Cynthia Crawford is the former personal assistant to Margaret Thatcher. A member of the local Conservative party in Finchley, she later helped run Thatcher's household throughout the latter's tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and acted as her confidante. She was known as "Crawfie" to the Thatchers.[1]

Career

Crawford began her career as a secretary before being hired by Thatcher family in 1978. Crawford has given several interviews about her experiences, including details of Thatcher's fondness for drinking spirits late at night and her use of B12 injections.[1] According to Crawford, Thatcher believed that whisky kept her alert, saying "Dear, you cannot drink gin and tonic in the middle of the night. You must have whisky to give you energy."[2]

Thatcher told Crawford about her first meeting with then-governor Ronald Reagan, shortly after she had become Conservative party leader. Reagan had told her that he "intended to try and become President". Thatcher said to him, "I am going to become Prime Minister".[3]

Crawford was present at the death of Denis Thatcher in June 2003, saying "I was holding Lady Thatcher's hand, and she was holding Sir Denis's hand when he died". She said "he was her absolute soulmate."[4] She latterly lived as Lady Thatcher's friend and companion.

On 27 January 2021, Crawford was appointed the first female president of Worcestershire County Cricket Club.[5]

Personal life

She married Ray Crawford and lives in Worcester.[4]

Cultural depictions

In the BBC drama Margaret, Crawford was played by Jenny Howe and in the 2011 film The Iron Lady by Angela Curran.

References

  1. 1 2 Morris, Steven (24 February 2003). "Whisky and B12 shots fortified Iron Lady". The Guardian.
  2. ↑ Richard Brooks, "Thatcher’s all-nighters on whisky", The Sunday Times, February 23, 2003
  3. ↑ Conor Burns "The three who changed the world - Reagan, Thatcher and John Paul II, TotalPolitics, 04 Jul 2011 11:35
  4. 1 2 Colin Brown, 'I was holding Lady Thatcher's hand and she was holding Denis's when he died. There were no final words', The Telegraph, 29 Jun 2003.
  5. ↑ "CYNTHIA CRAWFORD MBE TO BECOME NEW WORCESTERSHIRE CCC PRESIDENT – Worcestershire CCC".


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