In the spotlight
Finchley and Friern Barnet MP Margaret Thatcher was in the spotlight on Friday—suffering under the sun and the political heat.
“It is a bit too hot for me today,” she admitted.
The Prime Minister had just returned from Texas. “I should be used to it. I had to stand up in 110 degrees for 15 minutes in Houston listening to eight national anthems.”
Under the political spotlight she made no concessions to national press who questioned her about Nicholas Ridley throughout the afternoon.
She made time to stop off at Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School in Bow Lane where children shrieked with amazement as she surprised them in their classrooms.
Cries of “Oh it's Mrs Thatcher!” and “Are you very, very famous?” rang out from pupils in Elaine Murphy's class for five to six-year-olds.
Emil Poniente got a special birthday wish from the Prime Minister when she discovered he was seven years old that day. The school itself is celebrating its 60th birthday this year.
Four-year-old Katie Glackin took time away from the toys to present the visitor with a bouquet which was then carefully placed in the shade.
Mrs Thatcher asked: “When do you break up? On the 24th? We break up on the 26th in Parliament and we are looking forward to it too.”
After talking to the special guest, Asha Patel, 9, said: “I liked her because she looked very clever and she lives in No. 10.”
Darren O'Neil, 11, went home from school with an unusual maths book that day, the only one autographed by the Prime Minister.
Mrs Thatcher later joined parents who attended the blessing of a new classroom by Father Pat Davies, chairman of the Governors.
Drumming up support
Mrs Thatcher took to the drums on Friday to bang out a message that she can have fun despite the pressures of world statesmanship.
European Community partners were screaming for her Trade Secretary's blood, her Cabinet was awaiting a possible reshuffle, but Mrs Thatcher was in Mill Hill rattling out a passable version of When the Saints Go Marching In.
The occasion was the annual jazz and curry shindig at Inglis Barracks, and she was there not as PM, not as MP, but as president of a local fund-raising group—Barnet Appeal of the Army Benevolent Fund.
Her visit was put smilingly in perspective by the appeal's chairman/secretary/treasurer, Dennis Signy, who said: “Your attendance here tonight places us alongside the affairs of Nato and the economic summit in Houston. You think as much about our fund-raising as how much cash Mr Gorbachev should receive.”
Mrs Thatcher, sharing a stage with the NCP Jazzband to address the 200 supporters, said it was important to acknowledge good work, and she was delighted to be invited to the barracks to support fundraising for such a fine cause.
She warned that despite great changes in the political and military scene it was essential to stay strong for the nation's security. “We should be grateful to the Army and indeed to all our armed forces,” she said. “We must continue to value them.”
Mrs Thatcher stayed longer than the expected hour, and walked round the hall chatting to people on every table. She also went back on stage to say goodbye to the jazz band—and was persuaded to repeat her recent TV drumming performance.
For three minutes she demonstrated her dexterity on the skins, and ended the session to cheers and applause.
Fundraiser Jean Price, whose charity Mind in Barnet will also benefit, said: “Wasn't she good on those drums! I think it was wonderful of her to come tonight and I'm so pleased she seemed to really enjoy herself.”