Elspeth Howe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote
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Official portrait, 2018
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 29 June 2001 – 2 June 2020 Life peerage |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Elspeth Rosamund Morton Shand
8 February 1932 |
| Died | 22 March 2022 (aged 90) Idlicote, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Crossbencher |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
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| Education | |
Elspeth Rosamund Morton Howe, also known as Baroness Howe of Idlicote, was an important British public figure. She was born Elspeth Shand on 8 February 1932 and passed away on 22 March 2022. She was a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament.
Baroness Howe was known for her long career in public service. She worked on many important committees and commissions. She was also the wife of Geoffrey Howe, who was a famous politician. Interestingly, she was also the aunt of Camilla, Queen Consort, who is married to King Charles III.
Early Life and Education
Elspeth Howe's father was a writer named Philip Morton Shand. Her mother was Sybil Mary Shand. This made her a half-aunt to Camilla, Queen Consort. Camilla's father, Bruce Shand, was her father's son from an earlier marriage.
Elspeth went to a top private school for girls called Wycombe Abbey. After that, she studied at the London School of Economics. In 1953, she married Geoffrey Howe, who was just starting his political career. They had three children together: Caroline, Amanda, and Alec.
A Life of Public Service
Elspeth Howe dedicated much of her life to public service. From 1975 to 1979, she was the deputy chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission. This group worked to make sure everyone had fair chances, no matter their gender. She continued to serve in various roles after 1980.
Later, she became the Chair of the Broadcasting Standards Commission. This group helped make sure TV and radio programs met certain standards. In 1999, she was given a special award, the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), for her work.
Baroness Howe also worked as a Justice of the Peace in London from 1964 to 2002. In this role, she helped make decisions in local courts. She often worked in the Youth Court, dealing with cases involving young people.
Becoming a Peer
On 29 June 2001, when she was 69 years old, Elspeth Howe was given a special title. She became a life peer, which means she could sit in the House of Lords for the rest of her life. Her full title became "Baroness Howe of Idlicote". She was one of the first "People's Peers," meaning she was chosen for her public service rather than being born into a noble family.
It was quite rare for both a husband and wife to hold a peerage in their own right. Her husband, Geoffrey Howe, was already a Lord. When she received her own peerage, people joked that she was "once, twice, three times a Lady." This was because she was first "Lady Howe" through her husband's knighthood, then through his peerage, and finally through her own peerage.
Later Years
Baroness Howe retired from Parliament on 2 June 2020. She passed away at her home in Idlicote, Warwickshire, on 22 March 2022. She was 90 years old and had been battling cancer.
See also
In Spanish: Elspeth Howe para niños
