Memories of Margaret Thatcher

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Apr 16, 2013 Memories of Margaret Thatcher

In the late nineties, Mary and I were involved in a Financial Services Conference in Paris, where Margaret Thatcher spoke about Britain’s position on the Euro.  We were tasked with managing her arrangements – from greeting Baroness Thatcher upon arrival, to finding her a Parisian hair stylist (the latter was the most challenging of our duties, as the hair dresser had to be vetted by Scotland Yard).

Mary and I debated what would we ask the baroness, if given the opportunity.

And we were.

Margaret Thatcher invited us for a gin and tonic after the event. But instead of talking geopolitics, she turned the conversation to us. She kept the conversation light, even asking about Mary’s earrings, and we left feeling like we’d had a drink with a real person – not a celebrity.

Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” From our whirlwind meeting with Margaret Thatcher, it seems she had a knack for putting others at the center of the conversation. And we won’t forget it.