BBC Northern Ireland, in its infinite ignorance, has, yet again, elevated the Member of Parliament for North Down's personal status to that of daughter of a duke, marquess or earl by calling her "Lady Sylvia Hermon" [sic].
The ignoramuses sitting in BBC NI, with an abundance of books and volumes in a library on correct pronunciation, form etc ought to know that the prefix Lady, followed by the Christian name, indicates that the person in question is the daughter of a senior nobleman.
I say this in the interests of pedantry. Perhaps those so-called editors in BBC Northern Ireland will accept a little lesson from Timothy Belmont, and let me assure them that Lady Hermon, or, should they prefer, Sylvia, Lady Hermon; or even Lady (Sylvia) Hermon, is not the daughter of a duke, marquess or earl.
She is the widow of a Knight Bachelor.
Even worse; occasionally I've seen them refer to Sir John Smith, Lady (Jane) Smith, etc. and then - later in the same article - say Mr. Smith!
ReplyDeleteThe BBC is a self-serving socialist institution. I may be being paranoid, but I think it could be a deliberate attempt to undermine the honours system.
Pleased to see Johnny Andrews is going for N. Down! My money's on him! Excellent news.
ReplyDeleteW.
Johnny Andrews? Didn't realize that. I was at school with Johnny; used to play - try to play - Bridge at his place! Johnny's a much better choice than the sitting MP.
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