Background
She is the daughter of the writer Philip Morton Shand by his fourth wife Sybil Mary Shand (née Sisson, previously Mrs Slee).
She is the daughter of the writer Philip Morton Shand by his fourth wife Sybil Mary Shand (née Sisson, previously Mrs Slee).
Elspeth Shand was educated at Wycombe Abbey, a leading private school for girls in England.
As the widow of Geoffrey Howe, she was formerly known as Lady Howe of Aberavon before receiving a peerage in her own right. 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 the 1999 New Year"s Honours she was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).
On 29 June 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. Having already been styled Lady Howe by dint of her husband"s knighthood and then his peerage, it was quipped when she received her own peerage that she was "once, twice, three times a Lady".
1932–1953: Mission Elspeth Rosamund Morton Shand
1953–1970: Mrs Richard Edward Geoffrey Howe
1970–1992: Lady Howe
1992–1999: Lady Howe, Commander of the Order of the British Empire
1999–2001: The Right Honourable The Lady Howe of Aberavon, Commander of the Order of the British Empire
2001–2015: The Right Honourable The Baroness Howe of Idlicote, Lady Howe of Aberavon, Commander of the Order of the British Empire
2015–present: The Right Honourable The Baroness Howe of Idlicote, Dowager Lady Howe of Aberavon, Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
