The University of Łódź in central Poland Oct. 16 conferred an honorary doctorate on former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

Due to health problems, Thatcher was unable to collect the degree in person. Instead she picked it up symbolically at a university in London as she watched the Łódź ceremony live via a special link in the company of Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.

In a speech, Thatcher said the road to freedom was not always easy but appealed to Polish decision makers to stay on this course.

Thatcher was prime minister for three consecutive terms from 1979 until 1990. Her determination in carrying out economic reforms earned her the nickname "Iron Lady."

The University of Łódź said the honorary doctorate was awarded for the role Thatcher played in supporting Poland's Solidarity trade union in the days when the union was still illegal in this country.

Alongside Thatcher, the University of Łódź bestowed an honorary doctorate on Prof. Władysław Bartoszewski, a well-known politician and historian, currently an adviser to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Maria Sondej