The day Margaret Thatcher came to Leamington

Baroness Thatcher, who was secretary of state for education at the time, officially opened the Douglas and Eileen Hall building at the independent school on Friday October 20 1972.

During her visit she was given a tour of the school by Jonathan Hall, who still owns the school building and after whose parents the hall was named, and although it was more than 40 years ago he remembers the experience as if it were yesterday.

Mr Hall said: “She had an electrifying personality which singled her out from any other politician I had come across.

“She was strong and dynamic and possessed an unyielding belief in the validity of her views - she was quite remarkable.”

Mrs Thatcher arrived in Leamington by train and was then taken to Arnold Lodge by limousine, which was arranged by the school.

Keith Speed, the then MP for Meriden whose children were pupils at the school, was instrumental in the visit taking place after the school had received a glowing report from Her Majesty’s inspectors.

Mr Speed, now Sir Keith Speed, later became Navy Minister but was sacked by Mrs Thatcher in 1981 when he disagreed with proposals put forward by her and then Secretary of State for Defence John Nott to reduce the strength of the Royal Navy.

Having attended a drinks party and a lunch party, which took place at the Clarendon Hotel, Mrs Thatcher met pupils and staff at the school before giving a speech.

Supporting the need for independent education, she said: “The important thing is that children enjoy a good education and a good start, and I believe that the existence of schools of this kind does indeed help to raise standards in other schools and to be able to provide some comparison of what is going on between different schools run in a different way.”

Like much of Mrs Thatcher’s political career, the visit was not without controversy.

Police stood outside the school to ensure student demonstrators did not disturb the peace.The group, from Warwick University, were demonstrating against cuts to the higher education budget and student grants.

Mrs Thatcher refused to meet the students but said she would consider their views in writing.