Elizabeth Margaret Smith, Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill, (born 4 June 1940), is a British peer and patron of the arts. She is the widow of John Smith, the former Labour Party leader. Born Elizabeth Margaret Bennett, Smith was educated at Hutchesons' Girls Grammar School and Glasgow University. Baroness Smith is president of Scottish Opera and served as chairman of the

Edinburgh Festival Fringe The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...

from 1995 to 2012. She is also a governor of the

English-Speaking Union The English-Speaking Union (ESU) is an international educational membership organistation. Founded by the journalist Sir Evelyn Wrench in 1918, it aims to bring together and empower people of different languages and cultures, by building skill ...

and a board member of the

Centre for European Reform The Centre for European Reform (CER) is a London-based think tank that focuses on matters of European integration. It is a prominent source of ideas and commentary in debates about a wide range of EU-related issues, both in the United Kingdom and in ...

. Within a year of her husband's death, she was created a

life peer In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. In modern times, life peerages, always created at the rank of baron, are created under the Life Peerages ...

as Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill, of Gilmorehill in the District of the City of Glasgow on 17 February 1995. Smith received an Honorary Doctorate from

Heriot-Watt University Heriot-Watt University ( gd, Oilthigh Heriot-Watt) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, the world's first mechanics' institute, and subsequently granted univ ...

in 1998. She has three daughters, including Sarah Smith who is the

BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broadca ...

North America Editor.

References

1940 births Deputy Lieutenants of Edinburgh Life peeresses created by Elizabeth II Labour Party (UK) life peers Living people Edinburgh Festival Fringe staff Alumni of the University of Glasgow People educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School Spouses of British politicians {{Life-peer-stub