Thatcher

I was surprised by the large military presence. She was not a military figure. Does being PM during a conflict entitle you to a military-style funeral?

If it does, Tony Blair will be entitled to five or six times as many military personnel given the number of wars in which he involved the UK.

I like the hymn 'I vow to thee my country', whilst profoundly disagreeing with the sentiments expressed in it.

Well I did watch it and can inform you all that any protestors were a very minor part of the crowd. We saw 4 people turn their backs, we were looking for that. One small group booed and we heard that some idiots threw things at the horses but didn't see it. Overall there was clapping and respect shown, anything else was barely noticeable.

Just for clarification, it was not a state funeral.

'ceremonial' I gather.

Saw some children in the crowd in photos posted on my FB...hope they were not missing school as a former Ed Sec do not think she would have approved!

Some children are still on holiday nanej I know because a lot of them were in the swimming pool this morning!

Greatnan; that hymn makes my eyes well up with tears . We do do these ceremonies rather well, I think. Have just had a telecon with my daughter about the fact that it was mentioned that now it was time for the historians to work out her place in history; as a history teacher it's something she'd like to learn more about. I often think it isn't the big issues that are important but the smaller ones that seem to be brushed aside and forgotten.

I didn't watch the funeral but I understand that there was applause. What the hell was being applauded and when did a funeral become entertainment? I think someone else has already pointed out that the people in St Paul's were mourners not guests. And then other posters reckon this circus was dignified…

I must add that I am also much amused by the "followed by a private cremation". Do families and friends usually gather around the furnace to watch their loved one being burnt to ashes or were these news presenters expecting a funeral pyre in Trafalgar Square?

I suppose mourners at a funeral should be people that mourn the loss of the deceased person, not people that just happen to be in the same political party [albeit one that booted her out]or are foreign dignitaries that have been invited. I see Edwina Currie managed to get a bit of tv exposure over it [as she would].

Absent it's quite normal and usual to have the funeral service for relatives, friends, colleagues and acquaintances and to restrict presence at the burial or cremation (the committal) to close family, either before or after the service.

Oh ..London area and Surrey schools were back this week.

janeainsworth I do know that. It's just that the BBC kept wittering on about the private cremation as if burning the body was normally a public spectacle. Their coverage this morning reminded me of the Jubilee fracas, especially when Charlie Stayt referred to the wedding.

David Dimbleby didn't cover himself in glory either, referring to Lady Thatcher's granddaughters when he meant granddaughter and grandson, and at one point he was referring to 'the woman wearing the black hat' when the screen showed at least six women in black hats.

janeainsworth No, a black hat isn't likely to be a distinguishing feature at a funeral.

I had the T.V. on for the breakfast-time news programme, hoping to see my cousin's grandson who will be the youngest participant in the London Marathon this year.
His Mum had told me that his 'slot' was changed to an earlier day to allow for all the 'reports' of 'that' funeral (my emphasis). Then the BBC re-instated it saying they didn't want to over-emphasise the Thatcher funeral...... I know which I would prefer to watch, a young man doing his best for society rather than an old lady (albeit enshrouded) who thought there was no such thing!
I switched off after I saw him!

I saw that and I very rarely watch Breakfast TV [think I was still lying on the sofa with the dog from the night before as it was my day off ]. The interviewer was thrown a bit when she mentioned to Boston tragedy to the old guy and he just shrugged it off [not the answer she wanted but a typical one from someone that has lived a long time through many disasters both personal and impersonal]. Wish your lad good luck from me .

Must be really hard, commentating on something like that.

I noticed the bit about granddaughters, and wanted to shout, 'one' s a boy!'

Thanks Tegan