'She does not look like a career woman'

DUSTED OFF The Magazine delves into the archives

Thirty years after Margaret Thatcher entered Number 10, the BBC Archive has released documents and broadcasts offering glimpses into its early dealings with the future leader, and through them an insight into her path towards Downing Street.

Her main charm to me was that she does not look like a 'career woman' The BBC's Joanne Symons notes her impression of Mrs Thatcher in 1957 BBC Thatcher archive

The collection includes memos and production notes not intended for publication relating to Lady Thatcher's early appearances on radio and television.

The earliest known reference to Margaret Thatcher in the archive is from 1957, pre-dating her election as a member of parliament in 1959, and is a typed memo (see below) written by Joanne Symons, detailing a meeting between herself and Mrs Thatcher.

Sent to Joyce Pullen in the women's programme department it recommends the then barrister as someone suitable for broadcast.

"Mrs Thatcher is 30 ish I suspect tho' she could pass for much younger, very pretty and dresses most attractively. Very 'feminine'!" Symons reports.

She compliments the future prime minister's clear thinking and offers a conclusion that would be unthinkable to many now: "Her main charm to me was that she does not look like a 'career woman'!"

Symons' comments were evidently listened to, as some weeks after the memo, Mrs Thatcher appeared on Your Own Time, which the Radio Times billed as a "light-hearted programme for younger women".

She spoke in her capacity as a barrister in a discussion entitled It's a Woman's World.

Unfortunately this programme was not kept by the BBC, but visitors to the archive can explore clips of other key television and radio appearances which have survived.

The earliest is an edition of Any Questions? broadcast in 1960 in which Mrs Thatcher made a witty appearance as a panellist in her first year as an MP.

The broadcast took place long before the voice coaches went to work to lower the tone of her speaking voice.

Iron lady

"Excellent feminine voice. First class broadcasting manner," remarked a producer in production notes two years later in 1962 following another appearance by Mrs Thatcher.

Over the series of video, audio clips and documents, readers can follow her transformation into the "Iron Lady" who would eventually enter number 10.

Yet speaking in 1972, on the radio programme Women in Politics, she felt that was one door a female politician was many years away from breaking down. She said the prospect of a woman becoming prime minister was something she would never see in her lifetime.