The blessed Margaret ..
 

...is no more.

BBC News - Ex-Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher dies

RIP. Thank you for the military salary and all that you did. Wasn't all good, but I say well done, Maggie.

I'll secong that CM
RIP Maggie

Nicely put Courtney RIP Maggie

When she was in charge I was proud to call myself British, and call her "Leader". RIP Maggie, you did well.

Although I joined 2 years before she was replaced as PM, I remember clearly the large pay rise my Dad received in 79 and the difference it made to our family life.

OK, so she was not everyone's cup of tea (I'm sure somewhere in Scotland, some will be organizing street parties over the whole Poll Tax debate!), but name any current/recent politician who is?

In my opinion, what she was more than every other PM since and probably well into the future was a true leader, and one that I will never forget for the way she has shaped my life (both positive and negative).

Thoughts go out to all the family as this country sadly looses one of the finest PM's we have seen.

RIP Mrs T

Nobody can get everything completely right, but Maggie did her best and it was certainly more than good enough. RIP.

A politician with a proper degree and real work behind her. She used to tease the Labour leaders that she'd spent more time in a factory than they had.

I too echo CM,

RIP Margaret.

Without doubt one of our Great LEADERS ... RIP Margret.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/...rgensen300.jpg

Sad day ...

Coff.

Such sad news.
 

Margaret Thatcher was my leader throughout the cold war & of course, the Falklands war. She made the present political pygmies look exactly that. She was one of our greatest.

RIP wonderful lady.

I can't disagree with anything that has already been posted. Mrs T was indeed a leader, with real world experience (unlike so many of today's politicians).

My favourite Mrs T moment was when she took out her hankie and covered up the tail fin on a model of one of those dreadful BA "ethnic" colour schemes. Some people really do not understand the value of quality corporate branding, a bit like today's MOD really, Mrs T did.

RIP Maggie

A great Lady, and a truly dedicated British Prime Minister. We have not seen her like since. Most of my 30 years were spanned by her leadership, and she did a lot for servicemen and women. RIP Mrs T

Proud to have lived during her time. A lady of resolve, determination and fortitude.
No shady politics with her, she told it as it was.

I stayed up to watch that 79 election victory and went to school next day, somewhat tired!
She turned this country round. For those that remember the 70's , power cuts, strikes etc, this country was a lot better for her. RIP Mrs T.

CM, well put. Echoing my thoughts exactly. RIP Maggie

A genuine leader, worthy of huge respect if not affection and adoration - not 'just' a manager. Long after bland, non conviction modern politicians has faded from memory, she'll still be remembered.

She shook things up, her influence was far reaching and wide ranging, she defined the end of the century, she was demanding and she expected (and gave) 100%. Aside from what you may think about her politik, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who transformed the economy and country as remarkably, radically and as energetically as she did.

I am genuinely saddened.

She was the last of the conviction politicians, told it like it was, worried not about focus groups or opinion polls, just did what she believed to be right.

I was at Bawtry HQ during the Miners' Strikes and the Falklands war ........ whatever our opinions on right and wrong, we were LED from the front.

Thank you Baroness Thatcher and RIP

Just posted on British Forces News ...

Very appropriate indeed.

Coff.

CS et al - Agreed

Rest in Peace Baroness Thatcher. How I wish today's politicians had your strength of conviction, determination and resolve.

Very sad to hear.

She made you proud to be British.

A leader of Britain and the world where few have existed
in the last 50 years.

RIP

RIP Ma'am,

Without you, the Falklands would be Argentinian and Arthur Scargill (spell check wants to change this to 'Scarily'!!) and his cronies would still be holding the country to ransom.

A true leader, who never turned.

A Stateswoman.
For all her faults,she stood out as a charismatic leader of this country within the International Community.
Nothing since.

Agree with all of the above. Sadly, her leadership and desire to do the right thing for the UK has now clouded my judgement (in a negative way) about the celebrity, self centred, Animal Farm pigs, we have generally seen in the political limelight ever since.

Already putting my name forward as a volunteer to participate in any area required for her ceremonial funeral.

RIP Maggie. I salute you.

As someone who viewed her from afar I was always impressed. I was a kid starting to become politically aware of my surroundings when I saw her resolve in dealing with the Argies, it helped shape my beliefs of what leadership is.

Hopefully she and Ron are raising a toast to the good old days.

RIP.

RIP Baroness Thatcher.

Whilst I didn't agree with everything you did, you made me proud to be British.
I just wish that the politicians of today had as much machismo and pride in the country as you had.

A sad Den. :sad:

It would have been around 1988 when Mrs Thatcher, as PM, came out to NATO HQ to address the Council - for, I think, her first time there. It was a bravura performance, at a time when Cruise Missile deployment in Europe was a hot topic, and our allied military counterparts were lavish in their praise for it.

It's also worth adding that she developed a special relationship with 10 Squadron over many VIP trips, to the extent that she agreed to present the unit's current standard in 1988, and eventually earning a special Logbook to mark those flights.

She made me proud to be British.

God Bless.

During the Falklands she did marvellously observe that:

"Why , when I ask a question, do we have to delve down through so many levels of hierarchy to finally get a source for an informed answer?"

Good Girl!

We crossed swords over the introduction of food and accommodation charges for the newly opened Mt Pleasant. Graciously, she accepted the arguments against which we put in a paper.

Steadfast but willing to accept reason. RIP

Siseman - a battle well-won that was

Only British PM with balls since Winston!

I was fortunate to hear her speak at Elgin during the election campaign in '79. Not especially known for her oratory, she had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.. A true conviction politician, she encapsulated what leadership is all about.
The greatest PM of my lifetime by a street.
RIP Mrs Thatcher - you served your country well.

A remark attributed to General Haig in Washington at the time of the Falklands war - 'She has bigger balls than anybody else in Whitehall'

Amen to that.

I recall travelling (as a poor serviceman) along the A272 when I heard on the radio that Maggie's Conservative Party had just won the election (79) - I was not alone in honking my car horn that day, quite surreal?

To quote, "What we do in life, echoes in eternity", I hope Margaret has given the UK's Armed Forces the latitude to honour her appropriately.

RIP.

Farewell Maggie, you were one of the best!

Bob C

Sidevalve, I heard her speak as well. She was absolutely mesmerising to listen to, moving the mood of the audience seemingly at will.

RIP ma'am, this country would have been a poorer place without you.

R.I.P. Baroness Thatcher.

Respectfully, RP

Wonderful woman, had the great fortune to meet her on 2 seperate occasion, the second time she remembered my name much to the shock of the Leuchars staish.
Remember only to well the pay rise of 1979, as an SAC then I was on income support. A true politian and leader, wish this country was led by someong like her now.
RIP Ma'am.

Contrast and compare the quality
 

Right Honourable Margaret Thatcher.
Ed Balls.