.Date Posted 04-09-13
Baroness Margaret Thatcher
First Female British Prime Minister .
Served from 1979-1990
Former Conservative British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, later created Baroness Thatcher in 1992, died of a
stroke today (April 8th) at age 87 years old.
..
Britain's first and only female political leader passed away peacefully after a long battle with poor health.
The Queen was sad to hear of Baroness Thatcher's death and Her Majesty will send a private message of sympathy
to the family Buckingham Palace said today.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: 'It was with great sadness that l learned of Lady Thatcher’s death. We've lost a
great leader, a great Prime Minister and a great Briton'.
The grocer's daughter became the longest serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century from 1979 - 1990. Her
political philosophy and economic policies emphasised deregulation (particularly of the financial sector), flexible
labour markets, the privatisation of state-owned companies, and reducing the power and influence of trade unions.
Thatcher's popularity during her first years in office waned amid recession and high unemployment until economic
recovery and the 1982 Falklands War brought a resurgence of support, resulting in her re-election in 1983. Thatcher
was re-elected for a third term in 1987, but her Community Charge (popularly referred to as "poll tax") was widely
unpopular and her views on the European Community were not shared by others in her Cabinet. She resigned as
Prime Minister and party leader in November 1990.
'Baroness Thatcher' will be given a Ceremonial Funeral on April 17th similar to those of 'Diana, Princess of Wales'
and 'H.R.H. The Queen Mother'. Her funeral will be attended by 'H.M. The Queen and her current Prime Minister
David Cameron and three of her former Prime Ministers; Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and other M.P.
s and Foreign Dignitaries and Heads of State.
The coffin will be carried on a gun carriage to St. Pauls Cathedral where Baroness Thatcher requested that her
funeral service be held and the ceremony will be one with full military honours and televised. The service followed by
a private family gathering at Mortlake Crematorium in South West London and then buried alongside her husband
Denis at the cemetery of the Royal Chelsea Hospital
Not since former Prime Minister Winston Churchill's death has a politician been granted such a tribute. His funeral
was also held there in 1965.
Taken from an interview with Susan MacGregor on April 28th 1976
MacGregor .. Were you brought up in the sort of context that you should do well? Did your parents expect great
things of you?
Thatcher ... It was part of our upbringing that you just had to do your best. You were expected to do your best. It was
also very much part of one's upbringing that what mattered was what a person was. It wasn't the background that you
came from at all but your character that mattered and you had to develop that. You had to do unto others as you'd
expect them to do to you, so you were expected to make your own way. You were expected to do the best with
whatever talents and abilities you had and in a way it was rather a sin not to. There was a strong sense of duty.
MacGregor ... You didn't become an M.P. until 1959 although you were always interested in politics. In fact you first
stood I think in 1950. It's interesting that in 1959 there were twenty-five women M.P.'s and now there are twenty-
seven. I believe the number has remained pretty constant going right back to the 1930's. Did you find it difficult being
a woman going into politics?
Thatcher.. I don't think I found it any more difficult than a lot of my colleagues going into the House, who are men
members. It might be a little more tricky getting selected. I can remember going before several selecton committees ...
and some of the women on there saying ' You have young children' and they therefore felt I ought not to become a
Member of Parliament. In fact I didn't become an M.P. until after my children had started to go to school because I
think that when they're very young they need Mum and Mum certainly needs to be with them
MacGregor ... So they were really your first priority at that time?
Thatcher ... Yes; and the years nought to five, you know, they're important years. I hope the children would have
missed me and I certainly should have missed them.
MacGregor ... When are we going to have our first woman Prime Minister?
Thatcher ... I am hoping to get promoted you know
MacGregor ... This year?
Thatcher ... Well, whenever it comes, I shall be ready!
In May 1979, ready or not, her ambition to being Britains first and to date only woman Prime Minister was one
realised.
"Like her, or loathe her as many did, Baroness Thatcher was a formidable and highly intelligent woman so was called
"The Iron Lady" who certainly made her mark in British and World politics and consequently will be someone
remembered throughout history.
I extend my personal condolences to her family members and friends today."
With my very best wishes from,
Diana
Date Posted: 12-06-13
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela died after suffering from serious illness, aged 95 years old, on December 5th 2013. The former
President of South Africa is globally known and loved and respected for leading the A.N.C., the African National
Congress, against the prejudice of the Apartheid regime in the nation.
