Yesterday (Wednesday 30 October 2002) former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher opened the new wing of the Churchill Archives Centre at Churchill College, Cambridge.

The purpose-built wing will enable the Archives Centre to house the Thatcher Papers alongside the archives of other prominent politicians, civil servants, diplomats, service chiefs and scientists of the 'Churchill era and beyond'.

The Archives Centre is rapidly becoming one of the country's leading repositories for the preservation of the private archives of modern public figures. The existing strong-room, built to the house the archive of Sir Winston Churchill, is now full and without the new wing the Archives Centre would not be able to continue to collect papers, compromising its cultural and educational mission to the detriment of this and future generations.

Lady Thatcher has played a key role in promoting and supporting the development of the new wing.

Introducing Lady Thatcher, Sir John Boyd, Master of Churchill College, said:

"I am delighted that this College, which was founded as the National Memorial to Sir Winston Churchill, should now enjoy the support of another illustrious occupant of 10 Downing Street. Lady Thatcher has not only ensured that her own papers will be accessible, she has also helped secure the future of many other important collections."

Opening the new wing, Lady Thatcher said:

"Politicians' private papers offer insights which could not be gained from any other source. The material contained in the Churchill Archives is a real national asset, which I hope that generations of researchers will quarry to good effect."

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