In response to the statue of Margaret Thatcher being bestowed upon the poor folk of Grantham (‘It’s very divisive’: Margaret Thatcher’s statue splits birthplace of Grantham, 22 May), I would suggest instead the placing of a blue plaque in every town, village and home that she cruelly devastated. The suffering inflicted on our mining and shipyard communities was indescribable, and the lasting effect of the pain and anxiety suffered by so many is still evident today.
Riot police battling miners outside their homes left us deeply shocked. Children came to school stressed and hungry, and mothers were beside themselves with worry. With no wages coming in, these proud women were forced to depend on food collection points and handouts from neighbours – a process that they found humiliating.