Nelson was imprisoned in 1964 and of his 27 years of incarceration, 18 of them spent on Robben Island where he
with other convicts worked in the stone quarry, this was in an effort to break his spirit and failed to do so. He was
freed from prison in 1990 and receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Mr. Mandela became President of South
Africa in 1994 and as President he served one term and he invited the man who prosecuted him for tea during his
time of presidency, such was this unique man's very real sense of compassion and forgiveness. Nelson Mandela
retiring from public life in 2004.
A man held in the highest esteem meeting and impressing political leaders including President Obama of the USA
and globally recognized like the Queen who attributes the free South Africa of today being his legacy. The non racial
and truly united nation of the South Africa Nelson wanted to see is one it will still take time to completely achieve as
today still the gulf between the elite and rich and the poor is an extremely wide one. Nelson Mandela lived for the
ideal of man being united in equality whatever his colour, creed or sexuality, a cause he said he lived for and if need
be would die for. It is seen that black and white people unite in their mourning for his loss and there is pride in the
township Soweto once Nelson Mandela's neighbourhood for the man with a monumental impact on the world who
inspired by example personal courage and determination and a man who crossed divides politically in a way that
merits his memory being one the world will never forget!
"Hello
My reaction to the news of the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela or 'Mandiba' as he is
affectionately known by his nations peoples and his clan name is one of great sadness that the world has lost one of it's
greatest and most charismatic light workers who did so much for so many; as my eldest son William has said about
Nelson Mandela; an extraordinary and inspiring man who having been imprisoned in his nation later becoming its
primary democratically elected Black President!
People seen dancing outside his home in Johannesburg in South Africa chanting liberation songs celebrating his
monumental life culminated with the mourning of his passing aged 95 years old on December 5th at 20.50 pm South
African time, having suffered from a serious lung infection at his home receiving intense medical treatment there and
surrounded by his family.
In March 1997 I personally met the charismatic Nelson whilst in South Africa visiting my brother in Cape Town
and we discussed the threat posed by A.I.D.S. and H.I.V. in the nation and he impressed by my work for the causes did
his bit in helping sufferers in his nation with the conditions being accepted by society so consequently the necessary
drugs made available to them and so many people indeed owe their lives to him.
Tributes from leaders all over the world being given but one which touches me comes from the current South
African President Jacob Zumbia saying quite simply “Our nation has lost it's greatest son, our people have lost a
father!”
My personal condolences and love to his family and the South African people at this very sad time.
Diana xx
Baroness Margaret Thatcher
First Female British Prime Minister .
Served from 1979-1990
Former Conservative British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, later created Baroness Thatcher in 1992, died of a
stroke today (April 8th) at age 87 years old.
..
Britain's first and only female political leader passed away peacefully after a long battle with poor health.
The Queen was sad to hear of Baroness Thatcher's death and Her Majesty will send a private message of sympathy
to the family Buckingham Palace said today.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: 'It was with great sadness that l learned of Lady Thatcher’s death. We've lost a
great leader, a great Prime Minister and a great Briton'.
The grocer's daughter became the longest serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century from 1979 - 1990. Her
political philosophy and economic policies emphasised deregulation (particularly of the financial sector), flexible
labour markets, the privatisation of state-owned companies, and reducing the power and influence of trade unions.
Thatcher's popularity during her first years in office waned amid recession and high unemployment until economic
recovery and the 1982 Falklands War brought a resurgence of support, resulting in her re-election in 1983. Thatcher
was re-elected for a third term in 1987, but her Community Charge (popularly referred to as "poll tax") was widely
unpopular and her views on the European Community were not shared by others in her Cabinet. She resigned as
Prime Minister and party leader in November 1990.
'Baroness Thatcher' will be given a Ceremonial Funeral on April 17th similar to those of 'Diana, Princess of Wales'
and 'H.R.H. The Queen Mother'. Her funeral will be attended by 'H.M. The Queen and her current Prime Minister
David Cameron and three of her former Prime Ministers; Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and other M.P.
s and Foreign Dignitaries and Heads of State.
The coffin will be carried on a gun carriage to St. Pauls Cathedral where Baroness Thatcher requested that her
funeral service be held and the ceremony will be one with full military honours and televised. The service followed by
a private family gathering at Mortlake Crematorium in South West London and then buried alongside her husband
Denis at the cemetery of the Royal Chelsea Hospital
Not since former Prime Minister Winston Churchill's death has a politician been granted such a tribute. His funeral
was also held there in 1965.
Taken from an interview with Susan MacGregor on April 28th 1976
MacGregor .. Were you brought up in the sort of context that you should do well? Did your parents expect great
things of you?
