As I sit watching the BBC coverage of the funeral of Baroness Thatcher, my mind is whirling with many differing memories.
I started teaching in the South Wales mining valleys in the early 80’s and experienced the horrors of the miner’s strikes at first hand. As a young teacher I was caught up in the sadness and poverty to which many of the children in my care were subjected. The staff gave freely of their money and time to serve free breakfasts to the children, buy clothes, and pack Christmas parcels so that the children wouldn’t go without. One wonderful old lady in my Church would go around to all the miners families and put a fiver in an envelope and post it through the letterbox after dark on a regular basis (we found this out after her passing, no-one knew who this donor was at the time). Sure thing, Margaret Thatcher was hated in the valleys.
Quite honestly I have been disturbed by the lack of respect for the dead and the grieving over the past weeks. As one MP stated this morning, you have to see past the job to see the person. I pray for her family and loved ones at this sad time for them.
Whilst I cannot condone such a public spending, I do feel a national pride at the history and pageantry with which the UK conducts itself on occasions such as this.
And then as a practising Methodist, I can see that the Iron Lady has some similarities to me.
I too was born into a Wesleyan Methodist family who believed in strength of character and self belief, which has stayed with me always. I have a very strong faith because of this and have always strived to use my talents to full extent. One of the eulogies this morning mentioned this Methodist upbringing being one of Margaret’s greatest contributions. She was a true grafter, always in the office before her staff and there much later after everyone had left for the day. Her staff commented that she was a great team builder, they all felt part of a family unit that was doing the right thing. As a manager I hope that I would be thought of in this fitting way.
And finally, a woman controversial in life is still controversial in death. Whatever memories we have of this stateswoman, she was a woman of strength, conviction and great duty.
sue lewis