Madge was often in my house as it was the venue for many meetings and functions for the local Conservatives. We lived in Friern Barnet when the most famous of our MP’s was a certain Iron Lady from Grantham!!! We all loved Madge as she was erudite, funny and had a plentiful cornucopia of stories. After a meeting one night, as about 10 people struggled to find their coats , she spotted a ball of about 10 inches diameter on the hall floor. In great glee, she kicked it with all her might and looked for praise from my 10 year old son . None was forthcoming. “You just kicked my hamster ball!” he shouted in total horror. “What?? Do you mean that your hamster was inside that ball?” My son answered in the affirmative but was too shocked to move. “Crumbs,” said Madge and looking contrite, she picked up the ball and handed it to Stephen. At first he was too scared to look but his face soon turned to joy and as Our Lady apologised profusely, he carried the ball plus hamster up the stairs to the safety of his bedroom. ‘Well”, she declared, “ We didn’t have things like that in My Day”. She was great friends with my mother as they both were born in 1922. They became giggling schoolgirls as they enjoyed a wee dram together whilst puffing away on an illicit cigarette. I last saw her a day or two before her 101st birthday. Another friend and I visited. We took her the usual small bottle of the amber nectar for her to secrete in her room. She looked at it rather sadly and said. “ Better not”, before giving it back to us. We were quite surprised but now wonder if she knew more than we did. All who did know her will miss her and be sadder for her parting.