Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Remarks on Willie Whitelaw’s stroke ("He’s a lot better")

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: Outside Westminster Hospital
Source: ITN Archive: OUP transcript
Journalist: Joan Thirkettle, ITN, reporting
Editorial comments: Morning. MT was speaking as she left the hospital after visiting Lord Whitelaw, who had suffered a stroke the evening before.
Importance ranking: Trivial
Word count: 198

Joan Thirkettle

The Prime Minister was one of Lord Whitelaw 's first visitors today, even though a few minutes earlier the hospital had said they were restricting visitors to family only. She stayed for twenty minutes.

Journalist

How is Lord Whitelaw?

MT

We're so pleased. William WhitelawHe's lot better. Very good.

Journalist

What did he say to you?

MT

Well, we just talked about [inaudible words] and he told me about how it had happened. He just read the lesson, then all of a sudden he felt unwell. Of course, it was … it was a carol service for the hospital and so he had a lot of nurses and doctors round him.

Joan Thirkettle

Lord Whitelaw has had what the hospital called a good day. He's very jovial, reading, writing, and talking normally. He's being treated as a NHS patient, but because of his position and security considerations he's been allocated a private room.