Tory fair lures the crowds

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher helped to raise a record-breaking £3,500 for her Conservative Association when she opened its Christmas fair on Saturday.

Hundreds of people flocked to St. Mary's Hall in Hendon Lane, Finchley, to spend money for the Finchley and Friern Barnet Conservative Association.

The Finchley MP used the opportunity to thank members for their efforts during the last election.

Finance matters were obviously in her mind at the fund-raising fete. Mrs Thatcher promised good news in the forthcoming budget deficit announcement.

She said: “We know that this year we are going to have an extremely low deficit—far lower than anything we planned for.”

She also spoke strongly in defence of the City, which has suffered severe setbacks in the panic of recent weeks.

“The City of London was built on the phrase ‘my word is my bond’, and we are not going to break that now.”

Mrs Thatcher praised her party's defence policy, and expressed good wishes to Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev in the coming superpower summit.

Turning to lighter matters, baby Margaret Renouf was brought to the stage by her mother Rosemary, as Mrs Thatcher reminded the crowd of the youngster's birthday—June 11.

Rosemary Renouf was taken to hospital on election day, and shortly afterwards gave birth to the baby girl.

After reminding constituents of the Conservatives' success on that night, Mrs Thatcher said: “I hope we will one day be standing here and celebrating a fourth victory.”

The fair was helped along by comedian Bernie Winters, who drew the prize-winning programme ticket.