Thatcher ... It was part of our upbringing that you just had to do your best. You were expected to do your best. It was
also very much part of one's upbringing that what mattered was what a person was. It wasn't the background that you
came from at all but your character that mattered and you had to develop that. You had to do unto others as you'd
expect them to do to you, so you were expected to make your own way. You were expected to do the best with
whatever talents and abilities you had and in a way it was rather a sin not to. There was a strong sense of duty.
MacGregor ... You didn't become an M.P. until 1959 although you were always interested in politics. In fact you first
stood I think in 1950. It's interesting that in 1959 there were twenty-five women M.P.'s and now there are twenty-
seven. I believe the number has remained pretty constant going right back to the 1930's. Did you find it difficult being
a woman going into politics?
Thatcher.. I don't think I found it any more difficult than a lot of my colleagues going into the House, who are men
members. It might be a little more tricky getting selected. I can remember going before several selecton committees ...
and some of the women on there saying ' You have young children' and they therefore felt I ought not to become a
Member of Parliament. In fact I didn't become an M.P. until after my children had started to go to school because I
think that when they're very young they need Mum and Mum certainly needs to be with them
MacGregor ... So they were really your first priority at that time?
Thatcher ... Yes; and the years nought to five, you know, they're important years. I hope the children would have
missed me and I certainly should have missed them.
MacGregor ... When are we going to have our first woman Prime Minister?
Thatcher ... I am hoping to get promoted you know
MacGregor ... This year?
Thatcher ... Well, whenever it comes, I shall be ready!
In May 1979, ready or not, her ambition to being Britains first and to date only woman Prime Minister was one
realised.
"Like her, or loathe her as many did, Baroness Thatcher was a formidable and highly intelligent woman so was called
"The Iron Lady" who certainly made her mark in British and World politics and consequently will be someone
remembered throughout history.
I extend my personal condolences to her family members and friends today."
With my very best wishes from,
Diana
Date Posted: 12-06-13
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela died after suffering from serious illness, aged 95 years old, on December 5th 2013. The former
President of South Africa is globally known and loved and respected for leading the A.N.C., the African National
Congress, against the prejudice of the Apartheid regime in the nation.
Nelson was imprisoned in 1964 and of his 27 years of incarceration, 18 of them spent on Robben Island where he
with other convicts worked in the stone quarry, this was in an effort to break his spirit and failed to do so. He was
freed from prison in 1990 and receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Mr. Mandela became President of South
Africa in 1994 and as President he served one term and he invited the man who prosecuted him for tea during his
time of presidency, such was this unique man's very real sense of compassion and forgiveness. Nelson Mandela
retiring from public life in 2004.
A man held in the highest esteem meeting and impressing political leaders including President Obama of the USA
and globally recognized like the Queen who attributes the free South Africa of today being his legacy. The non racial
and truly united nation of the South Africa Nelson wanted to see is one it will still take time to completely achieve as
today still the gulf between the elite and rich and the poor is an extremely wide one. Nelson Mandela lived for the
ideal of man being united in equality whatever his colour, creed or sexuality, a cause he said he lived for and if need
be would die for. It is seen that black and white people unite in their mourning for his loss and there is pride in the
township Soweto once Nelson Mandela's neighbourhood for the man with a monumental impact on the world who
inspired by example personal courage and determination and a man who crossed divides politically in a way that
merits his memory being one the world will never forget!
"Hello
My reaction to the news of the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela or 'Mandiba' as he is
affectionately known by his nations peoples and his clan name is one of great sadness that the world has lost one of it's
greatest and most charismatic light workers who did so much for so many; as my eldest son William has said about
Nelson Mandela; an extraordinary and inspiring man who having been imprisoned in his nation later becoming its
primary democratically elected Black President!
People seen dancing outside his home in Johannesburg in South Africa chanting liberation songs celebrating his
monumental life culminated with the mourning of his passing aged 95 years old on December 5th at 20.50 pm South
African time, having suffered from a serious lung infection at his home receiving intense medical treatment there and
surrounded by his family.
In March 1997 I personally met the charismatic Nelson whilst in South Africa visiting my brother in Cape Town
and we discussed the threat posed by A.I.D.S. and H.I.V. in the nation and he impressed by my work for the causes did
his bit in helping sufferers in his nation with the conditions being accepted by society so consequently the necessary
drugs made available to them and so many people indeed owe their lives to him.
Tributes from leaders all over the world being given but one which touches me comes from the current South
African President Jacob Zumbia saying quite simply “Our nation has lost it's greatest son, our people have lost a
father!”
My personal condolences and love to his family and the South African people at this very sad time.
Diana xx
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