THE PRESS GOES ON TOUR WITH P.M.

PREMIER HITS HER HOME TERRITORY

Boon for business hopefuls

The Prime Minister met some budding entrepreneurs when she attended the first annual meeting of the Barnet Enterprise Trust on Friday afternoon.

Mrs Thatcher, who is president of the group, met a variety of entrepreneurs who hope to be successful in fields ranging from carpentry to interior decorating, specialist shoe making to freelance computer programming.

Chris Webber, a surgical shoe maker, told the PM the scheme had enabled him to learn the relevant business skills needed to be successful.

The PM was told Mr. Webber had spent four years training in surgical shoe making following an accident that caused him to lose an inch off his right foot.

He said: “There are many people who have odd feet or foot disorders and can't get satisfaction in ordinary shoe shops, and can't afford or don't want to wear dumpy surgical footwear.”

He told the PM there was a demand for his work and that he had developed a number of styles of women's and men's shoes.

Mrs Thatcher then chatted with 21-year-old Melanie Eaton, who had joined the scheme after moving from her home in Berkshire to Muswell Hill.

“I told her that I was hoping to specialise in rag rolling and marbling work, and she told me that a friend had marbalised two lamps for her,” Melanie said.

The group's chairman, Don McCrickard, told the audience in the first year of the agency's activities it had dealt with 461 inquiries from people wishing to start or develop businesses in and around the Borough of Barnet, and had counselled 231 clients.

In the past two months, 339 inquiries had been dealt with and 177 clients counselled, which he said proved the success of the scheme.

The Prime Minister praised George Blair, the carpenter who had built the lectern she was about to speak from, saying it had been beautifully designed.

She was told he had donated the lectern to the Barnet Enterprise Trust.

Mrs Thatcher told him she would like such a lectern. “It's wonderfully designed and the wood is so beautiful that I was struck by its beauty as soon as I saw it.”

Before her speech the PM awarded certificates to two entrepreneurs who were judged to have submitted the best business plans on their courses.

The winners were Phillip Cairncross and Denise Carter, who also received £500 of free consultancy from Finchley-based accountants Lewis Alkin & Co.

“When I travel throughout the world people say that Britain is once again a “can do” country and not a “can't do” country,” Mrs Thatcher said.

“Years ago people accepted failure, but our Government has provided an atmosphere where people and business can now succeed.”

The PM said the beauty of Barnet Enterprise Trust was that it brought together people with design skills and those with business skills.

“It's important that new entrepreneurs learn from the experiences of successful business people, and this is the aim of the scheme,” she said.

Mrs Thatcher said the scheme was successful because it was practical, and everyone was hoping new people succeeded.

She said: “The first year's results are extremely exciting and it proves that many people like to work for themselves.

“If you want to succeed it's ‘go-go’ all the time,” was the message the PM gave entrepreneurs and sponsors alike.

Tea with Mrs. T

A Group of lads from the 1st Friern Barnet Boys' Brigade had tea and a chat with the Prime Minister at the end of her busy day in Finchley.

Mrs Thatcher had been asked to launch the brigade's Christmas post service and obliged by posting the first Christmas cards at her headquarters in Ballards Lane, North Finchley.

After the formal part of the visit, Mrs Thatcher chatted with the youngsters for almost an hour discussing topics as diverse as GCSEs, Christmas gifts, cooking tips and “Space Invaders” .

Mrs Thatcher asked the youngsters about the organisation and was told there were 60 members in Friern Barnet who get three times a week and enjoyed a wide range of activities, including sports adventure activities and community work.

“It's much better than watching television,” the PM quipped.

Stephen Holt, of Russell Lane, Whetstone, a pupil at Ashmole School, East Barnet, was then put in the spotlight by the PM, who asked him about his forthcoming GCSE exams.

He told her one of his exams would be in food nutrition, which prompted the PM to ask why he was studying such an unusual subject.

“I want to be a baker,” said Stephen who told the PM his father was a chef.

With Christmas approaching, the PM was keen to find out what members wanted from their parents.

Paul Maloney (12), a pupil at Finchley Catholic High School, said he wanted a computer. The PM then asked him whether he liked Space Invaders, and told him she had played the machine but felt the game was too fast.

“I don't think it is,” Paul said, which produced a smile from the Prime Minister.

Mrs Thatcher did a quick survey of the schools the youngsters attended, and told them they were receiving a good education, and it was important to study hard.

“Learn as much as you can when you're young, because the knowledge stays with you longer,” was the advice to the brigade members.

The spotlight was again turned on 15-year-old Stephen Holt, who was asked by the PM whether he cooked many meals at home. “I always do the Sunday lunch,” he told the PM.

After the two swapped cooking hints, the PM asked him if he was going to cook the Christmas turkey. “No,” said Stephen. “I'll still be in bed.”

As the tea drew to its end, officer cadet Peter Charles, a pupil at North Finchley's Woodhouse College, presented the PM with an engraved pen.

“I can assure you that I'll use this pen to sign some important State documents,” Mrs. Thatcher said. [end p1]

Strong-arm tactics for Maggie

Bishop Douglass School students flexed their muscles for the Prime Minister when she officially opened the £100,000 fitness centre there on Friday afternoon.

The PM toured the centre, which comprises 20 weight fitness machines, a sauna, sunbed and ample changing and showering facilities.

Lower sixth student Bill Fenoughty (16), of Mill Hill, showed Mrs Thatcher how the high pulley machine helped work the stomach muscles. Under the direction of PE teacher Floyd Steadman, the teenager showed his prowess on the machine before he was stopped by the PM.

“All right, that's enough,” she said to him, obviously feeling he was worn out.

“I could have stayed on the machine far longer,” he said later.

Mrs Thatcher was eager to see how the other machines in the centre helped keep students fit, and Geraldine Bisty, of Derwent Crescent, Whetstone, showed the PM how to work the “pull-over” machine.

As she went around the centre, she quizzed staff about its success since it opened a few months ago.

She was told the students regularly used it and enjoyed the facilities, and that the centre was open to local people for a small fee in the evenings.

“It's a wonderful idea and I'm sure such centres will soon be opening throughout the country in the near future,” the PM said.

She asked where the equipment came from, and was told by Brian Moss, the managing director of Nissen UK, that all the products in the centre were British made.

Stephen O'Leary (15), of Strawberry Vale, East Finchley, was on an Aerobicycle machine when the PM came over and asked him to explain what the machine did.

He told her it helped the person using it lose calories, as well as measuring the heart rate.

But the PM said most people would probably regain the calories as they liked to eat after working out in fitness centres.

After seeing most of the students in action, the PM commented the centre would be of great benefit to the school and wider community.

“It looks far more fun that jogging—people can keep fit in the warmth and the company of friends with the latest technology,” she said.

Mrs Thatcher then went into the school hall and met students and parents before addressing them.

“It's the first time I've been to the school since the mid-1970s when I was Secretary of State for Education, and it's a pleasure to be back for such a great occasion.

“The fitness centre is due to the enterprise of the school and local people who have seen the project through from beginning to end,” she said.

The PM told the students they attended a wonderful school and were getting the best possible education available.

“As we approach the year 2000, there is an extra special duty on you to work extra hard in your studies,” she told pupils.

Headmaster Michael Caulfield said the fitness centre would benefit the school and whole community, and thanked the Allied Irish Bank for financial assistance, as well as local business people.