Romford Pictures: Margaret Thatcher, who died today, visiting Romford in 2005

Margaret Thatcher and Norman Tebbit visited Romford in 2005 (Image: Archant)

The Iron Lady, 87, had a long association with Havering.

The then-shadow cabinet member outlined the Conservative Party’s plans to reform local government taxes in 1974 in Romford.

In the 1980s she visited Harold Hill to encourage people to buy their own council home.

In 2001 she helped with Andrew Rosindell’s successful election to Parliament in the Romford constituency.

And in 2005, Baroness Thatcher opened the Conservative Party’s new Romford headquarters in Western Road with Norman Tebbit, after the previous office burnt down a year before.

The building has since been named Margaret Thatcher House in her honour.

To see pictures from the visit click on the picture gallery, right.

On the same day. she also planted an ash tree in Coronation Gardens, Romford, to commemorate the 293 civilians who lost their lives in the borough and on the home front during the World Wars.

Havering Council leader Cllr Michael White said: “I remember that day she was getting on a bit and was a bit frail, we said to her ‘Lady Thatcher all you need to do is put the shovel in the ground once, and we’ll do the rest’ , but she said no and insisted on doing it properly.

“That was what she was like, she never did things by half.”

He added: “She was one of the main reasons why I got involved in politics in the first place, she was an inspiration to me and a whole generation of people.”

Solly Ahmed, of the Bekash Tandoori, Victoria Road, Romford, said: “She was a lovely and humble lady. It was a pleasure to meet her when she visited Romford. It was my ambition to meet this wonderful lady. What an honour she was to our country. She will be in our hearts forever. My condolences go to the close friends and family.”

What are your memories of Baroness Thatcher? Leave your comments below or email ian.weinfass@archant.co.uk