Edward Heath museum bares soul of private PM

By Paul Majendie

SALISBURY, England (Reuters) - Former Prime Minister Edward Heath was accused of the "longest sulk in history" after losing the Conservative party leadership to Margaret Thatcher in 1975.

After his death in 2005 at the age of 89, obituaries recalled his long years in the political wilderness, painting a picture of an awkward, prickly figure.

That could not be further from the truth argues Stuart Craven, who worked for Heath for 20 years and now lovingly shows visitors round Heath's house in the close of Salisbury Cathedral.

"I never saw the bitterness. This was his retreat where he got on with life. He was very happy here," Craven said as he took the latest batch of tourists round the exquisitely furnished house.

"I haven't altered anything. It's much more of a house than a museum," he said, guiding visitors into the elegant dining room.

"He gave his famous lunch parties here nearly every Sunday with a guest list that ranged from Archbishops to Monty Python stars and local Salisbury people," Craven said.

But what of the feud with Thatcher.

"There were huge ideological differences but they had huge respect for each other as well," Craven insisted.