Susan Cunliffe-Lister, Baroness Masham of Ilton
Encyclopedia
Susan Cunliffe-Lister, Dowager Countess of Swinton, DSG, DL
, Baroness Masham of Ilton in her own right (born 14 April 1935) is a crossbench member of the House of Lords
. She is the senior female life peer.
She was born as Susan Lilian Primrose Sinclair, the daughter of Major Sir Ronald Sinclair, 8th Baronet. She was educated at the Heathfield School and London Polytechnic
. In 1959 she married Lord Masham
(1937–2006), who became The 2nd Earl of Swinton
in 1972. By this marriage Susan Cunliffe-Lister became Countess of Swinton. Lord and Lady Swinton adopted
two children. Lady Swinton was widowed in 2006.
She is a prominent Roman Catholic convert and a patron of the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology.
Lady Swinton was disabled
in a riding accident in 1959, and subsequently became a champion for causes related to disability. She was created a life peer
in 1970 as the Baroness Masham of Ilton, of Masham
in the North Riding
of the County of York
. She and her husband are one of the few couples to both hold titles in their own right.
Lady Swinton was the subject of This Is Your Life
in February 1976 when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews
in the foyer of the De Vere hotel in Kensington, London.
She is an active member of the House of Lords, where she continues to be known as the Baroness Masham of Ilton, a title she holds in her own right. She takes a particular interest in issues surrounding disability
, health and penal reform. She continues to run the Masham Riding Centre in Masham
, North Yorkshire
.
In 2011 she was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Nursing
.
‡ As active member of the House of Lords, she uses in daily life her life peer title.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, Baroness Masham of Ilton in her own right (born 14 April 1935) is a crossbench member of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. She is the senior female life peer.
She was born as Susan Lilian Primrose Sinclair, the daughter of Major Sir Ronald Sinclair, 8th Baronet. She was educated at the Heathfield School and London Polytechnic
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
. In 1959 she married Lord Masham
David Cunliffe-Lister, 2nd Earl of Swinton
David Yarburgh Cunliffe-Lister, 2nd Earl of Swinton, JP, DL was a British peer and politician.David Cunliffe-Lister was born to the Hon. John Yarburgh Cunliffe-Lister and his wife Anne Irvine Medlicott. His father died in 1943 of wounds received in action in during the Second World War...
(1937–2006), who became The 2nd Earl of Swinton
Earl of Swinton
Earl of Swinton is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1955 for the prominent Conservative politician Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Viscount Swinton. He had already been created Viscount Swinton, of Masham in the County of York, in 1935, and was made Baron Masham, of...
in 1972. By this marriage Susan Cunliffe-Lister became Countess of Swinton. Lord and Lady Swinton adopted
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
two children. Lady Swinton was widowed in 2006.
She is a prominent Roman Catholic convert and a patron of the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology.
Lady Swinton was disabled
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
in a riding accident in 1959, and subsequently became a champion for causes related to disability. She was created 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...
in 1970 as the Baroness Masham of Ilton, of Masham
Masham
Masham is a small market town and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 1,235. Situated in Wensleydale on the western bank of the River Ure, the name derives from the Anglo-Saxon "Mæssa's Ham", the homestead belonging to Mæssa. The Romans had...
in the North Riding
North Riding of Yorkshire
The North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire, alongside the East and West Ridings. From the Restoration it was used as a Lieutenancy area. The three ridings were treated as three counties for many purposes, such as having separate...
of the County of York
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. She and her husband are one of the few couples to both hold titles in their own right.
Lady Swinton was the subject of This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life (UK TV series)
This Is Your Life is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American show of the same name. It was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964, and then from 1969 until his death in 1987 aged 64...
in February 1976 when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews
Eamonn Andrews
Eamonn Andrews, CBE , was an Irish television presenter based in the United Kingdom.-Life and career:...
in the foyer of the De Vere hotel in Kensington, London.
She is an active member of the House of Lords, where she continues to be known as the Baroness Masham of Ilton, a title she holds in her own right. She takes a particular interest in issues surrounding disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
, health and penal reform. She continues to run the Masham Riding Centre in Masham
Masham
Masham is a small market town and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 1,235. Situated in Wensleydale on the western bank of the River Ure, the name derives from the Anglo-Saxon "Mæssa's Ham", the homestead belonging to Mæssa. The Romans had...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
.
In 2011 she was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Nursing
Royal College of Nursing
The Royal College of Nursing is a union membership organisation with over 395,000 members in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1916, receiving its Royal Charter in 1928, Queen Elizabeth II is the patron...
.
Titles from birth
- Miss Susan Lilian Primrose Sinclair (1935 – 1959)
- Lady Masham (1959 – 1970)
- The Rt Hon. The Baroness Masham of Ilton (1970 – present) ‡
- The Rt Hon. The Countess of Swinton (1972 – 2006)
- The Rt Hon. The Dowager Countess of Swinton (2006 – present)
‡ As active member of the House of Lords, she uses in daily life her life peer title.