Baroness Thatcher unveils new portrait donated to Conservative Friends of Poland by the artist Barbara Kaczmarowska Hamilton.

On 13th January 2010 at the Carlton club in London, Lady Thatcher unveiled her new portrait painted by the renowned Anglo-Polish artist Barbara Kaczmarowska Hamilton.

In attendance were The Rt Hon. The Lord Parkinson, Lord Powell and Sir John Major along with a wide-ranging representation of the Anglo-Polish community and supporters of the Conservative Party.

The portrait has been donated by the artist to The Conservative Friends of Poland, of which Lady Thatcher is Honorary Patron.

The Rt Hon. The Lord Parkinson, Honorary President of Conservative Friends of Poland told the audience:

"There have always been strong links between the Conservative Party and the Polish community in England.  Conservative Friends of Poland is a successor of the long established and successful Anglo-Polish Conservative Society.  Having been President of the latter, I am delighted to be President of this new body"

Teresa Potocka, Founding Chairman of the Conservative Friends of Poland, in a glowing and well-received tribute to the former British Prime Minister said:

“Lady Thatcher, in those dark years of martial law you were a symbol of hope and freedom for the Polish people. I grew up in the eighties and remember when you visited Poland on November 3^rd, 1988 and became the first British Prime Minister to make an official visit to Poland. A momentous event.

Working closely with Pope John Paul II and Ronald Reagan and Lech Walesa, you helped bring freedom back to Poland - and bring down the Iron Curtain.

As you said in your speech to the Polish Senate on October 3^rd 1991:

"For both of us the idea we have of our country is inseparable from our mission to defend and extend the reign of freedom.

The defiant words emblazoned on the banners of Poland's freedom fighters in the nineteenth century would find an echo in any British heart: "For Your Freedom, and Ours".

People rarely say Thank you to politicians.

Let me say it today on behalf of Conservative Friends of Poland.

Thank you for what you did for this country, and for Poland."

This wonderful portrait is by a distinguished artist, a Pole who has made her home here. Someone whose own family shows their love for this country, as for Poland - Barbara Kaczmarowska Hamilton.

"We are so grateful that Barbara has so kindly donated this portrait to Conservative Friends of Poland.”