Iron Lady Quieting Down

Commentary by radio show host Ed Boyle.

The first time I met her, 29 years ago, she arrived early in my radio studio at her party's political convention. The chairs hadn't been delivered. "Never mind", she said, sitting on a wooden box, "but may I have a drink". Coffee? Tea?

"My dear man, something stronger please."

I only had gin. No proper glasses. But even in those days you didn't argue with Maggie. She sipped at a plastic cup full of neat gin while recording the interview, and we hung on her every word. Not any more.

For Margaret Thatcher, out of power for 12 years, has finally been told to shut up - by her doctors. She's 76. And until the medics called a halt, was one of the most energetic international public speakers. Booked for an upcoming US tour. It won't be coming up now though. Doctor's orders - too much strain. She's already had several minor strokes. But I bet the doctors got an ear-full when they told her.

The Thatcher brand of political leadership makes President Bush look workshy. She boasted of needing just two hours sleep a day, often taken in twenty-minute cat-naps between meetings. And she was never the sit-back-and-listen type. Mrs. T. was hands on and hit-you-with the-handbag if you didn't listen. To her. As one of her long suffering Ministers said, "I don’t know what she does to the enemy, but she sure scares the pants off us". I followed her for two exhausting whistle-stop election tours. Well, we were exhausted. And she used to chide us. "Come along boys,” looking bright eyed and ready for action after eighteen hours on the road.

The European leaders dreaded her, because she hated them. Ronald Reagan loved her, and I guess an awful lot of Americans and quite a few of us, reckon she still runs the country. Actually Baroness Thatcher, yes they put her in the House of Lords, sometimes sounds as though she DOES still run the country.

Twice I've seen her cry. In 1975 just after her party made her leader, she and I were alone in an elevator on the way to another studio. She suddenly started to blub - with shock. And then in 1990, when the very same party got rid of her, she left Downing Street with a little tear in the corner of one eye. But it's the words you remember. They'd chucked her out. The Iron Lady. And what did she say: "It’s a funny old world."

We'll miss her, in a funny old way.