Talk:Isobel Barnett

"Lady Isobel Barnett" changed to "Isobel Lady Barnett"
Why this change? She's always known as "Lady Isobel Barnett". Flapdragon 01:58, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

(no answer from 86.139.190.190)

The style "Isobel Lady Barnett" may or may not be technically correct, but that's not really what matters, is it? The fact is she was always known as "Lady Isobel Barnett", as a Google search attests (one solitary hit for "Isobel Lady Barnett"). If the anonymous editor wishes to add something explaining that she was strictly speaking wrong to style herself thus, then fine, but please stop changing her name to one she never used and which was never used about her. Flapdragon 13:38, 11 March 2006 (UTC)

(still no answer from the anon editor so left message on his/her Talk page)

I have changed her title back to its correct format. She was ONLY EVER known as Lady Isobel Barnett, being the wife of a knight. For the same reason, the shorter form was always Lady Barnett, and never Lady Isobel! She herself was a stickler for the correct protocol, not wishing to pose as an aristocrat.

I have also removed the incorrect statement that she was electrocuted. The coroner reported that the electric fire found in her bath was so well insulated that it acted as an immersion heater. She died of an overdose of Distalgesic painkillers. It is not known why the fire was in the water.

I have been researching her life for a couple of years, because I'm working on the script for a biopic, with which I hope to interest the BBC or one of its rivals. Also, being born in 1954, I remember her on the original UK 'What's My Line?', which ran till 1963. I remember the news of her death in 1980 as if it were yesterday; it had an added resonance here in Leicester.

When I have more time, and have familiarised myself with the techniques of article creation in Wikipedia, I'll expand this article into a fully-referenced (1982 biography, 1956 autobiography, Times Digital Archive and other sources) and longer version, with sub-headings. Lavengro1954 (talk) 17:50, 12 September 2010 (UTC)

As an afterthought, I've just removed the 'Suicides by electrocution' link as well. Lavengro1954 (talk) 18:24, 12 September 2010 (UTC)

The Guardian is wrong
The style "Isobel, Lady Barnett" is quite wrong. This implies that her father was an earl, marquis or duke, and is a mere courtesy title (the daughter of a Baron or Viscount is styled "The Honourable"). The correct style is "Lady Isobel Barnett", which she herself used quite correctly throughout.

In the case of Diana, Lady Spencer (before she was married), to have styled her as the press did, as 'Lady Diana Spencer', actually elevated her to a privilege that she had not earned, so no doubt, she didn't much mind! In this instance, you have demoted Isobel Barnett, which seems a bit unfair, as no one else is doing it to the poor soul.

You had best ask the Guardian why they employ people who write about things of which they know little. (Actually that would mean that most papers would be empty!). [Anonymous]


 * No, I'm afraid you are wrong, and have simply got it round the wrong way. Diana was certainly 'Lady Diana Spencer' before marriage as the daughter of a peer. The wife of a knight is styled with her first name, followed by Lady [Surname]. The form 'Lady Isobel Barnett' belongs to daughters of peers, hence some of the confusion about her supposedly aristocratic background. She might have been a stickler for precision, but she was wrong here. I think the rules used for pseudonyms should be followed here: the person's legal name, accompanied by the name by which she was 'popularly' known. --Stevouk (talk) 22:49, 10 January 2012 (UTC)

I've done a little research on titles, and I think we have to concede that Stevouk has got it right. I also support the admirable suggestion to use the correct title followed by the popular title. Lavengro1954 (talk) 22:31, 21 August 2012 (UTC)

Eamonn and that title
Some of her inspired guesses on 'What's My Line?' were in fact whispered to her by Eamonn Andrews, who had a feudal respect for titles, rooted in his humble boyhood in Dublin. It was not for any other reason, Eamonn being strictly a one-girl guy. 86.138.158.107 (talk) 14:33, 23 May 2009 (UTC)

How could Eamonn, sitting in the chairman's seat on the opposite side of the set to Lady Isobel Barnett, whisper anything to her? Strikes me as urban myth! Lavengro1954 (talk) 03:24, 27 May 2009 (UTC)