Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Remarks visiting Finchley (marvellous to be a grandmother)

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: Finchley
Source: Finchley Times, 9 March 1989
Journalist: Alex Spillius, Finchley Times, reporting
Editorial comments: 1400-1530 MT attended the Women’s World Day of Prayer at St Mary’s Church; 1545-1645 she visited Golders Green Police Station (see Remarks on the Rushdie affair); 2000-2130 she attended a reception for the Finchley Rotary Club at Avenue House, East End Road.
Importance ranking: Trivial
Word count: 485
Themes: Autobiography (childhood), Autobiography (marriage & children), Law & order

Flowers for a grandmother

Margaret Thatcher beamed her way around a tour of her Finchley constituency on Friday—the day it was announced she had become a grandmother.

Leaving St Mary's Catholic Church in East Finchley, she was greeted by a horde of photographers.

Many of them had waited two hours for her to appear from a tea and biscuits session which followed a service for the Women's World Day of Prayer.

The Sun photographer wanted to know whose baby it was. “It's not Carol Thatcher's is it, she's not married is she?”

Once he had been put straight on that, The Sun man bought some flowers, eventually presented to Mrs Thatcher by WPC Anne-Marie Sanderson, in the absence of any small children.

Asked how it felt to be a grandmother she said: “Absolutely marvellous, it's a very special occasion.”

The prime minister failed to repeat her royal “we have become a grandmother” gaffe made earlier at Downing Street.

Baby Michael was born to Mark and Diane Thatcher at the Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Texas, weighing in at a healthy 71b 2oz.

His name was chosen by the parents. “It's lovely name, don't you think,” said Mrs Thatcher.

Over 150 parishioners were surprised to see such an important guest—Mrs Thatcher's arrival was a tightly held secret.

She joined the hymns and prayers of a service repeated by millions of women all over the world on the same day.

Then it was on to Golders Green Police Station and the only awkward moment of the day. Mrs Thatcher was asked by a reporter if the fur was real on the collar of her coat.

“Yes it is, but it is farmed fur, not wild,” she replied, clearly put off by the question.

Then she met home beat officers and local Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators.

Encouraged by the success of Watch schemes in Garden Suburb and Ashurst, North Finchley, she said: “Much of the work must come from the citizens themselves. There comes a point when the government can't do anything more.

“A general can't fight a battle without troops. The schemes are doing very well and certainly keeping crime down.”

As she stepped into her limousine, WPC Linda Bailey gave Mrs Thatcher a bouquet to mark the happy occasion.

After a constituency surgery, the prime minister attended a reception held in her honour by the three Rotary clubs in her constituency—Finchley, Hillside, and Friern Barnet and Whetstone—at Avenue House, East End Road, Finchley.

With her usual gusto, Mrs Thatcher met virtually all of the 150 guests.

Finchley Rotary president Andre Danjoux presented her with a plate with faces of ‘children of the world’, which she said would be displayed at Downing Street.

She told the audience her Alfred Robertsfather had been a Rotarian, and how the club's values had been a great influence in her life.