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| In Margaret Thatcher's hometown, a solitary bouquet of tulips | In Margaret Thatcher's hometown, a solitary bouquet of tulips |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A solitary bouquet of yellow, purple and red tulips was left outside the building on the edge of Grantham that housed Margaret Thatcher's birthplace and the grocer's shop of her father, Alfred Roberts. It said: "Thank you Baroness Thatcher for putting the Great back into Britain. Gone but never forgotten, RIP." | A solitary bouquet of yellow, purple and red tulips was left outside the building on the edge of Grantham that housed Margaret Thatcher's birthplace and the grocer's shop of her father, Alfred Roberts. It said: "Thank you Baroness Thatcher for putting the Great back into Britain. Gone but never forgotten, RIP." |
| But apart from the media, few people passed or stopped to look at the building, which is now a chiropractic clinic and holistic retreat, albeit with a plaque commemorating its former life. Staff had been told not to comment. | But apart from the media, few people passed or stopped to look at the building, which is now a chiropractic clinic and holistic retreat, albeit with a plaque commemorating its former life. Staff had been told not to comment. |
| Thatcher's legacy divides the town, much as it divides Britain. For years there has been a debate about raising a statue to her, but only this year has this become a firm proposal. There is a big bronze one on St Peter's Hill in the centre of the town of Isaac Newton, who had lived on a farm about 10 miles away and went to school in Grantham. | Thatcher's legacy divides the town, much as it divides Britain. For years there has been a debate about raising a statue to her, but only this year has this become a firm proposal. There is a big bronze one on St Peter's Hill in the centre of the town of Isaac Newton, who had lived on a farm about 10 miles away and went to school in Grantham. |
| One resident, Andrew Lewis, 53, said: "It is a sad loss. She did everything she could to get us out of the mess we were in. At least what you saw what was what you got. There must be a statue to her." | One resident, Andrew Lewis, 53, said: "It is a sad loss. She did everything she could to get us out of the mess we were in. At least what you saw what was what you got. There must be a statue to her." |
| Christine Cooper, 91, who was a few forms above Thatcher at the Huntingtower Road primary school, also called for a statue, though said it should be in a "safe place" as it risked being vandalised. | Christine Cooper, 91, who was a few forms above Thatcher at the Huntingtower Road primary school, also called for a statue, though said it should be in a "safe place" as it risked being vandalised. |
| "When I have been on cruises and I mention I am from Grantham, the first thing people say is 'that is where Margaret Thatcher comes from.' "We should have a statue but in a safe place. There are certainly people out there who would be quite prepared to vandalise it," Cooper said. | "When I have been on cruises and I mention I am from Grantham, the first thing people say is 'that is where Margaret Thatcher comes from.' "We should have a statue but in a safe place. There are certainly people out there who would be quite prepared to vandalise it," Cooper said. |
| Talking about her school days, Cooper said: "She was quite a serious little girl, very neat, studious. She liked poetry and reading." Once, the young Thatcher won a poetry reading prize and "someone said 'you are very lucky' and she replied 'No, I deserved it,'" recalled Cooper. "She was quite a student. She was serious, not frivolous." | Talking about her school days, Cooper said: "She was quite a serious little girl, very neat, studious. She liked poetry and reading." Once, the young Thatcher won a poetry reading prize and "someone said 'you are very lucky' and she replied 'No, I deserved it,'" recalled Cooper. "She was quite a student. She was serious, not frivolous." |
| Residents critical of her legacy included Tim Johnston, 23, who works in accounts for a local firm. He said: "I am not glad she is dead but I strongly disagree with a lot of her policies. She ruined this country with support for dictators like Pinochet in Chile and Saddam Hussein in Iraq. We have quite a working class population here and a lot of people feel hurt and damaged by what she did even if significant events didn't happen here." | Residents critical of her legacy included Tim Johnston, 23, who works in accounts for a local firm. He said: "I am not glad she is dead but I strongly disagree with a lot of her policies. She ruined this country with support for dictators like Pinochet in Chile and Saddam Hussein in Iraq. We have quite a working class population here and a lot of people feel hurt and damaged by what she did even if significant events didn't happen here." |
