Margaret Thatcher: Memories of a remarkable lady

The first time I met Margaret Thatcher, she was Secretary of State for Education in Ted Heath's government and a prime target for the 'Thatcher, Thatcher the milk snatcher' tag.

We talked about education and she had asked for the interview to be taped – presumably in case I missed a zero of a figure and thereby slashed the budget!

Interesting, though, in my experience far from wanting such definitive evidence, most politicians would rather there was not such a precise record. But that was Margaret Thatcher.

I remember driving back to Shropshire thinking she was either going to make it big time or I'd made a mistake.

However, so intrigued was I that I got a colleague to put a £1 on a bet at the local bookie's for me that she would one day lead the Tory Party. When she did, I won £32 – enough for a continental holiday back then.

I met her a few times in between but the next time, I did a full interview she was in Downing Street and while waiting, I'd made the mistake of relating the tale of the big win to her PA.

When I was finally ushered in to The Presence, he said brightly: "Prime Minister I think you will enjoy this little story" and nudged me to repeat it.

Talk about toe curling. A hard won hour with newly installed Margaret Thatcher, our first woman PM, and you have to bumble on about bets, bookies and winnings. However, she listened gravely in total silence and then said: "What fun, when do I get my 10 per cent."

With an unexpected glee, I told this most economically savvy of politicians that actually, I'd spent it.

We both giggled, had a quick chat about Marks & Spencer petticoats (which she always wore) and then got down to national business.

And while some politicians might be good at being reminded of exactly who you are next time around, Margaret Thatcher was brilliant – without the reminder.

Like in 1980, the year after she became Prime Minister, being invited by the then MP for Shrewsbury Sir John Langford Holt to a party at the Commons marking his 35 years as an MP and unexpectedly the Prime Minister turned up briefly, went along the terrace and met a few people including me. With no prompting at all, she suddenly doubled back and asked with a twinkle in her eye: "Had any good bets lately?"

I last saw her to speak to a few years ago at the wonderful ceremony in the Mall when the Queen unveiled a memorial to the women of the Second World War, Vera Lynn sang We'll Meet Again and Churchill's surviving daughter Lady Soames was on the guest list.

Afterwards, we went indoors for tea and of all the 'luminaries' available, the winding queue of people just wanting a quick word with the by then, Lady Thatcher, was easily the longest.

Despite increasingly frail health and diminishing memory, she was on good form that day, I felt I had to just acknowledge the occasion and say 'hello.'

Once reminded of the links, yes she remembered some of our meetings, pinned me down to Shropshire and then looking into the distance she said: "It's all been a long, long time ago my dear, hasn't it."

And you knew that the memory was indeed becoming more vague and less sharp. Since this was a lady whose mind was like a razor, whose decision making was undisputedly resolute and who knew exactly what she was doing and why, the growing contrast was all the more sad.

But what of Margaret Thatcher, icon of all our times and someone who only entered the fray when her political pal pulled out? Whatever else and however you knew her, the impact was absolute. Other politicians couldn't hold the proverbial candle to her beliefs and intentions to see a job through.

No-one was indifferent to her, even many who found her politics far from acceptable, admired the spirit with which she tackled what she saw as the shot across the bows Great Britain needed.

Others will now argue and debate the great political issues of her day and since.

For myself, I hereby put on record my admiration and respect for Baroness Thatcher, the grocer's daughter who took on the daunting task of changing the face of our nation despite the frightening lobby which she always knew was bound to rise up against her.

Sadly, her latter years have been lived out in twilight. She could still have contributed much and been involved in our national life but it was not to be.

May she now rest in the peace she rarely found during her remarkable political heyday. I wouldn't have missed getting to know her for anything.