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Baroness Thatcher's 80th Report by Peggy, Oct 2005

Dame Shirley Bassey added glamour to the celebrations at Baroness Margaret Thatcher’s 80th birthday party.

The Queen and over 650 guests honoured the former Tory Prime Minister on Thursday 13th October 2005 with a dinner at London’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 66 Knightsbridge, near Hyde Park.

Other Showbiz admirers included Shirley’s friend Joan Collins, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Robert Powell, June Whitfield, Jim Davidson, Jeremy Clarkson and Marco Pierre White.

Dame Shirley, escorted by Beaudoin Mills, looked stunning in a fake leopard-skin top and a short black skirt. Her hair was in her new natural style. She stopped at the door to joke with the photographers.

Joan Collins also chatted to reporters, saying "It is a great way to celebrate a great lady who I have absolutely always adored. She is the Iron Lady and I want to be just like that when I grow up."

Scores of politicians included Tony Blair, John Major, Michael Howard, Nigel Lawson and Jeffrey Archer. Twins Carol and Mark Thatcher joined their Mum. Ken Clarke, Michael Heseltine and Charles Kennedy were not invited.

Baroness Thatcher looked frail when she arrived 15 minutes late. Normally a stickler for timekeeping, she had been delayed by talking on the phone to George Bush.

A toast was proposed by Lord Carrington. Lady Thatcher replied, despite doctors’ advice against public speeches after some minor strokes. Cecil Parkinson said: "She to everybody's surprise made a speech and was also very witty and entertaining and we were just pleased to see her in such good shape."

John Redwood, said: "She spoke extremely well and she spoke generously about all the people who had helped her doing what she did in the 1980s."

An unconfirmed rumour from a fan claims that there was a concert and Shirley performed. The event was allegedly filmed and is going to be on TV, with performances from other artists. We shall see...

For more photos, including a few more of Shirley, click on this link to Getty Images.

Thanks to Peggy for providing this report.

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