Wacky Louis Maier has paid a lasting tribute to the late Margaret Thatcher – by having a TATTOO of her face inked on to his leg.
The 32-year-old tattoo artist decided to have the six inch (15cm) body art permanently etched on to his calf to commemorate the life of the Iron Lady.
On Tuesday Louis sat for two hours while his boss Darren Paddison inked a bizarre design merging the former Prime Minister’s face with an ice cream cone on to the back of his leg
[half]
[/half]
[half]
[/half]
Louis, from Grantham, Lincs – where Lady Thatcher was born – said he wanted the tattoo done as a mark of respect – despite “not knowing much” about her.
He said: “We were all debating her legacy in the shop, with most people saying she wrecked lives and did bad for the country.
“I thought that in her time she was an incredible woman.
“She even invented Mr Whippy so we have to give her credit for that.
“I don’t know that much about her, but I think what she achieved was brilliant.
“I wanted this tattoo to make light of it all really, to put a nice twist on it.
“But more than anything it is a mark of respect to her and I think she would love it.
“Everywhere I go it gets a great reaction, people think it’s a bit weird, but they always see the funny side.”
Darren, 43, who owns The Tattoo Shop in Grantham, added: “There was a massive debate among myself and the staff about Thatcher and whether we loved or hated her.
“Louis, being young and naive like he is, said he liked her, and when he heard about Mr Whippy he became obsessed with the idea of getting the tattoo.
“We just printed the pictures off the internet and got on with it.
“I didn’t charge him for it though – this one is on the house.”
* In the 1950’s Mrs Thatcher supported herself by working as a research chemist developing emulsifiers for ice cream.
She was part of a team that started pumping air into the dessert to cut costs, which is how the iconic Mr Whippy-style that is popular today was invented.
Fair play to you, I get mine done today.