A LEADING Conservative councillor has expressed his “sadness” at the death of Sir Denis Thatcher who died last week aged 88.

Sir Denis, husband of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was born in Lewisham in 1915.

Lewisham Conservatives leader Councillor Barrie Anderson said he was saddened by the death of a man who had been Maggie’s tower of strength.

He said: “I was very saddened by the news. Denis really was the tower of strength to Margaret Thatcher. She could not have done her job as well as she did without his backing.

“People always took the gentle mickey out of him. But Denis Thatcher was respected by everybody. I think it will be devastating for Maggie to come to terms with. She was such a strong person. Her one weakness was her need for her husband.” Sir Denis’ wealthy family’s business was Atlas Preservatives, a chemical and paint business in Erith.

He was educated at Mill Hill public school and then joined the family firm in 1933 at the age of 18.

In 1935, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant with the 34th Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

In 1949 he met Margaret Roberts, who was to become his famous second wife. He retired from business in 1975 and by this time his wife’s political career had taken off in a big way.

His role as his wife’s consort was well known, as was his love of golf and of gin and tonic.

He was awarded an hereditary baronetcy after Baroness Thatcher lost the leadership of the Tory party in 1990.

In January this year he had a heart bypass at the age of 87. Two weeks ago he was taken ill and died last Thursday at the Lister Hospital, in London, with Lady Thatcher and the couple’s twins, Mark and Carol, by his bedside.