Music for an Iron Lady's Funeral

​Baroness Thatcher planned her funeral with the same thoroughness and patriotic spirit that marked her three terms as Prime Minister.

​Her funeral service will start with the organist playing a selection of items by British composers including Herbert Howells, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Frank Bridge. The service will end with "Nimrod" from Elgar's Enigma Variations.

The first two hymns reflect her Methodist upbringing, starting with "He Who Would Valiant Be", commonly known as "To be a pilgrim", a great tune and words reflecting the need for determination even in humility. The second, "Love divine, all love's excelling" is by Charles Wesley, and whichever tune she chose, it's a great sing!

The third hymn is one we've noticed rise in popularity over the last 12 months, "I vow to thee my country", with words by Cecil Spring-Rice and music adapted by composer Gustav Holst from his own "Planet Suite".

Lady Thatcher also specified that readings would be from the King James version of the Bible, and includes John 14: 1-6, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you."