[A-List] UK state: the traditional place of Scotland

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

A devoted husband who believed The Boss could do no wrong
BRIAN MEEK
The Herald, 27 June 2003

In 1983 there was a great stir when it became known that Denis Thatcher was
to pay me a visit in the Lothian regional chambers. One of the elected
members, who claimed to have met him, insisted that the prime minister's
husband was very partial to a malt whisky.

So, officials were dispatched to a specialist shop and came back with
several well-known brands. Then we had another problem - there was a major
leak an hour before he was due to arrive and the water in the building was
cut off. Local pubs were able to come up with jugs filled with the precious
stuff.

I welcomed Denis happy in the knowledge that we could supply his needs.
"Thanks a lot," he responded to the drink invitation, "I could murder a gin
and tonic."

He chatted happily for half an hour and I can still remember the gist of his
conversation. He was very keen to impress on me that Margaret, or "The Boss"
as he called her, was a great lover of all things Scottish.

"She comes up here every chance she gets," he declared, "and to be honest,
she gets a little bit hurt that some Scottish people are nasty about her. In
fact, she admires the Scots for their work ethic and their respect for
education. And she knows what fine soldiers they make."

Denis was, in every sense, the loyal consort and a completely devoted
husband. He honestly believed Margaret could do no wrong and silently fumed
at ministers who were less than supportive. His politics were on the right
touchline but he never embarrassed his wife.

He loved sport, as befitted a man who had been a first-class rugby referee
and ran touch during an England international.

Never rattled by the lampooning he had to face, Denis was always prepared to
laugh it off. One night he was in the bar of the Caledonian Club in
Edinburgh, and an elderly member asked him if he was a recent recruit.

"No, I am a member of a reciprocal club in London," he replied.

"In what part of London do you stay?" was the next question.

"Downing Street."

"That'll be right," scoffed the old boy, "you'll be telling us next you live
in no 10."

For Margaret Thatcher, his death will be very hard to bear.

Brian Meek is a Conservative member of Edinburgh City Council