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1941, two years into the War and a small seven year old boy, in cap and school uniform with gas mask draped across his slim shoulders, skipped happily along North Parade, Grantham, Lincolnshire, with shopping basket clutched in his hand. He was on his way to Roberts' Grocery Store with a shopping list from his mother and ration book for some precious provisions. It was less than one hundred yards from home to the shop but his mum had told him to run home quickly if the air raid siren sounded.

That boy was me and the frequent errand for my Mother not only made me feel grown up but gave me the opportunity to speak to Margaret Roberts, the pretty fair haired girl in blue High School uniform who frequently helped her parents in the busy corner shop after school. Margaret always made a fuss of me and would ask how I was getting on at school.

I was therefore very sad when, in September 1943, she told me she was leaving home to go to a place called Oxford. I later learned that she was at Somerville College, Oxford studying chemistry.

The years rolled by and in May, 1979, by which time I was 44, married, a father of two boys and living in Cardiff, Margaret Thatcher (formerly my friend Margaret Roberts), aged 54, entered Downing Street as the first woman to hold the position of UK Prime Minister.

Today, we are both retired pensioners so the wheel has turned full circle.

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Christina Cazalet of CSV Action Desk Leicester on behalf of David Leverett and has been added with his permission. The author fully understands the website's terms and conditions.

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