FORMER Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher paid a special visit to Worcestershire yesterday to look around the Elgar Birthplace Museum.
The Iron Lady spent about an hour touring the museum, on Crown East Lane in Lower Broadheath, and the cottage in which the famous composer was born.
Lady Thatcher, who had been invited to the museum because of her interest in Sir Edward Elgar, was shown some of his original manuscripts, drawings and letters, among other exhibits.
"Lady Thatcher is very fond of Elgar because she admires him as a person and his great patriotism," said Cynthia Crawford, Lady Thatcher's personal assistant.
"Both her mother and father sang and when she went to Oxford she was a member of the Bach choir.
"Lady Thatcher and her late husband Denis were also very keen opera fans and went to Covent Garden a lot."
"I'm absolutely delighted she's paid us this visit because she's an icon and a very important part of our history," said Sam Driver White, vice-chairman of the Elgar Foundation.
"I'm delighted she's interested in Elgar and everything we've got to show."
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