A surprise visitor arrived in Burton in March 1992 to help boost the Conservative Party's election campaign. The visitor was former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who dropped by to offer her support to the party's candidate Ivan Lawrence.
Mrs Thatcher's motorcade arrived in the town just before 3pm at Marston's Brewery in Shobnall Road where the former Conservative Prime Minister was introduced to brewery directors and chatted to staff before touring the brewery.
Following the tour, conducted by Marston's chairman Michael Hurdle, Mrs Thatcher was driven to the Conservative Party campaign headquarters in St Paul's Square in the town. Her presence in Burton was a personal thank you to Mr Lawrence for his support of her policies over the years.
Mr Lawrence had been an MP in the town since 1974 when he replaced former Conservative John Jennings who retired, while Mrs Thatcher became Prime Minister in 1979.
Speaking in 1992, Mr Lawrence said: "I thought her visit was dramatic and lifted the campaign in Burton. She made the point that we must fight on the important issues and not let arguments deflect us from our massive achievements."
The result of the 1992 election saw Mr Lawrence retain his seat and the Conservative Party go on to win its fourth consecutive election. The election victory was a first for new Tory Prime Minister John Major who replaced Margaret Thatcher in November 1990.
