Home town remembers inspirational leader

Many gathered inside Grantham Museum to watch the funeral of the former Prime Minister broadcast on a big screen.

There was a sombre atmosphere at the museum, which is usually closed on Wednesdays, as mourners silently watched the funeral procession.

Christine Taylor travelled from Lincoln to be at the museum. Retired Mrs Taylor, 66, said she would have liked to have been on the streets of London to pay her respects but was happy to be in Baroness Thatcher’s home town.

Mrs Taylor said she appreciated Baroness Thatcher’s years in power had been divisive but she believed she was a wonderful Prime Minister.

“I think people forget the way Britain was before she came to power,” she said.

“They forget the winter of discontent.”

She went on: “I felt Mrs Thatcher was somebody who was going to stand up for people.

“I know she has been divisive but I think she was a great leader.”

Stephen Storey, 55, a university health librarian from Swansea, broke into his holiday in Rutland to join mourners at the museum.

He said he thought Baroness Thatcher had been an outstanding leader.

“I think she was great in terms of what she achieved,” he said.

“I remember the 70s and it was a very depressing time.”

Mr Storey said he thought her death was the “passing of an era” and while Baroness Thatcher might not have been successful today, what she achieved at the time was very important.

A book of condolence was opened at the museum just after Baroness Thatcher’s death and has so far been signed by more than 1,000 people.

Visitors have also been able to see some new Thatcher artefacts which have been brought out of storage at the museum, including a blue suit she wore for some formal occasions and personal items relating to her younger life.

Barry Tunnicliffe, 51, a retired police officer from Rotherham, said he and a group of friends had been visiting Lincoln and decided to stop off in Grantham to pay their respects.

Having lived in a mining community, he understood the reasons Baroness Thatcher split opinion, he said, but he still believed she made an excellent leader.

“My view is yes, she was divisive.

“I lived in a mining community but I was a supporter of her. As far as I was concerned she was a leader that made a difference and the sort of leader we could do with now.”

He went on: “I know a lot of people that would never change their views on Margaret Thatcher because of what happened and I fully understand that because I lived through it, but I still think, at the end of the day, somebody deserves a mark of respect when you have your funeral and pass away.”

Earlier, a pink rose was unveiled at South Kesteven District Council headquarters in the town to mark the funeral. The flower, from County Gardens Roses in Shropshire, was named Grantham’s Thatcher Rose by the council.

It will be replanted in Wyndham Park in the town at a later date.

Outside the home where Baroness Thatcher grew up above her father’s grocer’s shop, which is now a chiropractic clinic and holistic retreat, dozens of floral tributes had been left in her memory.

One card, signed by Johnny Ferry, read: “The Iron Lady. Thanks for everything.”

Another said: “Margaret Thatcher, thank you and god bless for your life and service. From Lyndsey and a very grateful North Notts mining family.”

There were no mass protests in the town and a statement from Lincolnshire Police said they had continued to “review intelligence” ahead of the funeral, but had not received any suggestion of any action.

The statement added: “Appropriate contingency plans are in place and extra officers are available to be deployed, should this be necessary.”