Rosalind Howells, Baroness Howells of St Davids facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Baroness Howells
of St Davids OBE COG
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 21 July 1999 – 10 January 2019 |
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| Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire | |
| In office 2009–2014 |
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| Vice Chancellor | Les Ebdon Bill Rammell |
| Preceded by | Sir Robin Biggam |
| Succeeded by | John Bercow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 January 1931 St Davids, Grenada, British Windward Islands |
| Died | 14 October 2025 (aged 94) |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | John Charles Howells (m. 1955) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | St Joseph's College, Reading South West London College |
| Alma mater | University of the District of Columbia |
Rosalind Patricia-Anne Howells, Baroness Howells of St Davids (born 10 January 1931, died 14 October 2025) was an important British politician. She was a member of the Labour Party. From 1999 to 2019, she served in the House of Lords. The House of Lords is part of the UK Parliament, where experienced people help make laws.
Baroness Howells received a special award called the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1994. This was for her amazing volunteer work. In 1999, she became a Life peer. This meant she was given the title of Baroness Howells of St Davids. The "St Davids" part of her title came from the area in Grenada where she grew up. Grenada is an island country in the Caribbean. She stopped being a member of the House of Lords in 2019. In 2009, she also received the Companion of the Order of Grenada (COG) award.
Contents
The Life and Work of Baroness Howells
Early Life and Moving to Britain
Rosalind Howells was born in Grenada on January 10, 1931. When she was 20 years old, she moved to Britain. She was part of a group of people from the Caribbean who moved to the UK. These people helped to make Britain a more diverse and interesting place.
Education and Family Life
Baroness Howells went to school at St Joseph's College in Grenada. She also studied at South West London College and the University of the District of Columbia in the USA. In 1955, she married John Charles Howells. They had two daughters together.
Working for Fairness and Community
Baroness Howells worked hard to make things fair for everyone. She was the Director of the Greenwich Racial Equality Council. This group helped make sure people were treated equally, no matter their background. She also worked to create equal opportunities for everyone in the community.
She was a trustee for the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust. This trust works to inspire young people and help them succeed. Baroness Howells also offered advice and support to the family connected to the trust's important work.
Key Roles and Achievements
Baroness Howells achieved many "firsts" in her career. She was the first black woman to be on the GLC's Training Board. She was also the first female member of the Court of Governors at the University of Greenwich. She served as the Vice Chair of the London Voluntary Service Council.
She worked with many groups, like the Carnival Liaison Committee. She also helped the Greater London Action in Race Equality. She was a strong supporter of justice and fairness for all people. Baroness Howells was a trustee of the Jason Roberts Foundation. This foundation helps provide sports chances for young people in the UK and Grenada.
Later Career and Legacy
In 2009, Baroness Howells became the Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire in Luton. This is a very important role in a university. She also helped St George's University's UK Trust. She was on the board of the Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF). This foundation supports research and education.
Baroness Howells passed away on October 14, 2025, when she was 94 years old. She left behind a legacy of working for equality, community, and education.
