Dominique de Biasi - Vice Chairman British Conservatives in Paris (BCiP)
In 2008 at Conservative Central Office the bust of Lady Thatcher’s was unveiled by Lady Thatcher and in presence of the excellent sculptress and a group of true blues.
I was very privileged to attend. Lesley Taylor, the International Branch Director of Conservatives Abroad introduced me to Lord Bell and explained I was visiting from Paris especially for this event
Lord Bell told me to "stand by me I will introduce you to Lady Thatcher" and as a good Parisian, I did just that.
A most unexpected moment indeed and then I was talking to the greatest politician my generation has ever seen and will ever see again.
I did my best to find the few appropriate words to tell her how I grew to admire her sense of freedom, her exceptional courage to change the course of history for her country and for so many people in the world.
She stared quietly at me and replied in very kind words. Then she said to Lord Bell "give her a glass of champagne".
I was luck to have a photograph taken with Lady Thatcher and Lord Bell, (featured) which I will treasure always.
Dominique de BiasiBCiP
Colin Blackwell, Chairman of the Singapore Branch
"I remember first meeting her while on holiday in August 1980 when she came to Sunday Service at the English Church in Zürich. I remember a conversation with Denis as to the appropriate length of office in terms of France's then 7 years and the USA's 4 or 8 years, when he replied he thought 5 years would be quite enough, Mrs Thatcher from across the Church Hall suddenly boomed 'well that's not up to us dear'!" ...Colin
Jaime Gamell-Riera Chairman - Madrid
In 2002 my wife and I queued up for ages in Harrods in order to get Mrs Thatcher to sign our copy of her book Statecraft.
I asked her to please spell my name “Jaime”. She looked up, smiled and said “Ah. You must be Spanish because of the spelling”.
Many years I was able to meet her again at a reception. I gave her my name and reminded her that she had signed my book.
“Of course I remember. It is spelt “J ai me” not “Jamie””. Extraordinary memory of this extraordinary woman.
With kind regards,
Jaime Gamell Riera
Chairman, Conservatives Abroad, Madrid
Mobile 00 34 680 449 360
Dorothy Poms, Representative for Switzerland
I was very lucky to be invited, together with members of BCAS, to a private meeting with Margaret Thatcher and her husband during her official visit to Berne. We were able to put questions to her and I was really amazed at her ability
to answer any question on any subject. We later had a group photo together with Margaret Thatcher, which I treasure. I also received a very poignant letter from her after her husband died.
Kind regardsDorothy Poms
Simon Glass - Perth, AustraliaI remember, as an 11 year old, returning from America in early 1979 to a cold house, due to the strikes under Callaghan. Only 5 months later, the elation that swept the country on Mrs Thatcher's election was palpable. I grew up in the energised Thatcher era. I recall attending Prime Minister's Question Time in 1984, driving down to Smith Square from Cambridge with Christopher Monckton in the car on the election night in 1987, and meeting Lady Thatcher at the Judge Business School in 2000. Lady Thatcher was a truly great leader we were privileged to have benefited from. Kind regardsSimon Glass
Gaile Griffin-Peers, Chairman Conservatives Abroad, Jávea, extend their condolences and best wishes to friends and family.
I was privileged to meet Margaret Thatcher shortly after she became leader of the party. At her first YC conference after becoming Leader, she borrowed my fountain pen – because she had arrived totally unprepared for the onslaught of young conservatives who wanted her autograph, to meet her and to share in her vision. The last time we met was at a reception a couple of years ago. While the years may have dimmed her physically, the implacable force, the intelligence, dedication and spark that drove her throughout her career was still bright and as inspiring as when she began. Just as the prophetess Cassandra was not appreciated in her own country, much of what was achieved by our greatest Prime Minister fell on closed minds and deaf ears. Sad that those who now deny her fail to appreciate that it was her strength and foresight that created the opportunities they now consider a right and it was renouncing her ideals that caused the mess they resent.
Gaile Griffin Peers
Spain: +34 96 646 1913
UK: +44 (0)208 133 0123