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The issues are important and serious. I agree with her being afforded every respect but she did upset an awful lot of people. People often use humour to help them when they feel helpless. In politics everyone is under the microscope, sadly all to often they fail to live up to a high ideal. Contrast our industrial base with Germany. I would welcome comments about her that are positive, I am sure lots of people have lots to say. That is our democracy

Really shabby Sym! Whether you agree or disagree with what she did you demean yourself as a human being by taking that attitude to the death of a frail old lady. You also show an intolerance to the rights of countless millions of people who believe that what she did was very necessary to the survival and long-term well-being of our country. In their honest moments that includes just as many people left-of-center as right.

Sorry, I find this deeply offensive. Whatever you thought of her, now is not the time.

Bedlington was not even mentioned. If we were doing our own show what could we include. Longridge Graves in the Churchyard. The Stephenson's were around. Wooden waggonways to metal rails. First Penny Black sent to the Iron Works. Queen Victoria trusted Our very own Daniel Gooch to drive her personal train We have experts on the computer front. How can we prove Bedlington needs money to develop the site as a World Heritage Site.

History topic Maggie Thatcher died today A very controversial figure. She attracted hate and respect in possibly equal measure! Her policies changed our lives forever!

GGGG - "I don't have an exact date for the older part but I'm digging." They're not that old surely?

"spiteful rantings"? hhmm.... My real problem with the ultra-left propaganda about Mrs T is that it influences kids who weren't around at the time. Had they been they'd likely have seen for themselves what an almighty mess we were in due to the likes of Scargill. No one else had the guts to stand up to the almighty unions who were holding us all to ransom - neither the Labour Party or the Tory wets like Heath. It had to be done, and if it was so bad why was not a scrap of it ever undone by Labour? But none of this was personal - it's only the loony-left who want to personalise it. If you can't win a logical argument then try to label and demonise - always a good substitute for actual thought! Well said you lefty BBC journo!

I have no problem with people debating her policies, it is Symptoms attitude I found offensive. It is now over 20 years since she left politics, and I can't see her successors in either party having done any better.

oh and another interesting point. cycles, and the famous millne raleigh and scotts cycles , i believe, at the rear of the sun inn they were. very famous too. early transport

interesting points indeed these Maggie. That abouth the steam engine holding the fence up at the swann, choppington, what malcolm was on about, just gives an example of what lays beneatrh bedlingtonshires earth. willoughby broke the steam engines up there. i wonder what else is hidden. talking abouth bedlingtonshire we have had some of the best pioneers in history when it comes to the railways. you mention a good deal of other valuable points too. all interesting and true. but if we look more within our shire of the past, choppington had some of the greats too. Thomas Burt worked at the local colliery. thomas glassey was the first primeminister of queensland in australia. we have the oldest pit lodge too in choppington colliery. barrington had some inventors too. cambois has a fantastic history, oh, and an invation took part there too. i feel the need to write something on it too lets get our area noticed more. i think we can if malcolm could get funding. and as of the time team or others like that, there is barry mead. btw barry is doing a talk on bedlington ironworks next month. i will ask mark where and the time as it slips my mind. very interesting, we never know who will be there, but it could bring interesting people to listen to the talk and what can develop one never knows. keep the good work up everyone, we are doing well on here with our heritage topic.

The real problem I have is that it looks like everyone has just given up when you see the state of our small market towns. I think that's down to a lack of imagination and innovation by all sorts of people who have vested interests in our towns. A single example. Even when new life is attempted to be breathed into our market place with a weekly market the powers that be have allowed it to disintegrate into a second-hand car boot sale. Where there was once a half decent market (discounted rents for a while!) using new liveried stalls (we paid for!) it now looks like a dump! Plus all that new stone flags etc are now having vehicles driven over them and in some instances parked on them in complete contempt to what was stated at the time the recent marketplace revamp took place. The Town Council has had this brought to their attention on several occasions the result, its got worse!

What did you think of the Angel of the North and what do you think of it now? Burial Mounds, history and a talking point. What more can art do, but inspire controversy. The open cast, the form of a lady, a viewing platform for all the area, bringing tourists to the area, I love the whole thing controversy included It is a good thing to have democracy where we can disagree