THERE were many who objected to the then Education Secretary Margaret Thatcher's decision to withdraw free milk from schoolchildren in 1971 – and in Brentwood, students took to the streets in protest.
Youngsters who attended Brentwood College of Education, in Sawyers Hall Lane, demonstrated by marching from the institution to the Town Hall in Ingrave Road where they handed in a petition signed by 150 people opposed to Mrs Thatcher's policy.
David Bryant, the social secretary of the student union, was holding the megaphone that day.
He said this week: "In hindsight it seems a bit silly to us all now because most of the children didn't like milk anyway.
"But at the time we didn't see it that way.
"It seemed like a callous attack on children."
The march took place in January 1971 as hundreds of students marched to the Town Hall and gave speeches outside with many concerned that their union could be under threat from the then Education Secretary.
Mr Bryant recalled: "It was a big protest and it jammed up the High Street.
"Looking back it was not anything I'm ashamed of.
"It did achieve something."
He added: "I'm sure for many it was a defining moment that people were first aware they had a political voice.
"It was the first time many felt listened to."
Mr Bryant lived in Hutton at the time and went on to teach at Mayflower High School in Billericay.
His political stance has changed over time but he says the recent protests against Baroness Thatcher did not impress him.
"I think it was ridiculous," he said.
"I would have more sympathy for them if they knew anything about it.
"She was from a very ordinary background and she managed the Falklands crisis with incredible dignity.
"For me she was the first and only Prime Minister of Britain who understood Britain needed to change.
"If she hadn't done what she did Britain would have slipped into a Third World country.
"She was an ordinary woman who achieved remarkable things."
