Margaret Thatcher: The Authorized Biography (135 page)

18. Denis and Margaret after their engagement, which was concealed from Dartford voters in the 1951 general election.

19. Margaret and Denis cut the cake at their wedding reception at 5 Carlton Gardens, the house of Sir Alfred Bossom, 13 December 1951. Her hat was modelled on that of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, in Gainsborough’s portrait.

20. Married love: Denis fastens his wife’s necklace at Dormers, Farnborough, Kent, where they moved just before Christmas 1957.

21. The twins: Mark and Carol were born 14 August 1953. Denis, who was watching cricket at the Oval, did not know his wife had been expecting twins until they had been born.

22. Waving them away: Mark and Carol leave Dormers for school, 1959. Mrs Thatcher is not taking them to school herself.

23. Gardening at Dormers, but not dressed for the part. Mrs Thatcher liked her flowers bright but orderly.

24. At home with Mark and Carol, 1961. There are few records of her relaxing with her children.

25. The new Member for Finchley arrives to take her seat in the House of Commons, 20 October 1959.

26. In October 1961, Mrs Thatcher was one of the first of her parliamentary intake to achieve ministerial office, as parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance. She is reading the parliamentary order paper.

27. Meeting the first Minister under whom she served, John Boyd-Carpenter. He noted her ‘quick-trained barrister’s brain’.

28. ‘Women about the House’: a
Sunday Times Magazine
cover, 21 June 1964, about female Members of Parliament. Mrs Thatcher is at the back, and at the top.

29. Mother in the Cabinet: Margaret plays to her family in their house, The Mount, Lamberhurst, after the Conservative election victory of June 1970.

30. The Secretary of State for Education. Despite being called ‘milksnatcher’, Mrs Thatcher was better than most politicians at talking to children. Here she is at the London American School in 1971.