ARTICLE BY THERESA VILLIERS ON MARGARET THATCHER'S WORK IN FINCHLEY

In Margaret Thatcher, the Finchley Conservatives gave the world one of the most influential political figures of the 20th Century. The global media coverage in the last fortnight has concentrated on Mrs Thatcher’s economic revolution and her contribution to world events, not least to victory in the Cold War. But tomorrow’s funeral service provides an opportunity to reflect on the work she did for people here in the borough of Barnet over so many years.

Mrs Thatcher won the Finchley seat in nine successive elections.  Throughout her years at Number 10, she always found time for her constituents.  Taking just one example, on a single day at the height of the Falklands War, she managed to open a new warehouse in Whetstone for Michael Gerson removals, present a prize from the Distributive Industries Training Board at Arcade jewellers in North Finchley, hold a constituency surgery at her Ballards Lane office, and visit a local school, before dashing back to address the world’s media gathered in Downing Street (and that isn’t a complete list of all her engagements that day!).

She took great care with her correspondence, often handwriting responses. Even in her ‘retirement’ she would still support charity and political events, one the last being a lunch for the Mayor of Barnet’s charity at Mossimon’s in Belgravia in 2010.

Local resident, Tessa Philips, who worked closely with Baroness Thatcher over many years, said “I would often put water in her coffee to try to slow her down ... but it never worked. If she decided to go, off she went”