A Salute to Cooking.
Celebrity recipes in aid of the Chelsea Pensioners. Foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales.
London: Bene Factum Publishing Ltd, 2009 Stock Code: 145479
First edition, first impression, presentation copy from Margaret Thatcher to her personal driver Malcolm Taylor, inscribed on the title page: "To Malcolm - Happy Christmas, Margaret Thatcher".
Taylor served as Thatcher's driver from 1998 to 2010. As with all her staff, he was treated with great kindness by the former Prime Minister; she hosted his retirement party in 2010 despite her ill health, and presented a teddy bear for his grandson. The book, a testament to their long-term professional relationship and friendship, was acquired by Peter Harrington directly from the recipient.
The book gathers recipes from many celebrity contributors, including David Cameron, Cherie Blair, Jeremy Clarkson, Nigella Lawson, Gordon Ramsay, Delia Smith, and the Lady herself: Margaret Thatcher contributes the "Number 10 'Cabinet Lunch'", - "a typical luncheon which we would serve at No. 10 when the Cabinet was holding a special policy working session. I liked the meal to be robust and fortifying - just like our discussion!". The Cabinet members were treated to spinach soup to start, British beef and horseradish casserole as the main, followed by chocolate mousse for dessert.
The collection was published in aid of the Chelsea Pensioners, the iconic retired British Army veterans who reside in the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Margaret Thatcher was closely tied to the Hospital, and it was the final resting place of both her and her husband Denis. Denis's funeral service and internment happened at the hospital in 2003; Thatcher attended church services at the hospital thereafter, and requested donations to the hospital in lieu of birthday presents. In 2009 she opened a new wing of the hospital, the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary. In 2013 her ashes were buried with Denis at the hospital, with a service held in the chapel of the Infirmary in a small private affair, much less grand than her ceremonial funeral in St Paul's Cathedral.
Description
Quarto. Original pictorial boards, spine and covers lettered in red and black.
Condition
A fine copy.
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