1987

Maggie's stand on child abuse

The Prime Minister was in Finchley on Friday, calling for a concerted effort to help stamp out child abuse.

She was visiting Murco Petroleum, in Dollis Park, to present a £5,000 cheque to Barnet and District NSPCC on behalf of the American company.

Mrs Thatcher, who was once secretary of the North London branch of the NSPCC, handed the cheque to Stella Ross-Collins, president of the Barnet and District section, and received a bouquet of flowers from Jami Skiff, 10, of Finchley Road, Child's Hill.

“Today there are things happening in the community which are appalling to us” , she said. “We are not so much up against economic problems as fundamental behavioural problems.”

She stated that the future of a country was dependent on the continuation of the family as a close unit.

She told Murco employees: “Sometimes in a democracy I think we tend to take for granted the freedom it offers and are not so conscious at the obligations, but you are ploughing something back into the community in addition to paying taxes.

“We have been very lucky and should give something to help people such as the NSPCC, because if children cannot look to their own parents for care, affection and protection, they've got to look to someone else's parents. We are someone else's parents.”

With her attention switching to international affairs she added that as long as the United States and Britain were allies freedom and justice would always survive in the world.