| Grantham Community Heritage Association backs plans for a statue, and a month ago launched an appeal for £200,000, some of which would go to restoring the town's museum, which hosts a condolences book in honour of the town's most famous daughter. | Grantham Community Heritage Association backs plans for a statue, and a month ago launched an appeal for £200,000, some of which would go to restoring the town's museum, which hosts a condolences book in honour of the town's most famous daughter. |
| As well as Newton, the museum also celebrates connections with the Dambusters squadron from the second world war. At the moment, much of the Thatcher exhibits, including a trademark power suit and her Spitting Image puppet, are still in county council store. Her blue shoes and a signed copy of her autobiography are on show but new interactive displays are planned, including opportunities for local people to stand at a mock dispatch box, and read and have recorded some of Thatcher's most famous utterances. | |
| Helen Goral, chairman of the museum, said: "We hope we can provide a fitting tribute, a balanced tribute, which people can be proud of regardless of their politics." | Helen Goral, chairman of the museum, said: "We hope we can provide a fitting tribute, a balanced tribute, which people can be proud of regardless of their politics." |
| Richard Davies, chairman of the local Conservative association, as well as a museum trustee, said Thatcher based her policies on how her father had run his small business. "If you want to be successful, you have to get up earlier. You can't spend more than you earn. She didn't coast." | Richard Davies, chairman of the local Conservative association, as well as a museum trustee, said Thatcher based her policies on how her father had run his small business. "If you want to be successful, you have to get up earlier. You can't spend more than you earn. She didn't coast." |
| The response so far to the statue appeal had been excellent, said Davies. "I believe strongly no taxpayer's money should go on statues of politicians at any time, especially in this time of austerity." | The response so far to the statue appeal had been excellent, said Davies. "I believe strongly no taxpayer's money should go on statues of politicians at any time, especially in this time of austerity." |
| Mark Anderson, head of the primary school Thatcher attended, said: "It is quite an honour to have a former prime minister at your school and be able to say to children: 'This lady sat on the same floor as you and she had gone on to be a significant person in history.' We frequently talk about past pupils and what they have achieved and she is the most significant past pupil we have ever had. | Mark Anderson, head of the primary school Thatcher attended, said: "It is quite an honour to have a former prime minister at your school and be able to say to children: 'This lady sat on the same floor as you and she had gone on to be a significant person in history.' We frequently talk about past pupils and what they have achieved and she is the most significant past pupil we have ever had. |
| "We have an ethos of respect, expect, aspire, care and be honest. Many of the values she had can be interpreted through that as well." | "We have an ethos of respect, expect, aspire, care and be honest. Many of the values she had can be interpreted through that as well." |
| About a dozen people have so far signed the condolences book at the museum. "Sadly her achievements will be whitewashed," said a police officer whose signature was difficult to decipher. The message too was ambiguous. "Britain has lost a superb politician who had conviction," wrote mayor's son Adam Stokes more directly. | About a dozen people have so far signed the condolences book at the museum. "Sadly her achievements will be whitewashed," said a police officer whose signature was difficult to decipher. The message too was ambiguous. "Britain has lost a superb politician who had conviction," wrote mayor's son Adam Stokes more directly. |
| Grantham has one political statue on the green at St Peter's Hill, just a few yards from Newton's, of Frederick James Tollemache, a 19th-century Conservative MP. It was erected by friends "who revered his memory irrespective of political opinion". | Grantham has one political statue on the green at St Peter's Hill, just a few yards from Newton's, of Frederick James Tollemache, a 19th-century Conservative MP. It was erected by friends "who revered his memory irrespective of political opinion". |
| Additional reporting by Judith Welikala | Additional reporting by Judith Welikala |