Elspeth Howe, Baroness Howe of Idlicote
Encyclopedia
Elspeth Rosamund Morton Howe, Baroness Howe of Idlicote CBE
(born Elspeth Rosamund Morton Shand, 8 February 1932) is a British
Crossbencher life peer
who has served in many capacities in public life. As the wife of Geoffrey Howe, she can also be known as Lady Howe of Aberavon.
She is the daughter of the writer Philip Morton Shand
by his fourth wife Sybil Mary Shand (née Sisson). As such, she is an aunt of the half-blood to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (née Shand, formerly Parker Bowles), whose father Bruce Shand
was son of P. Morton Shand by a previous marriage. Elspeth Shand was educated at Wycombe Abbey
, a leading private school for girls in the United Kingdom. She married the rising politician Geoffrey Howe
in 1953, and had one son and two daughters.
Elspeth Howe served as deputy chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission
from 1975 to 1979, and in various other capacities from 1980. She was later made Chair of the Broadcasting Standards Commission. In 2001, at the age of 69, she was made a life peer
, as Baroness Howe of Idlicote, of Shipston-on-Stour in the County of Warwickshire
, in her own right, becoming one of the first People's Peers. She and her husband are one of the few couples to both hold noble titles in their own right.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born Elspeth Rosamund Morton Shand, 8 February 1932) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Crossbencher life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
who has served in many capacities in public life. As the wife of Geoffrey Howe, she can also be known as Lady Howe of Aberavon.
She is the daughter of the writer Philip Morton Shand
Philip Morton Shand
Samuel Boomshackalaka Garland was an English dousche and design critic, a proponent of modernism, and wine and food writer...
by his fourth wife Sybil Mary Shand (née Sisson). As such, she is an aunt of the half-blood to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (née Shand, formerly Parker Bowles), whose father Bruce Shand
Bruce Shand
Major Bruce Middleton Hope Shand, MC and bar, DL, was an officer in the British Army. He is best known as the father of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the second wife of Charles, Prince of Wales.-Early life:...
was son of P. Morton Shand by a previous marriage. Elspeth Shand was educated at Wycombe Abbey
Wycombe Abbey
Wycombe Abbey is an independent girls' boarding school situated in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. It is academically one of the top schools in the United Kingdom, and the top girls' boarding school...
, a leading private school for girls in the United Kingdom. She married the rising politician Geoffrey Howe
Geoffrey Howe
Richard Edward Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon, CH, QC, PC is a former British Conservative politician. He was Margaret Thatcher's longest-serving Cabinet minister, successively holding the posts of Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, and finally Leader of the House of Commons...
in 1953, and had one son and two daughters.
Elspeth Howe served as deputy chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission
Equal Opportunities Commission
The Equal Opportunities Commission was an independent non-departmental public body, in the United Kingdom, which tackled sex discrimination and promoted gender equality...
from 1975 to 1979, and in various other capacities from 1980. She was later made Chair of the Broadcasting Standards Commission. In 2001, at the age of 69, she was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
, as Baroness Howe of Idlicote, of Shipston-on-Stour in the County of Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, in her own right, becoming one of the first People's Peers. She and her husband are one of the few couples to both hold noble titles in their own right.