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| We come not to praise Margaret Thatcher… | We come not to praise Margaret Thatcher… |
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| The first great funeral for a commoner was for an actor, David Garrick, in 1779. It was directed by playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Garrick's successor at Drury Lane. It was not surpassed until the funeral of Nelson, whose organisers checked these obsequies when planning Nelson's at such tragically short notice. | The first great funeral for a commoner was for an actor, David Garrick, in 1779. It was directed by playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Garrick's successor at Drury Lane. It was not surpassed until the funeral of Nelson, whose organisers checked these obsequies when planning Nelson's at such tragically short notice. |
| The cortege took over an hour to pass. When the coffin arrived at the Abbey the last of the mourners had not yet left Garrick's house at the Adelphi. The pallbearers included a duke, two earls, a viscount and numerous lords. But it was not only the great who mourned: 50,000 ordinary Londoners lined the streets in silence. In those days you could get into the gallery of London's great playhouses for one-eighth of what the great paid in the boxes – and for half full price anywhere after Act Two of the mainpiece, with the always popular usually comic afterpiece yet to come. | The cortege took over an hour to pass. When the coffin arrived at the Abbey the last of the mourners had not yet left Garrick's house at the Adelphi. The pallbearers included a duke, two earls, a viscount and numerous lords. But it was not only the great who mourned: 50,000 ordinary Londoners lined the streets in silence. In those days you could get into the gallery of London's great playhouses for one-eighth of what the great paid in the boxes – and for half full price anywhere after Act Two of the mainpiece, with the always popular usually comic afterpiece yet to come. |
| Theatre united all, not just in harmless pleasure, but also in war. Garrick rallied the nation against the foe. He capped the annus mirabilis of 1759, when we beat the French five-nil to become top nation, with what quickly became our second national anthem: "Hearts of Oak are our ships, Hearts of oak are our men". | Theatre united all, not just in harmless pleasure, but also in war. Garrick rallied the nation against the foe. He capped the annus mirabilis of 1759, when we beat the French five-nil to become top nation, with what quickly became our second national anthem: "Hearts of Oak are our ships, Hearts of oak are our men". |
| Add the subsequent great funerals of commoners, such as those of Gladstone and of Churchill, and one feels that the definition of a national hero, who unifies a nation in respect and affection, is this week being debased. Iain Mackintosh London | Add the subsequent great funerals of commoners, such as those of Gladstone and of Churchill, and one feels that the definition of a national hero, who unifies a nation in respect and affection, is this week being debased. Iain Mackintosh London |
| • As a former serving officer I am most concerned that armed forces personnel will be required to take part in the funeral ceremony for Margaret Thatcher (Concern at the palace over military pomp of Thatcher funeral, 12 April). There is no doubt that she was a significant, albeit divisive, stateswoman in the 20th century, but why is she to receive military honours not afforded to others who have held the office of prime minister? Since the 17th century the British military has been wisely independent of domestic politics. To involve in these proceedings serving sailors, soldiers and airmen, who as part of their duties observe political neutrality and are forbidden to take an active part in political matters, is an implied endorsement of the views of a particular political group and a dangerous, partisan precedent. Peter North Brinton, Norfolk | • As a former serving officer I am most concerned that armed forces personnel will be required to take part in the funeral ceremony for Margaret Thatcher (Concern at the palace over military pomp of Thatcher funeral, 12 April). There is no doubt that she was a significant, albeit divisive, stateswoman in the 20th century, but why is she to receive military honours not afforded to others who have held the office of prime minister? Since the 17th century the British military has been wisely independent of domestic politics. To involve in these proceedings serving sailors, soldiers and airmen, who as part of their duties observe political neutrality and are forbidden to take an active part in political matters, is an implied endorsement of the views of a particular political group and a dangerous, partisan precedent. Peter North Brinton, Norfolk |
| • Margaret Thatcher came to the memorial service for my mother, Dorothy Hodgkin, in March 1995 (although none of the family remembers inviting her); my sister Elizabeth read a stirring speech by Dorothy which ended "Power to the people", and Mrs Thatcher sat through it without protesting. Yet we haven't heard a word from the organisers of the current funeral suggesting that any of us will get an invitation, although well-known warmongers such as Bibi Netanyahu will be going. We feel that someone has their priorities wrong. Not that we want to disturb the occasion – where there is discord, as they say, may we bring harmony. Luke Hodgkin London | • Margaret Thatcher came to the memorial service for my mother, Dorothy Hodgkin, in March 1995 (although none of the family remembers inviting her); my sister Elizabeth read a stirring speech by Dorothy which ended "Power to the people", and Mrs Thatcher sat through it without protesting. Yet we haven't heard a word from the organisers of the current funeral suggesting that any of us will get an invitation, although well-known warmongers such as Bibi Netanyahu will be going. We feel that someone has their priorities wrong. Not that we want to disturb the occasion – where there is discord, as they say, may we bring harmony. Luke Hodgkin London |
