I have just learned that Dame Mary Peters, DBE, has been appointed HM Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borough of Belfast with effect from August, 2009.
Dame Mary succeeds the Lady Carswell, OBE, who has been Lord-Lieutenant since 2000.
Dame Mary is a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
I wonder how potential male appointees would feel being called 'Lady-Lieutenant'. But yet again women are expected to grin and bear unigendered language.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point. Never thought of that, which shan't surprise you!
ReplyDeleteIt's just an anomaly and part of our great colourful fabric of heritage! Mayors can also be male or female; whereas Mayoresses are always the female partners (unless a female mayor's husband or male partner wishes to be known as mayoress!
You'll need to address your main point to Number Ten.
Tim
I'm sure Number Ten have heard it a multitude of times. But as with most things if men are not negatively affected it is ignored. I sometimes wonder whether homosexuality would still be illegal and slavery still legal if these things only affected women. (rant rant :-))
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, it's not inconceivable that the title Lady-Lieutenant could eventually be introduced.
ReplyDeleteWe already have Lady Justices of Appeal along with Lord Justices of Appeal, as an example.