| • Margaret Thatcher lived out her last frail months in supreme luxury and comfort, with a team of devoted paid carers, from what we hear. On Monday Woman's Hour presented alarming and distressing facts and figures about those affected by dementia – sufferers, carers and family members – and how their numbers are likely to rocket in the coming years. After a death, it is common to see requests for donations to charities or research related to a condition that had affected the deceased. Wouldn't it have been nice if the Tory party and the family had put their heads together and come up with a plan that a million quid would give the old girl a very decent send-off by anybody's standards, and the other nine million could go to dementia research, care and support? Failing that, instead of a Conservative politics library and research institute, or whatever else is being dreamed up, how about establishing and funding the Thatcher Research Centre for Dementia and Care of the Elderly, or similar? That would be a legacy to be proud of. Not going to happen though, is it? Jane Bevan Bath | • Margaret Thatcher lived out her last frail months in supreme luxury and comfort, with a team of devoted paid carers, from what we hear. On Monday Woman's Hour presented alarming and distressing facts and figures about those affected by dementia – sufferers, carers and family members – and how their numbers are likely to rocket in the coming years. After a death, it is common to see requests for donations to charities or research related to a condition that had affected the deceased. Wouldn't it have been nice if the Tory party and the family had put their heads together and come up with a plan that a million quid would give the old girl a very decent send-off by anybody's standards, and the other nine million could go to dementia research, care and support? Failing that, instead of a Conservative politics library and research institute, or whatever else is being dreamed up, how about establishing and funding the Thatcher Research Centre for Dementia and Care of the Elderly, or similar? That would be a legacy to be proud of. Not going to happen though, is it? Jane Bevan Bath |
| • Admirers plan to open a library to celebrate Thatcher's legacy (Report, 15 April). Wouldn't it be more fitting to close one? John Flynn Chelmsford, Essex | • Admirers plan to open a library to celebrate Thatcher's legacy (Report, 15 April). Wouldn't it be more fitting to close one? John Flynn Chelmsford, Essex |
| • It is surely right that Big Ben's chimes are silenced during Lady Thatcher's funeral (Report, 16 April). The expense of the ceremony itself is justified also. Thatcher was our first female prime minister and a great one at that. Although a republican, I am pleased that the Queen will be attending. As a Tory voter, I found merit in Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, too. The pure nastiness of some politicians against a deceased old lady is quite shameful. Dominic Shelmerdine London | • It is surely right that Big Ben's chimes are silenced during Lady Thatcher's funeral (Report, 16 April). The expense of the ceremony itself is justified also. Thatcher was our first female prime minister and a great one at that. Although a republican, I am pleased that the Queen will be attending. As a Tory voter, I found merit in Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, too. The pure nastiness of some politicians against a deceased old lady is quite shameful. Dominic Shelmerdine London |
| • "Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone". No tweets, please, from St Paul's Cathedral today. Margaret Waddy Cambridge | • "Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone". No tweets, please, from St Paul's Cathedral today. Margaret Waddy Cambridge |
| • Ironic that two of Thatcher's choices of composer for her funeral music, Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams, were nonbelievers and committed socialists. John Shimwell London | • Ironic that two of Thatcher's choices of composer for her funeral music, Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams, were nonbelievers and committed socialists. John Shimwell London |
| • I wish people would stop citing Margaret Thatcher going to Oxford University in 1943 to study chemistry as blazing a trail for women (Deborah Orr, 13 April). Not only was she hardly unique, she did so when tens of thousands of other young women were joining the armed forces and Land Army, working in munitions and hospitals, or struggling to maintain life amid bombs and rationing. Young women who would otherwise have been working in factories, shops and offices, going out, having fun, getting married. My mum went from shop work to the Land Army and the ATS. She was a height and range finder with a mobile anti-aircraft gun battery. In a tin hat, sitting alongside the gun. Those young women were the real trailblazers – they lost their youth and many learned to do work more usually done by men, in uniform and in danger. As far as I am concerned, it's Mum 1, Thatcher 0. Mary Gomez Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd | • I wish people would stop citing Margaret Thatcher going to Oxford University in 1943 to study chemistry as blazing a trail for women (Deborah Orr, 13 April). Not only was she hardly unique, she did so when tens of thousands of other young women were joining the armed forces and Land Army, working in munitions and hospitals, or struggling to maintain life amid bombs and rationing. Young women who would otherwise have been working in factories, shops and offices, going out, having fun, getting married. My mum went from shop work to the Land Army and the ATS. She was a height and range finder with a mobile anti-aircraft gun battery. In a tin hat, sitting alongside the gun. Those young women were the real trailblazers – they lost their youth and many learned to do work more usually done by men, in uniform and in danger. As far as I am concerned, it's Mum 1, Thatcher 0. Mary Gomez Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd |
| • It fell to the "sons of Thatcher", namely Cameron and Clegg, initiated by Blair, to carry out what even she didn't have the guts to do: privatise the NHS – something that happened in England, almost unnoticed, on 1 April. So what was she, man or mouse? On the day when many will stand in silence to honour her, I will stand in memory of the NHS, which sadly didn't make it to its 65th birthday. Thatcher is dead, but Thatcherism certainly isn't. Dr Paul J Hobday Maidstone, Kent | • It fell to the "sons of Thatcher", namely Cameron and Clegg, initiated by Blair, to carry out what even she didn't have the guts to do: privatise the NHS – something that happened in England, almost unnoticed, on 1 April. So what was she, man or mouse? On the day when many will stand in silence to honour her, I will stand in memory of the NHS, which sadly didn't make it to its 65th birthday. Thatcher is dead, but Thatcherism certainly isn't. Dr Paul J Hobday Maidstone, Kent |